ã€ŠWolf Bait (Perry and Jonas)ã€‹


 Bait Novel 1

    ?

    Bait novel 20Bait novel 20Chapter 1This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Fate is a sick twisted b****h.

    When something tragic happens, everyone wants to put in their ten cents. Time heaks all wounds. He would want you to move on and be happy. h h h h

    You know what my mate would have wanted? To f*****g be here To have lived a long happy life at my side watching our children grow and leave their mark right next to ours. I think those who don''t know what the hell they''re talking about need to shut the f** up and just leave me alone with my misery and my urn. The urn contains what''s left of the life I was meant to have the life we were deprived of

    Darren Phurry died at neen trying to save the alpha''s mate from getting kidnapped. Sure, he died a hero. Beta male dies

    thing he''s left behind. protecting his Luna. Tale as old as time. But you know what they don''t tell you about the heri Like his eighteen-year-old mate and family.

    I met Darren in the fourth grade when his family joined our pack. Since we were so close in age, our parents made us be friends and it wasn''t easy because we were different culturally. He was raised in a traditionalist pack and well, I''ve been a city wolf my entire life.

    We hated each other in those early years. Well into our high school years. Both Betaspeting for the position by our alpha''s side. Both of us matched in skill. It was magical when we turned sixteen and found out why we got under each other''s skin the way we did. Neither of us questioned it. We didn''t hesitate to ept what we were. We had our marks on each other the night after my first shift. We just continued to grow together. He was there when my father was killed in a rogue raid. I was there when his mother died during childbirth the third time around. He was there when my mother couldn''t take her mate being gone anymore. In the end, his dad was all we had, and swore to make sure we would make what was left of his life worth it

    Things never work out the way we want them to. You can be the best at something, live a certain way, a***e by whatever code you wish, but fate. That gross little ****, isn''t going to give a rat''s *** how great you might have be.

    Most nights, my destiny ends at the bottom of a bottle in a home where only silence follows. It had been weeks since I''d drunk myself to sleep, but today. On the fifth anniversary of his death, Luna Morgan announced the heir to the pack.

    Don''t get me wrong, I''m happy for her. After all, Morgan and I grew up together. We were close. She was my best friend. But there''s this funny thing about grief and if I could go back, I''d let her die. F***k her and ***k this pack

    As everyone celebrates the joyous announcement of the next alpha of the Red Shit Pack, I sit at their open bar staring at the countless bottles of expensive liquor just sitting around the packhouse. I can''t leave. S**like this is mandatory and just because I''m widowed, doesn''t mean I''m an exception to the rule

    "Perry, you came," Morgan''s voice feels like ws against a chalkboard to me. I toss back the tequ and nod

    "Didn''t have much of a choice," I sigh.

    "What was that?" Alpha dumb*** asks. I clear my throat and spin around to face them both.

    Morgan used to be a bad *. She was a beta-rank she-wolf. She used to mean something. Then she became the alpha''s mate and they erased everything that made her special. Maybe it''s just the bitterness in me, but no. Yup, it is. I hate her. I hate him and the thing growing inside of her makes me want to hang myself from the California King canopy bed in their

    "Congrattions," I give them my best smile. "You must be so happy,"

    "Perry, my father-inw''s voice sends chills down my spine. It''s so close to Darren''s and the warning is very clear.

    "Thank you," Morgan grins and ces her hand over her t belly. I look down at it and take a step back

    "You got something to say Calvin growls.

    ¡°Baby¡± Morgan takes his hand and tries to pull him back.

    "No, I''m sick and tired of your shit, he steps closer.

    "Calvin, his father growls from somewhere in the room..

    "I bet you are." I meet his challenge.

    "Perry, don''t give him the satisfaction," Jacobes over to my side. "Alpha-"

    ¡°Tell us what''s on your mind, Perry," Calvin pushes. ¡°I think it''s been long enough for you to get over stupor." he motions to the bar behind me. "You are part of this park like everyone else. It''s time you

    ¡®ittle drunken ling like it,¡±

    "Or what?" I scoff. I''d like nothing more than for this a****le to kill me. To put me out of my misery. "What are you going to do, Cal? I tap his chest with the back of my hand. Several growls echo around us. "Are you going to throw me out of your happy party! Hmm? You think I give a ***k?" "Call don''t. She''s my friend," Morgan tries to pull him back.

    "No, I''m not." I growl at her. He doesn''t like that. He holds his arm out in front of her protectively and pushes her behind him. I''m not anyone''s friend. I''m not anyone''s nothing. The proof lies in your mate standing here carrying your child,"

    "I will not hesitate-

    To what?¡± I cut him off. ¡°To kill me? Do you know what it''s like to lose your mate?¡± I shove him. Someone pulls Morgan away from us as I step closer to him. "You have no f****g idea how little ***s I give about you and this pack. Your mate and your child can go f*** themselves for all 1 care," "Perry," Jacob growls grabbing my arm. I stumble back a bit and Laugh as the room spins.

    ¡°It''s a hot sensation, Calvin. It gets so hot that it burns away half your soul, I look up at him through my blurry vision. His disgusted expression clears when tears slide down my pathetic face. Iugh and step closer to him again. ¡°You want to know what''s on my mind, Alpha Dumb A***? What''s been on my mind for the past five years? My undying wish for Morgan to be in the jar where my mate sleeps just like you intended for her when you didn''t choose her until your girlfriend died,¡±

    Morgan gasps along with some of the other females.

    "Perry, Jacob says gently.

    "Part of this pack, hmm? F***k you and this pack," I wipe my tears. "Useless *** authority figures. You can''t even protect us," I shout needing everyone to know. I pull my blouse down to show them the scars across my chest. "I think I''ve given enough of my soul and blood to you," I spit at him. "Enough to earn me a f***ng drink, you ***ole, I am the best hunter in your f****g ranks and you know it! So, you can kill me now or you throw me out. I don''t give a ***. Just let me have a drink

    first,"

    The big idiot stares back at me with disbelief and much to my surprise he nods. The pompous piece of shit waves his hand. Iugh and spin around to take the shot from the bartender when he slides it across the bar

    "Give her the bottle," he orders.

    "Nice, I sing and take the bottle of Casa nca when the poor guy offers it to me.

    "Let her keep it. It''s thest one she''ll ever have here. Take her downtown," he adds.

    "Jail," Iugh when two guardse over to me. "For what? Telling you to ***k off?"

    "Yeah, and for disruption of the peace. Sleep it off, Perry, he turns away to leave. "Oh, and okay, You''re out. I. Alpha Calvin

    11:22 Thu, Oct 17 B B

    Chapter!

    Montebello hereby remove you, Pernicious Phurry from the Red Wood Pack. When you''re released in the morning, pack your shit and get the f***k out of my city."

    ¡°Perfect¡± I raise the bottle when Francis spins me around to get me off the stool. "Great leadership skills, Alfa Pendejo,¡± Iugh as I am escorted out. I point back at him as everyone watches me get thrown out of the packhouse. "Look at them. That piece of shit and that useless ***t are your pack leaders,¡± I tease. Some of the others try their best not tough. ¡°That''s who you''re trusting your lives to,¡± I take a drink of the bottle I was handed. I ****g as much of it as I can to try to stop the buzzing for just a moment. To quiet the low whimpers of my wolf. And then I throw it at him. ¡°B****h," I spit. "Both of you,"

    ¡°Get her the f****k out of here," he roars when Morgan starts to cr

    I continue tough as my surroundings all blend into pretty colors. I''m shoved into the back seat o police station. This isn''t my finest moment, but at the very least it didn''t end in blood this time.

    *Sweetheart, I thought we were making progress," Jacob ces his hand on my head.

    of

    d taken to the

    Guilt washes over me because I look this man in the eyes and see the promise I made to Darren all those years ago. The tearse freely now as

    he looks back at me sympathetically. Unfortunately for the two of us, those same eyes haunt me. They remind me that he''s not here anymore and that no matter how long I wait in that empty house, he''s nevering back

    "She''s pregnant," I slur as he walks me to the usual cell I take up when I''m brought in.

    He sighs and turns to face me as the cage rolls open...

    "I know, sweetness," he pulls me into a hug. "I wish there was something I could do to help, but I think this is a great start. You don''t need to be here anymore,

 Bait Novel 2

    ?

    "I''m sorry, I choke out takingfort in his arms for thest time.

    Mr. Phurry and I have been drinking buddies for a while now. I supposedly quitst month after I killed a group of rogues just outside the borderline of the city. Ites in waves. The urge to kill is followed by the grief I don''t want to feel anymore. I''m only the best huntress on the force because I want anything and anyone to just f***g kill me already. But I''ve yet to meet the****le who

    to do it myself. 1 gun, every time I

    Fate hasn''t granted me a single moment of peace in so long and I just want it to end. I''m not strong used to think that my mother was weak, but every time I stand in front of the mirror. Every time I have the opportunity to do it. I chicken out. And I think about her. I ask myself, what finally did it? What pushed her over that edge that I can''t quite get over! I''ve asked the tombstone next to my father many times and I''ve expected an answer. One never contes.

    I stare up at the ceiling all night unable to close my eyes. The blinding migraine sets in when the sunes up. I can''t remember thest time I ate or slept. Jacob lets me out in the morning after his shift and drives us both back to my house. In the driveway is a ck SUV. One that belongs to the Alpha and I start begging the universe that Morgan doesn''te out of that thing to try and "fix" things. It''s five years toote.

    Timothy Grant, the new official Beta steps out at the same time I do. I let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Thank f**k,¡± I mutter to myself as I approach "Are you here to make sure I get the f***k out of here quickly?"

    There''s been a change of ns, Perry," he sighs and he can''t meet my stare. "Why don''t you go inside and clean up! Shower and brush your teeth well. You need to look presentable,"

    "What''s going on. Beta Tim? Jacob asks.

    I''m not at liberty to say, Jake," he says quietly.

    "It''s fine, Jacob. Whatever,"

    1 shower and clean up as best I can. I''m dressed and in the back of the SUV with Jacob following behind.

    "I''m really sorry. Perry, Tim says from the front seat. He sent three of his strongest betas for me.

    "What does he want? An execution? I didn''t have to get pretty for that, Tim,"

    ¡°Come on, Perry. You know calling the alpha and his mate b****es isn''t enough to get you killed," he scoffs.

    ¡°Then what the ***k does he want?" 1 demand as we arrive at the packhouse.

    The others get out of the car first. The SUV is surrounded. My heart starts to beat a*g*t my chest hard as he turns around. to face me.

    ¡°He''s selling you. Perry. To the highest bidder,"

    "What?" I keep my eyes on him. He lowers his gaze as one of the guards pulls me out of the back seat. "No," I try to protest, but it''s too early for this shit. I haven''t slept in a while. I was drunk off my ***a few hours ago and my wolf hasn''t been a help outside of hunting in a long time. "You can''t f*** do that,"

    My arms and legs are cuffed as I try to get the guards off me.

    "What the hell are you doing?" Jacob demands.

    "Take him. Tim-orders. Some of the guards go over to him. Chapter 2

    Thu, Oct

    "Don''t you f****g dare touch him. Tim, don''t hurt him! Tim!"

    ¡°I''m not. I promise,¡± he says as I''m hauled inside.

    "Let go of me you f** a**es," I growl.

    One of them slips u**p and I take my opportunity to swing my arms around to the next one. Tim manages to catch me by my hair before I can break for the door, I kick and scream as I am dragged into the packhouse.

    ¡°Enough" Alpha a** shouts. His ha*nd c**s against my face and 1 fall to thy knees as blood floods

    my *

    mouth.

    steps back out of me and L

    "You will always be the biggest f**** b** I''ve ever met, I scream and spit the mouthful of blood wiping it with the back of his hand. His bootes up and he kicks me on my stomach. The air is k heave dryly as the tequ threatens toe up. "Kicking a female in culls," Iugh. "A **y on top of being a b**h. G*reat father you''ll make,"

    That''s enough, both of you," a gruff voice stops him.

    I feel the tremble of submission in my body. I''m used to the force of an alpha. There are several living here. I''ve had to interact with all of them including this idiot. This is more than that. Far worse than an alpha wolf. A lycan. An alpha or maybe, considering the force pressing down on me, it might be the Lycan king himself. Calvin grips a fistful of my hair and raises my head enough so he can look me in the eyes. "See how much you''re going to be running your mouth when the Lycans stick their huge monster *ks i*n it," he*ughs. * "It took you five years to get Morgan pregnant! That''s probably how small yours is," I grin..This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He pulls back to hit me again and I brace myself but the hit neveres. I look up to see that the Lycan is holding Calvin''s

    armm

    "Let her go.

    here,

    She belongs to me now. Damage her any further and I will let my Beta have his way with anyone he sees fit

    Calvin and I turn to see a huge ck man smirk at Calvin before the Lycan Beta turns his attention to Morgan who is standing with Calvin''s mother. He immediately releases me and Iugh again.

    "You can''t do this," Jacob shouts from behind me. "Perry hasn''t done anything wrong to you, you *g **coward,"

    "Jake, stop," I look back at him.

    "No," he shakes his head. "No, it can''t end this way. I refuse to see my son''s mate like this. We''ll leave, Alpha Calvin. You''ll never see us again. Just let her go,"

    "Bring the elder with us, the Lycan orders.

    ¡°No, leave him alone, I try to stand and stumble forward. A hand grips my throat and I''m lifted until I''m standing on my tiptoes.

    "You have no right to make demands, little wolf," he growls into my ear. Everything inside of me screams: run. So I stay very still. "You have

    disrespected your alphas long enough. You''ve gotten yourself thrower out of your pack. That rebellion in you stops here. What is your name?" "Perry

    "Excuse me?¡± he growls pulling me closer to him. "You want to say that again? Properly, please,"

    "My name is Pernicious Phurry, sir," I answer formally.

    "That is a very intriguing name, Pernicious Phurry. Your name from now on will be Perry Prince."

    "I request to keep my mate''s surname, sir. It''s all I have left of him, I keep my eyes on the floor. "Not a demand, just at

    request."

    "You said she was ummated," he looks back at Calvin.

    "She is. Her mate died five years ago. Back when Liam was storming the pds looking for his mate."

    "I see." he nods. "Two hundred thousand it is then," my wolf stirs in me at the mention of how much my life is worth to this ****le. "I''ll give you fifty for the old man,"

    "Yeah, okay," Calvin agrees.

    The lycan releases me and goes over to Calvin. My eyesnd on Morgan. She''s crying again. It''s all she ev Luna Catherine steps in front of her to block her from my view,

    "You were warned, Catherine says with tears streaming down her face.

    .Former

    "You got quite the deal there, Luna Catherine. A bargain. All it cost you was two hundred and fifty thousand. Oh, yeah, and my entire life.¡± I scoff. ¡°I hope that baby burns this f***g shit hole to the ground,"

    "You don''t mean that," Morgan cries.

    "Oh, I do. With every piece of what''s left of my soul, Morgan. Enjoy your happiness while itsts,"

    ¡°Let''s go before you say something really s***d," the Lycan grips my arm and starts pushing me back the way I had been dragged in.

    Jacob and I are shoved into the backseat of an SUV.

    "What about our things?" Jacob asks.

    I''ll send for them, the Lycan promises. He looks between the two of us and sighs. "Look at me, Perry," when I don''t move he grips my chin and forces me to look at him. "If it''s death you want, you''re in luck,"

    "Good. Let''s hope you get your money''s worth," I meet his gaze. I''ve never seen eyes like his. They''re a pretty shade of soft purple. They almost glow against the contrast of the gray stormy sky behind him. "Maybe you''re the monster who can finally send me home,"

    ½Ç

 Bait Novel 3

    ?

    Chapter 3 Jonas

    This female is the strongest Beta I''ve ever encountered in the pds. Even in her weakened state, she looks like she can put up a fight. That''s what I''ve been looking for since Evangeline was killed. I''ve needed a recement Luna if only to lure those who came for my mate out. It''s been eight years since I losi her and our pup. The only thing I have left is a throne that has been weighing heavier and heavier as ofte with her killer on the loose.

    "She doesn''t look like much. Ss says when she''s escorted to the pack doctor. She needs a physical. I need to make sure she''ll survive my mark when I bite her. She needs to be in perfect condition for this or I''m going to have to start over Thest one didn''t get very far,¡±

    "Then we''ll keep looking." I wave him off.

    "She has a mouth on her," heughs. "What do you want with the Elder?"

    "He''ll keep hercent. As long as we have him, she''ll follow suit. Give him one of the vis and send for their shit. I have to talk to the girl Try to be gentle on her. Looks like y''all got a lot inmon," he smacks my chest as he walks out of my study

    Pernicious Phurry. Beta female. Twenty-three years old. Five-Eleven. One hundred and ny-two pounds. Has a good education. Her parents were both Betas so she''s got a good bloodline. There shouldn''t be a reason why her body would reject the bite of a lycan. The alpha didn''t include what she did for his pack. She might not do anything. She smells like alcohol and not like she had a fun night. It permeates her skin.

    The dead look in her dark brown eyes says she''s probably been drunk for the past five years. I have no room to judge. I was there myself not that long ago. I put everything I could get my hands on in my body. None of it ever helped. None of it ever killed me.

    But if she''s going to be the new Lycan Queen, she''s going to have to shake that shit out of her system. She has a role to y and whether she makes

    it out alive at the end of it or not, I need her to perform to the best of her abilities so that I can get what I want. What happens to her after will be up to her if she makes it out of this alive.

    "My liege," Dr. Alvarez bows her head when I approach her office,

    "Report"

    "She''s in good condition, sir. This one is strong," shees over to me with a tablet. "Perry has a few scars and is a bit malnourished, but it''s nothing a good night''s rest, hydration, and food can''t fix,"

    "Scars?"

    "Yeah, she holds up the tablet.. *

    There''s a huge w mark across her chest. Another on her back. A third on her right thigh. Nine scars that should have killed her nine times over. What the f***k did they do to this girl? A better question is what did she do to herself? Both questions will probably go unanswered. "Are you sure she''ll survive my bite?"

    "My King, I know I sound like a broken record, but think of what this is doing to you. This will be the fourth female you''ve connected to. There is only so much your body and soul can take. This is damaging your transitions. If you don''t make a real

    connection soon-"

    Thank you, Oz, I nod. She lets out a heavy sigh and motions the door.

    1/4

    |||

    Just promise you''ll try things differently. This girl looks like she been through hell already. There''s no reason to be forceful with her. She''s vulnerable. You can ask. Tell her the truth. She might be able to help,"

    "There''s only one thing I need her for,"

    "I know," she squeezes my shoulder. "And by the looks of her, she looks like a willing victim,

    Perry is sitting on the doctor''s table when I walk in. She looks exhausted. There are dark circles around her eyes. Her long brown hair looks ashy. Her sun-kissed skin would be glowing if she took better care of it. It''s been a long time since she''s done her eyebrows. Despite all that, she looks like she works out. Like she''s active. Her legs are thick with muscle. She has small waist for someone who weighs as much as her. It''s all

    You can keep your mate''s simame as a middle initial," I sit down on the office chair in here. She doesn''t look up at me. I''m sure you''re wondering why I''ve brought you here,"

    "Not really," she says quietly.

    "Do you want to know!

    ¡°As long as I don''t have to f****k anyone. I''ll do whatever you want me to," she finally lifts her tired eyes to look at me. I sit back setting the file down.. ¡°Okay." I scratch the back of my neck. Tm trying to lure some bad men here. I need a mate for that. I think you''d be perfect for the role."

    To be your mate?" she asks skeptically.

    "Correct

    "What happens when your true

    matees around?"

    "She won L They killed her already.

    ¡°Oh, so vengeance?" the edges to her lips pull up and with the callous way she presents herself she looks almost sinister. "That''s right."

    "And you need me for that?"

    "Yeah, some very bad wolves and lycans are going toe after you and I''m going to kill them. That''s it. That''s the whole job, Then what?"

    "You might not make it out alive," I admit. "None of the others have,"

    "Others?" she asks. Her tone changes. It''s more interested now. Her eyes almost re. Almost. She''s just antised. "How many times have you done this?"

    "You are the fourth,""

    "Ooof," she shakes her head. "Who has a hard-on for making you suffer?"

    "My brother. My mate was his ex-wife,"

    ¡°Wow,¡± she leans back. Enough to crack her back. "And if I survive?"

    "I doubt you w

    will. You''re a wolf. Your strength, no matter how great, will neverpare to ours. Even once I mark you,"

    2/4

    (markmer

    "Wait, I have to let your n

    "Yes, and you will mark me,"

    "Mmm," she groans. "I don''t like

    ke that."

    "I''m not asking you,

    §±

    "Shit, she shifts ufortably

    ¡°If for some miraculous reason, you were to make it out alive, you''d still bear my mark. You''d still be the Lycan Queen,"

    "What?" sheughs. It''s cynical. "You''re the Lycan King?"

    "That is correct.

    "Wow," she says looking me over. "You look like it,"

    "What is that supposed to mean?"

    "Dude, you''re wearing eight hundred dor jeans. Not even my mece of shit alpha has those," she shrugs. "You know it hurts right? You remember that? The way it feels to have the connection broken when you''re mated to someone

    "Yes," how does one forget something like that?

    "All right" she hops off the table. I stand so we''re at par. She looks up at me. Even with her size, I tower over her. "You are one big scary man," she says quietly, "I have one condition,"

    Town you. There is no condition."

    ¡°Come on, Lycan King. I''m going to try and help you get your revenge. Just do me a solid,"

    "What

    "Okay, two. Super easy. I promise,"

    "Perry, I growl

    "All right. All right," she puts her hands up in surrender. "One, don''t hurt the old man. He''s my mate''s father. Just let him live out his life in peace," "That''s not unreasonable. Very well. And other thing?" ||

    "If, as you say, by some miracle I make it out alive. You kill me," she shrugs.

    A wave of anxiety floods my body. It''s not an unreasonable request either. I could do it now if I thought she wouldn''t be helpful. She stands straight and holds out her hand for me to take the deal.

    "And if I refuse?"

    "Tam going to make our lives so hard you''re going to want to kill me anyway," she grins. "Agree and I''ll even throw in PDA when we''re out in public," "You will have to sober up."

    "Check"

    "You will be cleaned up," I say walking around her.

    3/4

    "Will you be providing those services?"

    "Yes,"

    "Check"

    "You will have to be the acting Lycan Queen as intended until the task is over."

    "Tell Lycans what to do. Double check," she nods.

    "We will go out in public and you must stake your im before anyone who tries to be little your position by whatever means you see fit,"

    ***k shit up if b***s hit on you. Dude, it''s like you''re trying to give me the best death I can possibly get," she rolls her eyes.

    "Check"

    Thave one question for you,"

    "What?" she sighs

    The scars. How did you get

    them?"

    "What does it matter? They didn''t do what they were intended to do. I don''t want to talk about them, she holds her hand out again. "Deal"

    "If you try to make this harder than it needs to be-

    "I won''t. I get it," she says dropping her hand. "I got to kill the two rogues that killed him. If I didn''t love her, I''d kill Morgan

    I just want it to stop, Lycan King. If you think this is somehow going to help you. Even better. I have a better excuse to go out with a bang. That''s what

    I''ve been trying to do for the past five years, man. Not a single useless wolf out there has been able to kill me. So, if there''s a lycan who can. Please,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    let us tear each other apart."

    Óã

 Bait Novel 4

    ?

    Chapter 4 Jonas

    Perry''s words are simple. There''s almost a sense of duty in the way she says them. As if dying at the hands of another is what she''s been dreaming of her entire life. I get that. Ending myself as never been an option. Not while James is out there living his life without a care in the world. He needs to pay for what he did and I will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he

    deserves

    ¡°Deal¡± I hold out my hand for her to take. She smiles and stacks her hand against mine before firmly shaking it.

    "Deal," she nods. Her face turns beet red when her stomach grumbles. "Sorry, it''s been a while since I''vest eaten,"

    "We can''t have that, 1 lift her chin again to get a better look. She looks wild. Feral almost. But she''s not bad to look at. "A. hungry Queen can be a fussy one. Let''s get you fed. I''ll call the maintenance crew

    "That bad. huh?" she looks herself over

    "You look like a drunken catdy," I say motioning to the door. "You smell like one too,"

    "Thanks" she looks back at me with a smile. ¡°That''s what I was going for,"

    Charming.

    Her manners are garbage. She eats like she hasn''t eaten in days and has no regard for her surroundings. When the spa girls show up. She''s standing on the balcony of the room she''ll be upying for the remainder of her stay here. She''s looking down at the courtyard where some of my hunters are sparing.

    "Miss" one of the girls tries to catch her attention. The stubborn little wolf doesn''t answer her.

    "Perry," I call out and she finally nces back at me over her shoulder. She groans and pushes off the veranda beforeing back inside the room. "Stand here," the older woman orders. She res at her but does as she asks anyway,

    "What did we just talk about?" I ask her. "You said without difficulty"

    "Between us," she rolls her eyes at me and to say it infuriates me is an understatement.

    ¡°These are my people, Perry. You will treat them with the respect they deserve. If this is going to work you need to put in the effort. "Whatever you say, my liege," she says sarcastically.

    "Begin," I order.

    ¡°Is there a preference, my King?" Laura asks as she walks around the girl. She pulls her hair back.

    "Cut it all off. This is dead." I hold it up. "You don''t have a problem with that do you, little wolf?"

    "Would it matter if I did?" she sighs.

    "Cut it short. Make it darker. Clean her face up,"

    "Yes, sir. Miss Perry would you take a seat here," Laura motions her to chair. Perry drops into it slouching.

    "Sit up straight, Pernicious," she tenses up a bit and does as I ask Chin up. Ankles crossed."

    1/4

    Peny

    looks

    es up at me with a re and then shifts to do as I ask, Laura sprays her hair with water and starts to brush the length. I almost regret asking her to cut it all ofl. Wet, it goes down to her lower back. Perry''s skin breaks out in goosebumps when the first snip of the scissons echoes in the silent room. She blinks away tears when the first long strand slides down to

    the floor.

    Laura cuts it enough to expose her slender neck. She has a sharp Jawline. The haircut shapes her face better. One of the younger girlses over and reclines the chair back. The two them start working on her face. I take a seat on the bed and start reviewing her school credentials.

    "It says here you went to business school. You had one term left to finish,"

    "Yup," she answers.

    "Why didn''t you finish?"

    "I joined the Alpha''s police force,"

    You''re a huntress

    "Was, she corrects me.

    "Were you any good?"

    "Depends on who you ask. I guess," she mumbles.

    Tmasking you."

    "Yes, the best hunters are the ones that hunt like they''ve got nothing to lose and well I can be a little reckless," "You ever get anyone killed?"

    "Never."

    "What is your uracy percentage?"

    "Eighty percent,

    "Why isn''t any of that in your files?"

    "The alpha''s son is a f**g useless idiot. Took credit for most of my work. He was my team''s leader, "Calvin?" *

    "That''s the f***g idiot,"

    "What is your problem with him?"

    ¡°Aside from how pathetic he is? He''s the reason why my mate is dead.¡±

    "You do know that it''s a Beta''s job to protect the alpha and his mate, right? No matter the cost,"

    the alpha''s job to make sure the pack is protected. Had he followed the protocol ns Darren established with the alpha, the rugues would never have been in the packhouse. He abandoned his position. Darren was neen going up against two alpha-rank rogues. Nothing you say is ever going to change my mind about him."

    "I''m not trying to change your mind. I just want to understand what happened."

    She pushes Laura away and sits up to look at me. Her face is red from all the prodding, but she looks so much better. Pretty Cven.

    "We don''t have to do this. Ilon''t ask you about your mate. You don''t ask me about mine. You want me to help you get to your brother and I''ll do that. We don''t need to get to know one another. You''re taking enough as it is,"

    "I can take what I want. You''re mine. I paid for you."

    "Yeah, you did. Don''t humanize me, Lyran King. It can lead to you breaking your promise. You''re not going to like me if I get you what you want and you don''t deliver what I want. The only thing you own is this vessel and I assure you, your greatness. It''s pretty, but it''s re*ally f**g empty,"

    She falls back into the chair and waves for Laura to continue. The women nice over at me skeptically. I give them a nod and toss the file aside. She''s got a point,

    Tm not trying to humanize you, Pernicious. I need to know what you''re good at. Where I can ce you so you to the best of your abilities. I need you to be seen. You need to take a ce that will catch his attention,"

    OTIOAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "You don''t need to know anything about me for that. I can tell you what I''m good at. I''m good at killing and I''m very good with money. Before joining the force I worked for Red Wood Finnces. I was part of the team that created Paw Coin

    currency.

    "Now we''re getting somewhere," that is impressive. "Were you still part of the team when it went global?" "Yeah, I sold my shares for seven hundred and fifty million and invested the money in Lycan Tech," You did

    "Mhun. I own fifty-five percent. Each share is worth eight hundred million. My investment ced me ar

    Two point seven billion. What do you n on doing with all of that when you die?

    "I was going to give it to Jacob. But since you''re here and you promised me you were going to take care of him. you want with it I couldn''t care less. It''s just money!

    Do

    whatever

    "We''ll talk about thatter. I need someone to help me with the finances here. My beta does his best, but he''s not very good

    "What about your hunters?"

    "You''re going to be the Lycan Queen, Perry. There is no f**g way you''re going to be joining my ranks. If you die before I can finish-"

    "Yeah, yeah," she sighs. Laura lets her sit up. She leans for*ward without looking up at me. "On a scale from one to you''re screwed and barely scraping by, how bad is it?"

    "I''m screwed and barely scraping by," I admit. She looks up at me with a re.

    "You know, that''s one thing that I f***g hated about Calvin," she gets up. She looks better. There''s a newfound confidence in her expression. "You know you''re f****g up but it doesn''t matter so as long as you get what you want

    "Don''t act like you and I are any different,"

    "But we are, Lycan King. I am just some she-wolf. There is nothing special about me. I am literally a fucking speck in the wind. You''re the Lycan King, a***ole. People depend on you. Not just a pack or small city. An entire f**g race* is out there on their knees for you.

    "Your mate would be ashamed of what you''re doing in her name or his. I don''t know what you''re into," the women all lower their heads without looking at me. "Maybe when you''re out there taking vengeance, think about them. We''re very different. There is only one person in this world who will suffer with me being gone. Just one. That''s how insignificant I am, she kicks the hair on the ground, "Show me what you''re working with. Maybe thest nice thing I can do for this f***d up world is help a bunch of monsters be financially independent,"

    Perry:

 Bait Novel 5

    ?

    Perry:

    on me

    The person looking back at the is someonepletely new. I am hurting everywhere. Laura and her cleaning crew did some deep cleaning. Waxed in ce I''ve never been waxed before. My skin glistens from all the oils and shit they put on That''s how I ended up on the cold floor looking up at the mirrored ceiling,

    "Perry," the Lycan King knocks on the door.

    "Give me a minute," I groan.

    "Ss is here,"

    "Is that supposed to mean something to me? Who the f***k is Ss?"

    "My beta," he growls. The guy loves his growling

    Ill be out in a minute. I rub my face and sit up.

    I look at the clothes on the counter and contemte tying them together to make a rope. I think the gol*****wer rod is high enough to help me out right now. I slip on the ck tights and the ck long sleeve provided. I groan at the corduroy dress with overall straps.

    "Seriously?" I roll my eyes and put my legs through it.

    I have to wiggle a bit to get it up around my ** I cross the straps on my back and buckle them. It''s only then that I see that there is underwear provided. I look down at the matching set and push it into the sink before pulling the door open.

    The Lycan King is a huge f***g man. He has to be almost seven feet tall because I''m almost six feet and he towers over me. I mean it makes sense. Laura andpany were all about my size and taller. They made me feel small. It''s funny because back in Red Wood, I was always the tallest girl in the room

    His hair is as interesting as his eyes. It''s dark gray almost metallic. His skin is tanned but there is a hint of something that gives him this really creepy glow. His build is sublime. This thing was made to be the predator that Lycans are made out to be. I wonder what he looks like in his lycan form. I bet it''s terrifying.

    "You look a whole lot better,"

    "I hope so. I feel like I was skinned and then stitched back together. Thank you for that,"

    "You''re wee," he says looking over my shoulder. I look back and then back up at him when he stares at the new underwear sitting there. "Not a fan!"

    "Toocy," I shrug. Im not about to tell him that I didn''t bother to check what was avable.

    "Noted," he nods. "Come. Let me introduce you to my Beta,"

    "Do you have an alpha?" I ask.

    I have over two hundred alphas. None of them would be happy working for me here. We''re not like wolves. Our alphas like to tear shit up. A good King wouldn''t deny them that,

    A good King. We''ll see about that big guy. Ss is the big dark chocte man who escorted me into the Jeep this morning. He''s slightly shorter than

    the King himself. His hair is a simple buzz cut and he has these beautiful electric green eyes. Much like his King, Ss is a very pretty man. Dressed a business suit that looks very expensive.

    "This is Ss Jones. Sigh, this is Pernicious she will be our new aging Queen, he introduces us

    1/3

    "I prefer Perry. No one calls me Pernicious," I say and hold out my hand. He smiles and takes it. My hand looks so small in

    "You can call me Sigh" he nods. "I hear you''re good with finance

    "Correct. I hear you''re okay,"

    "That is an overstatement," he shakes his head.

    "Get acquainted, Sigh. I''ve got preparations to make. Tell her what she needs to know, the Lycan King says without looking up from his phone. "Give her my information in case she needs anything from me. Let her see the Elder,"

    "Yes, sir." Ss agreed without hesitation.

    "Are you forgetting something?" I stop him. He stops and turns around to face me.

    "What?" he demands,

    "My name is Perry. This is Ss, I point to his beta. "And you are

    "You don''t know my nameThis content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "I had no idea who you were before this morning. I shrug. Ss presses his lips together and looks away. "Kind of big- headed of you to assume everyone knows who you are,

    You have a very disrespectful mouth on you, little wolf, he growls "Fix that,"

    He still doesn''t tell me his name as he walks away.

    Jonas Zachary Prince, Ss informs me.

    "Never would have guessed that. I do believe I''ve never met someone named Jonas before,

    He leads me through the packhouse giving me a tour to buy whoever some time to get what I need together. This ce isn''t a house. It''s an actual castle and I would know that if I had been well enough to look up at it when we arrived. Now that I''ve had some water, electrolytes, and food. I feel much better and I am taking in my surroundings properly.

    The castle is carved into the side of a massive hill in the countryside. From my room, I have a view of the courtyard, but that small view does no justice to the grandeur of this ce. It''s twelve stories of elegance. The medieval-style structure has been modernized. The walls have been reforged to control the temperature.

    The Victorian furniture varies in color on each floor. The first is a dark forest green shade. There are massive portraits of former kings and Queens all over the ce. To say this ce is a work of art is to put it lightly. This guy is an actual King A dying breed stuck in an era where traditions are all squashed by technology and mainstream society. Poor bastard.

    I don''t understand how someone was able to get into this ce to get to his mate. Where was he? Where were the guards? Who was in charge of protecting her? When we get to the top floor there''s a sectionpletely closed off with a barricade of furniture and other strange trinkets. "What''s that?" I ask pointing at it.

    "I''ve shown you hundreds of years of history and this is what piques your interest? Ss smirks

    ¡°I mean, it''s the only spot in the entire pce that isn''t polished, I swipe up a fingertip of dust to show to him.

    "It''s Lady Eva''s old studio. She was an artist. That is everything that belonged to her. Jonas had everything she painted and sculpted brought here so he never has to look at it again. What did you do with your mate''s things?"

    ¡°Huh? I um- I piled it up in the Alpha''swn and set it on fire. I used to drink, drink, some of this stuff looks like it belongs

    1

    in a museum.

    How did that go for you?"

    "Well, I stole his truck and was chased through the city. Made the news before the truck was totaled and I was arrested. They

    didn''t press charges. All I got was a p on the wrist andmunity service for a month,"

    ¡°Arson and auto theft. You would have been out of here before you could have set that yard on fire,¡±

    "That''s what I was going for, but guilt is a very powerful emotion

    You are one mean b***h, heughs.

    "You''ve got no idea, Ss. I learned from the best,"

    "Your parents"

    "My mate."

 Bait Novel 6

    ?

    Chapter 6 Terry

    The two of us get back down to the first floor where there is a team of Lycans ready for us with packages and paperwork.

    "Where would you like to set up?" Ss asks.

    "I have options? I can''t just stay in my room?"

    "No, the King would like you at a more public location,

    "You got anything outside?

    "Plenty of ces, mydy, one of the other Lycans nods

    "Show me the outside. Let me think about it,

    "All right." Ss bows and leads the way out

    The courtyard is beautiful from down here. The pirs have pretty vines growing around them. There are pretty flowers growing around the stone surroundings and the scent is out of this world. Past the courtyard is a massive stairway that leads into what I''m thinking is a vige dedicated to those who work for the King.

    "She doesn''t have shoes on, someone whispers.

    "What?" Ss looks down at my feet.

    "It''s cool. I don''t like wearing them anyway, I wave him off and start the journey down the stairs counting as I go. "Eighty- "Sorry?" Ss asks.

    "Eighty-six steps. That''s going to be rough going back up,"

    "We have a lift, he points to the wall behind us.

    "That would have been great information before I ran down here, Sigh, Iugh. He grins.:

    "You scare me," he admits. "You have a very callous way of carrying yourself,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Don''t be afraid to tell me to shut up or that I''m going the wrong way. I''m here to s remind him. "I only bite if I''m threatened," serve your King Just his little pet wolf," I

    "Good to know," he smiles and then looks down at my feet.

    "Do you have a preference?"

    "Vans. Hightops, slips-ons, anything with a pretty pattern on it,"

    We''ll have some for you as soon as possible. I can carry you if you-

    "Don''t do that," I wave him off. Tm fine. I promise,"

    "Okay," he nods.

    "So, tell me about this ce. How public a workspace are we talking?"

    |||

    Thu,

    "Very. When the King told me you were interested in our finance division. I kind of had a ce in mind. It''s an old greenhouse on top of what we call the Vista. It used to be former Queen Alegra''s greenhouse but she doesn''te here anymore. The nts died out, but with a little renovation, I think we can make it work,"

    Is Queen Alegra the King''s mother?"

    "Yes," he nods. "When the prince murdered the former King after he was banished. She went home to her former pack with what is left of her family there and to let her sons fight over the drone,"

    "Understandable," I nod

    The walk up to what he referred to as the vista moves away from the vige itself. When we get to the top of the hill, I get why it''s called the Vista. The ss house is built on a hill right in front of the castle itself. Somewhere just outside the vige. The view is spectacr.

    This ce is something out of a fairytale. It''s ridiculous, but it''s a hell of a ce to die in. Maybe a little roo

    d for me..

    The greenhouse is a huge dome. It''s been raining so, it''s not too dirty on the outside. Ss leads me to the entrance and opens up a keypad. He types in four numbers and the entire thing quakes as the doors all around begin to slide open. My jaw basically hits the floor as he walks us in and the lights all start toe on.

    There isn''t a single nt in sight. In fact, the ce looks like an empty observatory. Right in the center is a spiral walkway that leads to a tform at the top. The tform is held up by six huge iron pirs. There are ss shelves all the way around that connect some of the pirs.

    What really intrigues me is the sprinkler system. The pipes are inade of silver. I can feel the threatening sensationing off of them as I get closer. She was really into nts because silver is really good for them. Helps prevent nt blight

    I follow Ss up the walkway to see that the system follows along the sides where there is a single shelf that follows up to the tform. The tform is just an open space at the top with a small round room where the bathroom is. What''s captivating are the open panels that let the sun in.

    This ce is built to be an amazing eco-friendly ce. It recycles the rainwater. Most of the ss is darkly tinted. The temperature is controlled and all together it''s a beautiful ce to spend time. I say spend because there''s no way any time. spent here will ever go wasted

    "What do you think, mydy?" Ss asks.

    "Sold,¡± I turn around to face him. "This is where I want to take myst breath,¡± I admit I bet it used to be gorgeous."

    "It was magical, he nods. "The entire ce was subpar before Lady Evangeline came here,"

    "You didn''t like her?" I ask. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly

    "Eve

    e was a very careless person. She was eighteen when she married the prince and I''m sure she did it because of his status. She was here a year before the King returned from his studies in Ennd. She destroyed our home and our leaders. Jonas and James were very close before she came along. She was charismatic and maybe she deserved more than what she the price we all paid was too much.

    bit

    "Once she was mated to Jonas things started to get better. Especially when she was with child. She was a lovely girl. Very prefly, but it''s hard to love something that destroyed our kingdom. Jonas is my brother and what she did to them may not have been her fault, but you''ll never see anyone speak of her here. The name Evangeline Porter will always be a blight to us. The sickness that brought down the most feared race of all,"

    I don''t press for anything else. I''ve heard enough from him and it gives me a better incentive to never bring it up with the King. It soundsplicated. I know very little about Lycans. One thing that is taught in our schools is that if we evere across one, submit. Don''t try to fight them. They''re beasts with the kind of power that makes a wolf seem like a harmless domestic dog. This is definitely the right ce to be for someone like me.

    ||| Chapter 6

    "So, we set up here? 1 ask. 11g looks back at me and smiles. ¡°Nice big desks. Some couches a little kitchte for snacks. T think we can make this work,"

    ¡°Are you sure! You wouldn''t like to see more avable ces? We have office space in the vige.

    "If you want to give me a tour of the vige, I would love to see But this ce is perfect. It''s secluded and an easy target. Red Wood has towers simr to this all around the city for vantage points.

    came

    "Darren had them built to be the first points of attack. Hit one and the entire city is alerted. He was seventeen when he ca up with that n. If I may, I would like a floor n of the entire property. I want to see what I''m working with.

    "I want to make sure the King gets his money''s worth. Never been one to do things half-a***d. And I''d love nothing more than to make an a***ole who killed a pregnantdy squeal before pushing daisies,"

    "Beta Ss. The shoes you asked for, a woman approaches us. He immediately goes over to her and takes

    Thank you, Sarah. That will be all, he dismisses her. The girl looks me over before Ss gives her a little shove to get her moving. She takes a few steps back without taking her eyes off me and he growls at her. She sneers at him but then leaves. "Sorry about that. She''s still very young." "Why didn''t the King use a Lycan female for this? Your race seems a little more equipped to handle something this gory. Don''t you guys have alpha females?"

    Yes, we do and it has been suggested a few times. However, females are rare. I''m sure you''ve noticed there are more males around," thought it was a preference," I admit.

    "No, it''s because there are very few Lycan women. Even those who mate with wolves bear males. It''s verymon for Lycan females to take more than one mate,"

    "Why didn''t the King and his brother do that?" I ask.

    Sses over to me with a red box with the skateboard logo printed on top. He opens it to reveal a pair of blue, ck. and white hightop ssics. I smile taking them out of the box. I sit on the floor and take the pair of socks he hands me.

    "It is not custom for the royal family to share their mates. Lycan royalty is not like wolf royalty. There are rules. The King mate must only bear his mark,"

    "Breaking his rules already. Sweet," I saycing up my shoes.

    "Not really. Your mate is gone. Just like his. I love him. He''s my best friend, but Jonas can be a fucking idiot,"

    "You know," I say standing up. "I''m all for calling out the authority figures, but you shouldn''t talk like that about your king.

    ¡°Given how we met, you shouldn''t be the one lecturing me about bad-talking authority figures,"

    "Mm," I agree. "But my opinion doesn''t mean shit to anyone. You''re the beta prince. Keep that shit to yourself. I''m making a list of people I think are traitors and you are on it. Not just for calling the Lycan King an idiot, but for talking about your former Queen the way you did. I''m an a***le, Ss People hate me because I say the things no one else has the balls to. I''d like to be up and running by the morning. Make sure to inform your squad of that,"

    8/8

 Bait Novel 7

    ?

    §±

    Perry

    "Tve been so worried about you," Jacob wraps his arins around me. I step back search for something out of ce.

    Tm okay, I reassure him.

    "That big a** 1ycan guy didn''t hurt you, did he?"

    and look up at him as his eyes desperately

    "And you would do what if he had? Ss asks from behind me. I nce back at him growling a warning.

    "Go wait outside. Sigh." I re at him. He tenses up, but then probably remembers Im just a s***id line me. He bows begrudgingly and leaves this very nice house,

    scoffs at

    "You can''t be doing that to Lycans, Perry. Are you out of your mind?" Jacob scolds with all the worry pent up on his face.

    "1-uh, I look around and pull him into the very contemporary-style living room. "This ce is ridiculous,"

    "That''s what I said he sighs trying to get his head together and sits with me.

    "You should see where he''s keeping me. It''s twelve stories of this can''t be real,"

    "I believe that. Who is this guy anyway?"

    "His name is Jonas Zachary Prince,"This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    "You''re kidding," he grins. "The son of the Lycan King?"

    "He''s the Lycan King now or fighting to be anyway"

    "Oh, shit. And what does he want with you?"

    "Umm, don''t freak out. I already agreed to it and I don''t think I ran back out anymore. There wasn''t a lot of room for a no FYL

    "Fuck Perry," he growls. "What?"

    "His brother killed his mate while she was pregnant and has been trying to sabotage his reign by killing all his potential mates so there is no heir." "Don''t tell me you agreed to be said, potential mate. These things are killers. Actual killers, Perry,"

    ¡°I know. What else am I supposed to do, Jake? He bought me from the pds. I didn''t know that was still allowed. There isn''t a lot I can do. I don''t have anyone other than you and because you''re not my actual father, there isn''t anything you can do either,"

    ¡°We can figure something out," he sits back to think it over. ¡°We can take this up with the Alpha King."

    "We could," I nod. "But I don''t want to,"

    "What do you mean, Perry?"

    "Tpean I don''t want to go to the Alpha King. I mean I don''t want to do anything about the situation,"

    "Perry," he takes my hand. "I know shit hasn''t been good since Darren was killed. We''ve both been stumbling around, but this isn''t the end we deserve. You deserve to be happy again, Sweetness. You''re the mostpassionate kid I''ve ever met. I know.

    1/4

    11 23 Thu, Oct 17 GB.

    I raised two f***g pirees of shit. You were mated to one.¡±

    10

    Then you know I''m going to do this because I want to. I mean it''s not the best situation to be caught in, but that man needs help These people need help. If I can do onest good deed, why wouldn''t it be this one?"

    His eyes search mine and he sighs. He pulls me in for a hug.

    "Perry, I know there''s not a lot I can do to change your mind once it''s made up. You don''t owe anyone anything. If this is what you want right now, then okay. Let''s do it. What is the offer on the table?"

    "You are seriously the greatest person in the entire world. I mean that," I smile at him. He pats my head rolling his eyes.

    "Come on. Tell me what he needs,"

    "He needs a Queen. Someone who can y the role anyway."

    and you''d have to mark him. And

    "For you to be the Queen there has to be a mating ceremony. He''d have to mark you ar the mating will bepleted after because his mark will trigger your heat,"

    "I didn''t know thatst part, but yeah. I knew the rest of it,"

    "Perry," he sighs. "That is-"

    I know." I nod feeling my chest tighten.

    ret in return?"

    "What do you get in

    "If this works, I get to be the Lycan Queen, Iugh. He presses his lips together.

    "And if it doesn''t?

    T

    "Then I die the Lycan Queen, I shrug "I get to go home,"

    "That doesn''t sound great, Perry," he sighs. "You have been the most difficult child I''ve ever had,"

    Tve been the only one that''s gotten this far," I whisper.

    "True" he nods.

    ¡°If anything should happen to me, I''m not leaving you empty handed. And who knows, old man. You might find a Lycan babe of your own. They''re gorgeous and big,"

    "I''ve noticed that," heughs. "You don''t need to take care of me

    "No, but I want to. You''re my dad. As much as the one who brought me into the world. I know I don''t make things easy, Jake. It makes me feel better knowing that you''ll be okay," I take his hand.

    "Thank you," he pats my hand

    "Lady Perry. The King requests your audience," Ss interrupts us. Jacob tenses up and stares back at me.

    "So, royalty? That''s a new one for both of us, Kid,"

    ¡°Because Lycans aren''t?"

    "Not to me," he shakes his head.

    "We''ll talk about thatter. Yes?"

    "Yeah. You have a lot of history to learn. A lot is going to be expected of you,"

    "Don''t I know it." I groan and stand TI see you when I can,"

    "Be careful. Watch the way you speak to everyone. These people don''t give a f***

    "Aye, aye, captain." I salute him. Tll make sure the ship stays allost,"

    **

    "A sinking ship is a sinking ship, Sweetness. Ask all the bones lying at the bottom of the ocean," he shakes his head.

    §±

    1ugh and follow behind Ss, The walk back to the castle is quiet. Being in the countryside is a little scary because it'' quiet. The city sounds are nowhere to be heard. The sun is setting and while there''s still light out, the darkness is thicker than I''ve ever seen before.

    "You okay!" Ss asks when we get to the steps.

    "It''s just kind of quiet here, I say as he escorts me to the lift. It''s a small tforms for maybe six people. The lever makes a cool clicking sound when he turns it to the right.

    "Your assignment starts here, Perry. There are people in the courtyard. He''s waiting," he says softly.

    1 take a deep breath, shake my hands out, and nod.

    "Do I look okay?" I ask tucking my hair behind my ear.

    Yes, for someone who has been running around all day."

    The lift stops at the top and he pushes the gate open and waits for me to step out. The Lycan King is in fact waiting for me. He''s on his phone again, but when he nces up. He smiles. The kind of smile that I''ve had to ster on my face a few times myself. It doesn''t reach his eyes, but several others are watching.

    I smile for him and feeling a little princess-y from everything I did today, I skip over to him and stop just a few inches from him. It catches him by surprise when Iugh at his expression.

    "Learn to behave yet?" he reaches out to ce his hand on my waist.

    "No, but I''m tired and hungry. So, if I have to behave to go back up to my room, shower, and sleep for the rest of my life. I will.

    We stare at each other for a moment before his smile turns genuine and heughs. It doesn''t go unnoticed by the others. It even made those who weren''t looking turn to face us.

    "You are going to be a pain in my a***, aren''t you?"

    "Maybe read the fine print before buying a manic depressed she wolf with a death wish," I shrug.

    ¡°I''ll remember that for next time, little wolf," he growls digging his fingers into my side. I jump forwardughing. My chest hits his. His armes around me to steady me. "You''re ticklish

    "Insanely ticklish. Don''t that, Iugh looking up at him in horror. He takes a step back andughs. His entire body shakes.

    I''m sorry. That was-" he takes a breath to stop himself fromughing. I can feel my face getting hot with embarrassment "I''m sorry. Your expression was great,"

    "I''m d I amuse you, I roll my eyes.

    ¡°Come, Perry. I want you to meet some people,¡± he grins and takes my hand. I nce back at Ss who gives me a thumbs up. Chapter 7

    §±

    Yes, I agree with this gargantuan man, I am a little wolfpared to all these very big Lycans. The courtyard doesn''t look the way it did when we left the castle at noon. The yard is illuminated by old-timey streetmps. The kind that you find in a cute little town where one family owns everything and everyone is forced to love them because without said family they wouldn''t be there. There is food serup along the aisles and everyone is dressed in what I believe is their finest clothes, but might just be their casual wear for Wednesday. At least, I think it''s Wednesday.

    ô~

 Bait Novel 8

    ?

    Chapter 8 Perry

    "I feel very underdressed all of a sudden," I whisper.

    "You are, he chuckles and pulls me closer.

    As long as he doesn''t mind, neither do I.

    "My King, two men address him as we approach.

    Their very electric eyesnd on me and I am forced to push my wolf back. My skin ripples as she pushes me to try neutralize the threat before me. A growl works its way up my throat and I have no choice but to embrace my litt

    "What the f***k are you staring at?" I all but spit at the two of them. They both smile and look up at the King.

    wolf.

    "Forgive, my Queen. She''s been getting acquainted with the town and she can be a little hostile when she''s hungry, the King grins

    Their eyes change. Their threat fades when he smiles for them, no. Not for them. His eyes are on me. He''s had practice putting on a good show. His movements and smiles are smooth and almost genuine. I can work with that.

    "I apologize for my rudeness, Mydy, the two of them say at the same time and bow. I roll my eyes and shrug it off. The King clears his throat. "No harm done," I say as politely as I can. He lets out a breathyugh

    "Perry, these are the acting alphas scouting the surroundings of your new office, he informs me. Jonathan and Christopher. They are in charge of keeping you safe,"

    "Oh." I nod. "Then I guess I have to apologize myself. I''m sorry for my rudeness. I''m not used to being around real power like this. It has my wolf on edge. My name is Pernicous Phur-uh. Prince,

    "Pernicous?" Christopher asks and I swear there''s recognition in his gaze. "You''re Darren''s former mate. I am so sorry for your loss,"

    "What the f***?" I look up at the King.

    ''Forgive me, my King. Darren Phurry is the son of Eliza Roman. She was mated to a wolf. I believe his name is he sighs scratching the back of his head.

    "Jacob, I provide.

    "Yes," he nods.

    "You were mated to a Lycan?" the King asks me.

    "Not to my recoglection. I didn''t know Darren''s mother was a Lycan, I shrug. Jake could have f****g warned me. Now look at me. I look like a f***g idiot. "He didn''t shift like one,"This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Common in half b***ds," Jonathan nods. "Wee to

    ifion Way, mydy. We hope you enjoy your s

    I have to bite back myughter from the way he says it because there is clearly a hidden meaning behind it. The King acknowledges it and growls at hilm. The two of them take a step back.

    "It was nice meetings

    you, I wave at them as the King guides me away.

    "You are just full of little annoying surprises, he growls as we approach the food. "Eat,"

    "F***k yeah." I murmur to myself. "I am starving."

    79%

    I snag a grape off one of the trays and flick it up in the air. I open my mouth to catch it but he beats me to it. I growl at him and take another, this time I put it in my mouth and chew it while I re back at him.

    "You''re lively," he smirks.

    "Well, I got a cool new job where I don''t have to deal with a f***g a***e like Calvin. I am living in a big a***castle that was carved into the side of a mountain nine hundred and twenty-six years ago. There is a shit ton of food and I get to sleep after this," I take a warm bread roll off another tray. It sells like melted butter and parmesan. I rip it in half and take a bite. This is so f****g good." I say and offer him the other piece. "Try it," ¡°All right,¡± he says and bends down to take from me with his mouth

    "What the ***k?" Iugh and look around hoping no one is looking but everyone is watching. The light chatter stops as they stare at the two of us. "What the ***k?"

    "It''s a traditional thing for us," he exins. "You don''t feed anyone but your mate,"

    "Oh, that''s why you''re so weird about the food," I thought it was a kink.

    "This is a serious matter. Perry. No one else," he warns.

    "You got it" I nod.

    "Mydy," a woman approaches us and offers me a golden te I take it from her. This girl has to be at least six-four.

    "Perry, this is Andromeda. My little sister, he introduces her casually.

    "Umm," I look around and find a napkin to wipe my hands and my idiot face. "Holy shit, you''re a princess," I offer her my hand. She grins and takes it. "Wow, I totally see the resemnce,

    You''ve got a lively one this time, brother, she looks up at him.

    They have the same prettyvender-shaded eyes. The same creepy glow in their skin. Her hair is also a dark gray shade, but hers is almost charcoal

    in this lighting. It sits on her shoulder in perfect waves. She''s wearing a baby blue satin gown that glides wlessly down her beautiful body. She''s got what I think might be a tribal tattoo or rank markings on her right arm. They''re the same shade as her hair.

    "You are gorgeous. It almost hurts to look at you, I blurt out and she grins.

    "You''re quite beautiful yourself," she says. Her voice is deep, but at the same time insanely feminine and proper.

    "I''m Perry, by the way,"

    "Perry. It''s cute," she smiles and then looks up at the King. ¡°Mother wants to speak with you. Why don''t you go up to your study and I keep an eye on our she pauses looking down at me "Little wolf,"

    "If anything happens to her, he growls.

    I''ve got her, she rolls her eyes at him. He turns his attention to me. His yful demeanor

    worried about the gorgeous Amazonian woman behind him.

    ¡°Eat. Try not to start anything. Stay with Annie,"

    "Yes, my King, bow, Sheughs.

    long gone

    and I start to feel

    Thu, Oct

    "You don''t have to call me that,"

    "You haven''t formally introduced yourself as anything else, I remind him. His eyes slit as he leans in with a low threatening growl rumbling in his chest. My heart starts to race and I try to take a step back but he grabs me by my shoulders.

    ¡°Fine, address me as your king," his lips brush against mine just slightly before he pulls away and storms off

    "Holy shit, I thought I was going to die, I blurt out cing my hand on my chest. I look up at his hot sister when sheughs,

    You have no idea what it is you''ve stumbled into, little wolf," she says.

    "You''re not wrong," I take the ce and start grabbing stuff. I decide that it doesn''t matter what I eat as long as it''s food.

    "I heard you were mated to a Roman,"

    I didn''t know and it was a while ago, 1 stuff what I think is a thin slice of chicken in my mouth.

    "It was probably for their safety," she says. "It exins why you''re so tall for a wolf. Why your aggression is as bad as an alpha''s

    "No way. Really?"

    "Mhm," she nods. "A Lycan''s bite changes the anatomy of a mate. Not just anyone can survive a bite of a Lycan. Even Lycans themselves. It''s why there are very little females,"

    That''s incredibly sad. Why the f***k didn''t Jacob tell me when I went to see him earlier?

    "I''m sorry," I find myself sympathizing. Are you mated?"

    "No," she shakes her head. Tm not old enough;

    "Wait, how old are you?"

    "Fifteen,

    "You''re fifteen?" I almost shout. Sheughs

    "Yeah, she nods. T''ll be sixteen in a couple of days. It''s why we''re here. My mom is hoping my mate is here."

    "Are you excited?" I ask

    ¡°F***k no,¡± she shakes her head. "Were you?"

    "Honestly, I was scared to shift mostly. Darren guided me through it. I didn''t know why at first we kind of fought a lot. Then when it was over, I couldn''t think of anyone better,"

    I''ve never said that to anyone before. I mean I guess my change spoke for itself, but saying that out loud somehow feels like. a weight off my shoulders.

    "Not even the Lycan King?" she smirks.

    "He''s kind of an a***e. He seems a little lost," I admit.

    "Very," she sighs. "What was your mate like?"

    "An a***e," we bothugh. "But he was the smartest person I knew. He pushed me. be the best version of myself. I''m kind ofpetitive and I think he liked that about me. We were both betas so there was plenty topete over and then we found out we were meant to be together," Chapter 8

    I''ve lost my appetite

    I''m sorry," she says softly. "I didn''t mean to make you sad,"

    "It''s okay. It''s something that never goes away. I''ve never had to talk about him before. The pack just swept his death under the table and acted like he never existed,"

    "That must have been hard," she pats my head the same way the King does. Iugh and force myself to finish my food. A waiteres over with a tray and on it is champagne, My body wants it. Craves it, but I decline it anyway. "It''s kind of rude to say no. Andromeda whispers. ¡°They''re here for you."

    "Oh, I say and take the chute when the waiter offers nie one.

    I stare down at the golden bubbly drink. When I look up I see her looking at me expectantly. I take a sip and my wolf immediately takesfort in it. I force myself not to clown the whole thing at once.

    "Is it good!" she asks.

    "It''s bitter," I shake my head.

    "Well, well, well," Andromeda gasps and takes a step back as a man, the spitting image of the King walks out of the castle and into the courtyard. "What is this? A little wolf in Clifton Way? You must be my brother''s new squeeze, heughs. "Allow me to introduce myself, mydy," he tucks his arm over his belly and bows. "My name is James Prince. The second heir to the throne. You might have heard of me already,"

    0

    Peny

 Bait Novel 9

    ?

    0

    Peny

    It''s one thing longing for death and apletely different one to stare right at it. James is a younger version of the King. They''re about the same size, but it''s obvious that Jonas is the eldest. This man has a very threatening aura and it''s not like the King''s. This one, this one is a lot like me. He''s dead inside. A tran looking for a way out. It''s in his carefree attitude. The devious smirk on his face. The way he''s dressed.

    He''s got on ripped skinny jeans. A Falling In Reverse band T-shirt, a dark blue hoodie, and a denim vest. I really like the boots he''s wearing. I bet they''re steal-toed. The courtyard has once again gonepletely silent.

    "Can''t say that I have. I say lowering the chute. I step in front of the teenage Lycan next to me and push her behind me. Heughs at me.

    You''ve got a little more sp***nk than the other wolf trash he''s brought here," he says. His eyes glow purple and I let the wolf speak for me. She growls push against my skin, Showing him that his threat is more t

    steps closered

    "Take a step back," I warn him. He takes one forward. Andromeda grips my wrist making me drop the chute. My ws elongate and this time, I focus on my wolf. 1 threaten him as he leans in to sniff me. When she tries to get closer I shove him. My ws cut through his t-shirt. I told you to take a step back, a****le,"

    "You''re going to be a lot fun," he grins showing me his big pointy canines.

    "You''re not supposed to be here, James," Andromeda says timidly. This a**e finally takes a step back and looks i sup at her.

    "I heard you were in town, baby sister," he puts away his canines and calms down. "You''re going to be shifting this full moon. You didn''t think I''d miss that, did you? Brought a few friends your age. Maybe one could be your fate, he reaches for her. and without thinking I p his hand away warning him again. His eyes snap back to me and his nose res, Andromeda lets go of me and steps back. "Really?"

    ¡°Don''t f****g touch her," I growl. My wolf pushes against my skin again, this time preparing to

    shift.

    "Why don''t I just save us the time-" he growls releasing his ws. "And I just kill you now?"

    I take a step back when his massive hand swipes at me. I go low kicking the inside of his left ankle while I grip his wrist. His feet give out and his knee hits the gray brick hard enough for the crack to echo in the courtyard. I take a step back pushing Andromeda when he howls in pain. He looks up at me and my blood runs cold as his face starts to change.

    A loud growl stops everyone, including James. I push Andromeda further away from him as the King storms out of the castle and goes straight for his brother.

    "Jonas!" a woman shouts from behind him just as he releases his ws to attack. He stops without taking his eyes off his brother.

    James pants as he tries to get up, but falters. His eyese back at me and I smirk knowing that his knee is probably fractured. That was a move learned for my mate hack when we were always at each other''s throats. He dislocated my kneecap. He spent three weeks apologizing to me after. We got matching tattoos when the east came off to celebrate.

    "She attacked me," he growls,

    You started it," Andromeda shouts from behind me.

    "You did," I smile. He growls at me again only to be met with the King''s re.

    "Get the f****k out of my house," he says calmly and it''s a lot more terrifying than when he''s annoyed.

    "I''m injured," James says yfully. The woman at the top of the stairs rushes down and steps between them. I''m guessing

    111

    she''s their mother. "This s***id little wolf hurt me."

    "You''re the f***g idiot that let a wolf hurt you," the King scoff Take him to the clinic. Get him the fuck out of here,"

    Ss and a few others step forward and lift him off the ground. His eyes stay on me until he disappears inside. I flinch bark when the King turns to look at me. His eyes are pitch ck. His purple irises are glowing. I stay still as he approaches me.

    "I''m sorry," I choke out from the force of his dominance. I lower my head in submission unable to keep eye contact with him. I almost jump out of my skin when his wed finger tucks der my chin and makes me look up at him again. "Im.

    sorry

    "What are you sorry for, Little Wolf?" he asks gently.

    "I don''t know," I admit. "You''ve got demon eyes,"

    He sighs and lets his head fall back. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. His hand goes back to normal and when he looks at me agai his eyes are softvender. He smiles and looks over my head at his sister.

    "Are you okay?"

    Yeah, the little wolf protected me," she says softly.

    "She did?" the woman behind him asks.

    "Mother, this is Perry," he says looking down at me. "Perry, this is my mother. Queen Alegra Prince, Itake a step back and bow to her.

    That was very reckless of you," she scolds me. My son is a Lycan Alpha. Why would you do that?"

    "She''s just a kid," I say without looking up at her. It feels disrespectful too.

    "Thank you, Perry," she steps closer, and like her son she makes me look up at her. "You don''t have to bow your head to any of us. You are part of this family for however long you will be here. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, my Queen," I nod.

    "Ally," she corrects me. "You''ve earned at least that, Perry,"

    "Ally," I agree.

    "Get her out of here, Jon

    I''ll take care of the rest,

    ¡°Come, the King holds out his hand. I nce back at his sister.

    "Thanks," she smiles tightly. I give her a nod and take the King''s hand. He grips mine tightly and pulls me into his side. T almost fall when he pushes me in front of him when we''re inside.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Are

    you out of your mind?" he roars. I take a few steps back as hees closer to me. "He could have killed you,"

    no

    ¡°I thought that was the point,¡± I put my hands up defensively. He growls looking me over.

    "Did he hurt you?" he demands.

    "No, he didn''t touch me,

    "If you die before I can mark you all

    of this would have been for nothing," he grabs my wrist and pulls me with him.

    I have to run to keep up with him as he takes us to the elevator. I keep my head down suddenly feeling overwhelmed. No

    79%@

    one has ever yelled at me like that. I mean, yeah. Darren used to do it all the time, but it''s been a reprimanded. I''m not sure why, but I get weepy. long time since I''ve been

    1 fight against my st**trembling lip to no avail. Hot tears slide clown my face as I stare at my arm in his massive hand. He could snap it with a flick of his wrist and I''d just have to stand here and take it. I can feel the rageing off his body.

    "Why are you crying?" he demands. The door pings and then opens. He pulls me with him as he takes me down the corridor to my room

    "I asked you a question, Pernicious," he says angrily.

    You''re yelling at me. Lanswer st***pidly.

    We stop in front of my door and he finally releases me. My hand immediately goes to my wrist. It hurts. I look down to see the red marks starting to form. My wolf is howling with anger because of the way I am being treated. However, there''s nothing I can do or say. First off, he''s the King. Second, he owns the. I''m his property. He can do with me as he pleases. Legally.

    "I can''t believe he''s here," he growls turning away.

    I jump when his fist goes through the door across from mine. I step back until I''m pressed again door behind me trying to make myself as small as I possibly can. He roars and hits again and again until it''s just pieces on the floor. He grips the frame to hold himself up as he pants deep paintilled growls.

    More tears slide down my face because holy shit. The man who took everything from him was just standing in his home as if nothing had happened and there wasn''t a single thing he could do in front of his mother and sister. I smell his dispair in the air around us and all I can do is stand here and

    watch the most terrifying creature I''ve everid my eyes on fall apart.

    "I could really use a drink, right now," I sniffle and wipe my face

    "Yeah, me too," he chokes

    CEND GIFT

 Bait Novel 10

    ?

    Chapter 10 Panty

    The King pushes off the door frame and looks back at me and motions me to follow him into the room. He steps over the pieces of thick oak wood I can''t believe he broke it apart like it was nothing. These doors are heavy as f***k.

    The room is heavily scented with him. It''s a floral scent. Likevender and vani, but also dark and s**y. Peppermint maybe? Whatever it is, it''s nice. I can barely breathe around him because he''s always so f***g hostile. So this is the first time I can take in his scent properly.

    "I wouldn''t be able to hold back." I whisper when he hands me a ss with a huge ice ball.

    "You''ve been alone a long time, he says andes over with a battle.

    It''s squared and filled with a dark liquid. He fills my ss to the top and drinks out of the bottle. I take a sip and my taste budse alive. Whatever this is, it''s strong and sweet like caramel. I take in a mouthful and I''m able to breathe properly again. He offers me a tissue and I take it.

    ¡°I didn''t mean to cry, I find myself saying. Why am I even apologizing for that? "It''s been a while since I''ve felt this empathetic

    Tm sorry," he says sitting on his massive bed. It''s a lot like the one in my room. Everything in his room is ck and velvet red. There''s a Victorian vampire-esque vibe to the ce. Something straight out of a movie. "I lost control. Are you okay?"

    Yeah. I nod looking down at my wrist.

    It''s bright red and where his fingers dug into my skin, it''s lifted and it stings because I wiped my tears like a toddler who had just been scolded for breaking a vase or something. He puts the bottle on the carpet and gets up toe see for himself.

    "Shit," he sighs when he turns it over.

    "It''s fine." I try to pull it back.

    He tightens his hold but not like before. Just enough to get me to stop moving. He lifts my arm up and I watch as he licks the lifted skin a few times. My skin breaks out in goosebumps as he continues to lick me. He doesn''t let me go when he stops. The pain fades a little and the lifted skin visibly starts to repair itself. The swelling goes down and then disappears into what''s going to be a bruise.

    "Better?"

    "How did you do that?" I ask looking up at him.

    The

    enzymes in my spit. You can''t do that?"

    "Nope," I say looking down at my arm again. The scratches are gone. "I have to admit that was actually really f*****g cool,"

    "You don''t respond to stimuli the way I expect you to," he says.

    "You mean how you''ve been trying to f*** me since I arrivedugh. He smirks. You remind me of him,¡±

    Your mate?"

    "Yeah, he had a temper. He was very demanding and he never stuttered so when he wanted something all he had to do was ask. I guess I don''t respond to it because I can smell your pain. Your rage. It''s one of the reasons why I was so good at being a hunter. My sense of smell,"

    "I thought I masked it better," he goes back to the bed.

    1/3

    |||

    Chapterio

    "You do. You mask it very well. I''m just close enough to know what it is I give off the same scent when I''m sober."

    "Have you been with anyone since?"

    "No I shake my head. "It''s probably why I''m such a raging b****?

    79%

    "Probably," he smiles and lifts the bottle off the floor to his lips. m sorry I scared you," he smirks. "Didn''t think you were capable of being scared." Wrong. I''ve got a death wish, but I''m not dead yet, I finish the drink. My head swins a little. ¡°This is strong as hell,¡±

    "Yeah, it''s called woll''s hane. We make it. We don''t do that weak mortal **t here," he lifts the bottle to offer me some more.

    "If I drink more. I''m probably going to do something ***," I shake my head..

    "You''ve been waking up every day for the past five years to do something s**id, little wolf. Come sit over here and do something s**id with me,¡± ry Prince is body is perfection. I''ve

    I stare at him for a moment. It might be the drink, but I doubt it. He''s not wrong. I admit, Jon phenomenally beautiful. Him and his st***d gorgeous eyes and his creepy f***g glowing ska never given this a thought. I''ve never wanted anyone to touch me and he''s had his hands all over me since I was on my knees in front of him in handcuffs this morning.

    To say that I didn''t like it would be a lie. I know I''m going to f****g hate myself and him after, but the pain it''s going to cause me. It''s probably going to be worth it. It''ll feel disgusting. It''ll feel wrong and when I get to whatever afterlife awaits me. Darren himself will probably be just as disgusted with me as I will be with myself. And it will be all his fault for focking leaving me here all alone.

    "Yeah," I say and go over to him. I set the ss down and take the bottle from him. He lets out a huff as I drink out of it.

    "I should warn you. I don''t know how to be gentle anymore," he says when I hand him the bottle back.

    "That''s probably a good thing and we should probably move this to my room. It has a door," I point at the mess he made. Heughs.

    "You''ve been here one day," he says standing up. "And it honestly feels like I''m a lot closer to where I need to be."

    "Careful, that was almost romantic," Iugh. He grins and offers me his hand. I take it. He pulls me up and leads me out of

    the room

    As soon as we''re through the door he pushes me against the wall without dropping the bottle. His mouth is ommine before the door shuts. He growls using one of his big a*** hands to pin my arms over my head as our mouths move in sync.

    There''s this guilty f*** pleasure in the way it feels like he''s devouring me to spite. We both hate this and there''s a sense offort in knowing that this is wrong. That neither one of us wants to be here doing this.

    My wolf surfaces and I shove him back to take a deep breath. I take the bottle from him and take a big drink before going for his shirt. He growls approvingly when I tear it off and push him back until he falls onto the bed. I don''t hesitate to straddle him and he doesn''t hesitate to rip at my nylons. "I''ve been thinking about you walking around my territory without anything underneath this s****d little dress," he says. Iugh feeling the full of effect of the liquor. "You''re kind of beautiful, Pernicious,"

    ¡°In a feral wolf kind of way?" I ask reaching for his belt.

    "In a crazy catdy kind of way he growls and reaches between my legs. You''re wet,"

    "Well, you''re hot," I shrug. "And you''re kind of an a****le. I have a thing about demanding pieces of s*** who don''t know how

    to take no for an answer.

    2/3

    This f***g thing,¡± he gronds at my dress. He grips the front ofar and pulls tearing it in two.

    "It has sps." Iugh.

    Tuck that," he pulls it clean off my body.

    He tears my shirt down the middle and pushes it back enough to expose my breasts. His eyes stay on the three huge w. marks from the gorgon 1 soloed hoping it would kill me. For a moment, I think he''s lost his mood but then he slides his hand up my back pulling me into him, and takes my nipple into his mouth and sucks hard.This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    The pain shoots through my body and I grind myself against him. I haven''t been aroused in so long that my lower belly aches from how turned on 1 am. I am moments away from cuming and he''s biting on me like he can''t get enough.

    ¡°F***k, Lycan King I''m going to c***m,¡±

    "You''re so f***g stubborn," he growls and turns us over so he can pin me to the bed.

    "Introductions are important. I understand if you need time to get there." I moan when he switches to my right breast.

    "After this, I''m not going to need an introduction," heughs.

    He pulls away and wraps his arms around my thighs to pull me to the edge of the bed.

    "You need an introduction, my King, I scream when hetches onto my***t without warning. My hand slips into his s**d silver-ish hair.

    You just keep calling me that," he bites me.

    The f***g a****le bites my c**t and I c*** so hard my vision darkens for a second. I squeeze my thighs around his head. keeping here there and he just keeps sucking.

    "Holy s***t, Lycan King. I cry out.

    "You almost crushed my head," heughs looking up at me. "I haven''t even started yet,"

    3/3

 Bait Novel 11

    ?

    Chapter 11 Jonas

    Lust is a verymon trait among my kind. It''s an outlet we learn at a very young age. I lost my virginity when I was thirteen to the girl who used to babysit me and my brother when we were kids. Pernicious is a very beautiful girl. But what really makes her endearing is her smart mouth and she''s been pushing my buttons from the moment we met this morning,

    Perry has a very sweet buttery scent. C***t and burnt sugar, caught it when she walked out of the shower after Laura cleaned her up. Her body is amazing. Her wide hips, her perfectly round breasts, and her long powerful legs. She might be a mess but the upkeep of her physique never faltered. She tastes phenomenal. She feels so good in my arms, Yet, I can''t help but hate her for making me want her this bad. Wolves. are all like this. They''re beautiful line things. This one borders en feral. She hasn''t quite hit that stage yet, but that burnt sugar scent on her soft skin says she''s close to it. She might have lost it if her former alpha had tossed her out of the park I''ve had my fair share of she-wolves before Eve and a lot more after. But this one, there''s an inno

    wrong way.

    hat abs me the

    She smells like war. Somewhere between rage and suffering. It''s probably all she''s ever known. It''smon in city wolves. The cold way she looks at me tells me that she hates this just as much as I do and I take sce in the fact that this means very little to her. The sex itself, because if this really is the first time she''s f****d anyone since losing her mate, the aftermath is going suck and I''m going to feel it through our newly formed bond. A sick part of me can''t wait for it. The first time I put a mark on wolf after Eve, I came alive again. Her name was Hailey. She''d never been mated before and she liked that I was the King She liked that I was granting her status and when we f***d. I felt her falling in love with the way I touched her. I was d to be rid of her when James'' men killed her.

    This is what I want Someone who f*** understands what it''s like to lose everything that means life itself. I want to feel her pain and mine. I want to know the torment in these dark chocte brown eyes staring back at me.

    I can see my hands wrapping around her slender neck. I can picture myself squeezing the life out of her. Not that there''s much left in them anyway. I want this little wolf to destroy what''s left. I want her to be the thing that pushes me over the edge so that I can end that f*** piece shit once and for all Even if my family is watching. For my father, for Evangeline, and for my daughter.

    I saw her kick him. Her technique was wless. His knee hit the ground hard and the sound it made, music to my ears. She protected my sister. She didn''t need to do that. She didn''t need to offer me a piece of her bread either. Perry doesn''t understand what it means, but when she held it up for me, I couldn''t deny her offering

    This is it. This is what I''ve been looking for these past eight years

    Her hands grip theforter when I slip a finger inside her wet p***y. She wasn''t lying. She''s tight, she''s going to need some adjusting I''d hurt her if I f**k her like this

    I''ve never hurt one of them. I lost control when I saw James about to shifi. A part of me panicked thinking he was going to kill her before I could set my n in motion. He knows about her now. He''s going to be scouting the territory to see when he can get her alone,

    ¡°F***k," she moans trying to grind herself against my hand. I add another finger and then a third needing to stretch her out a little more. "That''s a lot, sheins but she doesn''t stop grinding.

    Just trying to open you up, little wolf," I groan.

    I''m hard steel and she''s not making it any easier. Her body is responding to me the way I want. I press my thumb to her swollen little nub and shees apart for me a second time.

    "Please," she pleads

    She''s still wearing the nylons and her sneakers. I pull them off, toss them aside, and rip what''s left of the ck fabric as I get

    1/3

    my jeans off. I stop to take her in. The scars are bothering me. These aren''t wolf scars and they''re not Lycan scars. They re deep. Even for a wolf, scars never stay and they sure as***k dor look as bad as these.

    They look like she let them heal on their own without stitching them up.

    1 li her up a bit to push her up the bed toward the pillows. I''m going to mark her before I get inside of her. We''re

    e going to spend the next week in here f****g as her first Lycan heat takes over in a few hours. I can feel the sway of the full moon closing in and the rut that follows

    I usually spend those three days sedated in my room, but what''s a mute for if not this?

    "I need your consent. I tell her reaching between her legs again

    Tve consented a couple of times already," she pants,

    "For my mark, smart a**** I growl licking the sweat heading on her chest. She tenses up for a second a

    Fear has been the only emotion she''s graced me with all day. I''m very familiar with it. The other she wolves were a lot smaller and a lot more

    submissive than this one. It makes sense considering she was mated to Lycan Aristocrat. He might not have taken our form because of his father, but he was one of us

    It exins why she''s so aggressive. Why she grew to be as big as she is. Why her entire world imploded when he died. He changed her anatomy to be closer to ours with his mark and I''m only going to make it worse with my own. Everything she feels now, it''s going to intensify by a hundred. She''s going to be stronger, fiercer. Her pain will grow with my own.

    "1" she swallows hard. "I consent," she nods. "You can mark me,"

    I lean in taking one of her peaks into my mouth again. I have to start again. Make her submit to my touch again or this is going to physically hurt a lot more than it has to. She gives in a second time, moaning and calling me by my

    dtle

    Why is it so important for me to introduce myself? She knows my name. Ss told me everything the two of them talked about. Including him being on her list of traitors. We bothughed, but she has every right to be suspicious of everyone around her until she has the answers she wants. There is no doubt in my mind that she wishes with every fiber of her being to stop existing, but that''s what makes her dangerous. She''s looking for the most glorious way out of this shit hole. She wants to go down in mes taking everything around her to the grave and I respect the f***k out of that because I''ve wanted the same thing for so long. It would be an insult to our families, our people, and our mates to take the coward''s way out ¡°Take a deep breath for me, little wolf," I warn her and move up to her neck. She quickly turns her head.

    "Not there," she says quietly.

    "Okay, I press a kiss to her neck.

    I can give her that. Leave his ce untouched. I don''t want to take anything from her. She doesn''t know this, but when I paid that dum** alpha. 1 freed her from a hell worse than the one find myself inThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    It must have been agony to watch the b**h that got my mate killed be happy with his mate. To hear him announce their future and parade their love in front of her like some cruel sick joke. That entire pack deserves to f***g burn for letting her live that way for so long.

    And the way he treated her. If I survive this. If we survive this. I take her back there and we can burn the ce down together. I''ll kill her with my bare hands and bury her next to him where they can be together forever. I''ll owe her that much.

    2/3

 Bait Novel 12

    ?

    Chapter 12 Jonas

    My teeth sink into her skin. Her ves dig into my back as 1 position myself at her entrance rubbing myself on her preparing her tightness to take me. My lile wolf gives me exactly what I''m asking for. The sound thates out of her is something between pure pleasure and agonizing pain. I staytched onto her neck as I slowly push in and pull out stretching her with my c***k. She''s tighter than I thought she would be. It''s almost painful, but she''s taking the so well. She feels amazing. There''s no resistance.

    I release her. Her blood floods into my mouth and my beast side marvels in her sweet taste. My mouth salivates and I let it drip down into her wound so it heals with my essence. So the mark is mine and mine alone.

    Perry isn''t interested in what I''m doing to her neck. She''s rocking her hips taking more and more and loops her leg around me and pushes me so I roll on my back. She climbs on top of me in a ci my cock in her hand giving it a few strokes before she lowers herself onto it.

    "Fuck." I groan watching as she takes what she wants.

    She finally s

    ag position and takes

    Not once does she look up at me. It doesn''t matter that I''m not the one she''s here with. It doesn''t hurt knowing that she''s thinking of him. I want her to. I want her to let this moment break her down so that when she bites me and her soul entangles with mine, it destroys us both.

    She lowers her knees, ces her hands on my stomach, and tosses her head back. I''m all the way inside of her. I can outline of my c***k in her lower abdomen every time shees down on me hard.

    the

    The wolf inside of her is very present. Her ws are out. Her moans are closer to a growl Her eyes are glowing amber. She''s a vision. Perfect in her own way. It doesn''t take her long to get me there. I can feel my balls tightening up as she rides me like I''ve never been f***g ridden before. Just as my c* g**ives a jerk she growls and she''s at my chest.

    Not my neck. I don''t think she gives a f**k if anyone can see it. I want everyone to see hers, but that''s obviously not important to her. Her teeth sink into the top of my left pec. I growl when she pulls them out and then f***g bites me a second time going deeper. I release inside of her as the bond starts to bind us.

    Perry gasps for air and sits up taking me inside her to the hilt. Blood drips down her chin, her neck, and chest before it hits my stomach. She made a mess and couldn''t care less. It''s beautiful Just like her.

    It starts off hot. A searing sensationing from inside of her like wildfire taking over all of my senses. Our bond snaps into ce and I understand the tortured look in her eyes that much more. There is so much of it that my eyes instantly fill with tears. I sit up wrapping my arm around her waist to keep her moving when she starts to slow down. I don''t want her to slow down. I want more of her. All of her.

    My ears ring, my vision blurs, and my chest aches with her pain. I turn over again pushing her legs up high so I can get further inside. So I can feel more of her soul burning away at mine. My chest hurts as my heart slows for her. She cries out as hers does the same for me. I bury myself inside of her and press try mouth to hers as our hearts start to beat in sync.

    She cries out his name and it shatters what little empathy I have left.

    I don''t stop and she doesn''t ask me to. Pernicious Phurry is the gift that keeps on giving F***k, I expected her pain. Her sorrow. But there''s more than that. There''s a warmth to her not at all like the hellfire of her pain. Love. An infinite void of it and it''s all for him.

    I loved Eve. I loved Eve down to my soul from the moment Iid eyes on her. But I was only with her for two years before he took her away. It never got to be this. She never got to be my best friend. She never got to be the mother of our daughter. I never let myself think of that before. Not until Perry''s soultched itself to mine.

    This feels so ** intrusive. So f*** wrong on every aspect of this mating. I can feel her rageshing out at me and my own weing it. The two battle for dominance inside of us and hers is winning

    She c***ms on my d***k a couple of times before she finally pushe ne away and runs into the bathroom. Her pain is suffocating. The water in the bathroom turns on as I try to catch my breath. I wipe the blood and tears away and justy here feeling all of her emotions flood through me along with my own

    My body responds to the cry she lets out in the bathroom, but I don''t move to go to her. I can''t, I can''t even breathe properly. Images of a man I''ve never met in my life flood into my head as our bond strengthens. The longing, the solitude, the guilt. She looked like apletely different person in that life. Little bittersweet memories of the two of them y in my head. She was so young when it happened. She still is. Her understanding of the world is a lot different from my own. I find myself realizing how sheltered I''ve been my entire life.

    The scent of her arousal hits me after a while and 1 shut her out of my head. I get up and go to the bathroom to find it steaming. She''s sitting under the spray. Her eyes changed color. Taking dark undertones of purple, gold, and brown. That never happened with the other she-wolves but then again, none of them have ever been like her. Perry is one in a million.

    Her mascara is running down her face as her big sad eyes look up at me. Her skin is bright red from the hot water. I get into the shower with her and crouch down in front of her. Her eyes are puffy. Her cheeks are bright pink from the heat of the shower, the crying, the f**. She looks like I feel Destroyed. Torn

    "Hey I say gently so I don''t startle her.

    "Hi" she says quietly, I offer her my hand. She looks at it and then back up at me.

    "My name is Jonas,"

    Jonas she repeats and it sounds great rolling off her pouty pink lips. "What''s happening to me?"

    You''re going into your first heat as a Lycan. Your body is going to change. Maybe get a little bigger."

    "You''re not going to get me pregnant are you?" she res at me.

    "No, that doesn''t happen until your body has fully adapted to amodate mine,"

    "What does that mean!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Your body will change so that one day I can f***k you in my Lycan form. It''s the only way we can procreate. And I assure you, that''s never going to happen,

    "You promise?" she asks looking my body over.

    "I promise you, Perry," I nod. She takes my hand and lets me pull her up with me.

    "What now?"

    "I want to spend the next week f****g you over and over until I can''t anymore, I admit

    "I can feel your hate for me," she says cing her hand on my chest

    1 tip her head back and press my lips to hers. She reaches up wrapping her arms around me to pull me closer. I really like the way she kisses me. It was resilient at first, but once she gives in. I don''t want to stop.

    "I can feel your hate for us both," I say against her lips. I reach down gripping her thighs to lift her. She doesn''t hesitate to wrap her legs around me while I pin her to the wall "You''re a strong little wolf," I lift her enough to position myself between her legs again. I lower her onto my c**k. The sound she makes this time is a little less angry and a little more submissive. "You''re going to do as I say, right?"

    "Yes," she nods as I work her hips into mine.

    "Good girl," I reach for the nob and turn the water off. She didn''t even bother with the cold water. "I''ll give you exactly what you want, Pernicious. I''ll start with this until you take yourst breath,"

 Bait Novel 13

    ?

    Chapter 13 Perry

    The first time I ever shifted, I felt what freedom felt like for the first time in my life. In the days leading up to the full moon, I had been itchy in my own skin. My mind raced all hours of the day. I was irritable and I couldn''t stand to be around anyone. Especially Darren,

    He was six months older than me. Which meant he shifted six months before I did and I was so salty about that. How dare he get his wolf before me. I''d watch as he surpassed me physically and it p***d me off. It made me more upset that he wanted to be around me more to rub it in my face.

    Iypletely naked in the middle of the grass fields just outside the city. The sky was spectacr from here. I had a full view of the moon and the clear summer night sky. My wolf is a little temperamental. She has no problem being heard.

    "You''re perfect,"

    His voice was the same, Deep, sultry. Yet, the sound of it was brand new to me. It had me sitting up it had my wolf pushing against my skin calling out to him. He came around and stopped right in front of me. His scent had me drooling. I remember taking it in, letting it overwhelm my senses. "You''ve known for six months?" I ask him.

    "Baby, I knew from the moment I saw you," heughed. "You''re mine and you''re always going to be mine.

    Ive had this dream almost every day since he was taken away, and this is the first time it has turned into a nightmare. When I look up. it''s not Darren standing in front of me. It''s him. The Lycan King.

    I jolt awake taking in deep breaths. My hands immediatelye up to my face to wipe the tears as I try to catch my breath. The smell of sex and blood permeates my bed and it makes me gag I get up and run into the bathroom. I throw §áp little white chunks of what I''m thinking is bread. The taste of oranges and other fruitses up with it.

    What the f*** happened to me? Thest thing I remember is marking the King. His pain and rage had overwhelmed me and I just gave into it. It had been so long since I''d felt someone else''s soul reach out to mine the way he had. It felt like a cold wave of water falling on me from above. It tried to crush me. Tried to drown me and as expected, I f***g hate him

    for this

    For making me understand. For making me feel so alive.

    1 hate myself for allowing him to put his hands on me. To touch me in ces only my true mate had. The way he kissed me. It''s official, there''s nothing else but this. The anger. The pain. The longing for a life I know is never going to return especially now that I''ve let him in. Now that he''spletely invaded my subconscious.

    "Perry?" his voice has the little hairs on the back of my neck standing.

    "Give me a minute," I say into the toilet.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "I don''t mind taking care of you," hees in anyway and pulls my hair back. He flushes the toilet and as my skin and body reacts to him, I heave again.

    It''s not the first time I wake up sick to my stomach, but it is the first time I wake up sick to my stomach without throwing up whatever liquor had put my on my a*** the night before. I rotate my shoulders and crank my neck until it pops hard enough to make my body twitch. Other than this, I feel good. Well rested. It''s kind of a big deal because I''m not big on sleeping

    "You didn''t have toe in here, I say pulling the lid down and flushing the toilet again. He helps me up and lets me go over to the sink

    "I did. It''s a Lycan''s nature to take care of their mate. Even in our circumstances. I physically can''t help it," he exins 11:23 Thu, Oct 17 BG

    I ssh cold water on my face and reach for the toothbrush. I can''t even look up at myself right now. I scrub my teeth hard trying to get his taste out. But with his stamling a couple of feet away, that''s not going to happen. My wolf is smitten by the big-***dominant monster. Perks of being a s**d little beta h***h.

    "How long has it been?" I ask looking over at him. He''s staring at my body. I''m still very naked and very much covered in his blood and c***m. I''m a biter and very possessive.

    "Four days," he answers...

    "Is that normal?"

    "Yeah," he nods, "How do you feel?"

    "Like I want to go back to Red Wood and light the packhouse on fire with everyone in it,"

    "Mood," he grins. "Good Your wolf had me thinking maybe you''d change your mind,"

    "Beta wolf," 1 remind him. ¡°Kind of built to be submissive. My grandmother was an omega. 5615)

    "Ah, that exins the biting," he lifts his t-shirt to show me the bites all over his stomach and chest. My eyes linger on my mark. They go lower

    You don''t look too upset, I roll my eyes at his stu***smirk. I push away from the sink and go over to the shower.

    I need a cold spray. My body is still a little feverish from the heat. I didn''t think it would be triggered as fast as it did. It could be because of what he is.

    I also didn''t think I would nk the whole thing. I don''t remember anything past the hot shower after marking him,

    "Your things are here," he tells me as I scrub him off my body.

    "Thank you." I say adding more body wash to the luffa.

    ¡°We have a little bit of a problem," he adds. I stop and turn to look at him through the ss door.

    "What kind of problem?"

    The Calvin being a p***y

    kind. He wants you to give up the rights to the house and the cars,"

    "No, I mean I don''t care about the house, but those cars were my mate''s and I''m not letting him keep them,"

    "What kind of cars are they?"

    "ssics. Darren liked to build s**t. There are two neen sixty-seven Shelby Gts. A custom neen sixty-five Imp. A neen sixty-four Jeep diator and my neen sixty-nine bug

    "D***n," he nods. How much is the house worth?"

    "I don''t know. Like eight hundred K. It''s a very big house. He wanted a big family."

    "Jesus. The kid had everything figured out for his age,"

    "That was Darren. Wanted to be the Beta of Red Wood and CEO by the time he was twenty-one," I clear my throat. "I don''t care about the house. But I want my

    We might have to go in person to get them. Finish getting ready. Your clothes are on the counter," he says and walks away.

    My skin aches from how hard I scrubbed myself. As I''m drying myself up, I notice something weird about my skin. I turn on all of the lights to see that I glisten like him.

    2/3

    79%0

    "What the f***?" I grow and go to the mirror.

    I stare back at my reflection in horror. I lean in to see my eyes have changed. They''re not dark brown anymore. They''re a dark amethyst with hints of brown and gold. Not just that, my skin is wless. There''s not a single scar or pimple blemish. Just the soft freckles I''ve gotten from being in the sun so much.

    Don''t get me wrong, it''s pretty. The only ws are the gorgon scars, but everything else is gone. I tuck my short hair behind. my car to see his mark on the left side. The bite is deep and there''s an elegant softvender design around it. It covers my entire shoulder and goes up to my jawline and behind my ear. I reach for Darren''s mark. It''s smallpared to the King''s. It''s faded over the past five years and I no longer feel anything when I press down on it. I can''t even think about doing that to the other one.

    I used to press it all the time to p** him off. To distract him throughout the day. He''de home practically tearing my clothes off cursing me for making him go about this day with a raging bo***r.

    I''m sorry," I whisper leaving my hand there.

    It surprises me that no tearse. Something''s changed. My thoughts while they have the usual ba to them, they don''t hurt. I don''t feel the weight of them. They just sit there as the cold hard truth. eptance. This ising from the King He''s epted that she''s gone. It''s something I never wanted to believe. Even after all this time, I refused to let go.

 Bait Novel 14

    ?

    Chapter 14 §²§Ö§Ù§å

    I get dressed and step out of the bathroom to see him sitting at the loveseat by the television setup. I''m d that the provided outfit today is a pair of light denim jeans and a pretty blue blouse. I look around for my shoes and I freeze when my eyesnd on the bed. "S**d f*** ***h,"This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    1 growl and go over to the bed pulling the bedspread and sheets off needing to get rid of them. How f*****g dare she nest. like this. My wolf howls inside of me pressing against my abdomen. My knees hit the floor as she cries out trying to stop me.

    "No." 1 shout and she stops. "You don''t get to do that, Crystal. You don''t get that,"

    I groan when sheshes out at me pushing against my throat to let me know she''s upset about me

    ¡°Enough, I growl falling on all fours.

    ying her nest

    I push her down gasping for air. My body is trembling with rage. She settles and then I feel her pain flood my body. I sit back on my calves and let her howl. I stay like this until she''s done. When I open my eyes the King is crouching in front of me. He lets out a heavy sigh and ces his hand on my head.

    I should have cleaned up," he says gently. "I just didn''t know how you would react to it,"

    "It''s not your fault" I shake my head feeling a little woozy,

    TII have it cleared out," he nods.

    I lower my gaze because I can''t even look at him. I can''t believe she did that. She nested for him and he let her. To say I''m upset with them both is an understatement. The first I nested, I was seventeen. I remember choosing Darren''s side of the closet and him handing me pieces of his favorite clothing and the sheets we had just made love in. He was so happy.

    "Don''t ever let her do that again, Jonas," I say looking up at him so he knows I''m serious

    "You can''t change whates naturally to her,"

    "You can do whatever you want with me, but do not torture my wolf with something that''s never going to happen. We''re not the same. I''m not like you. I''m not aplete animal. I''m asking you as a friend. Please, don''t let her do that again."

    "Okay," he agrees and stands up. He takes my hands and pulls me up. "Let''s get you out of here. I''ll have this cleaned up,

    He holds up my Vans and motions me to follow. There''s a new pair of socks inside. I slip them on and then my shoes as we walk down to the

    elevator. If my reaction bothered him, he doesn''t show it. When our bond opened up. I felt all of him. But I''m getting very little now. I stretch trying to calm myself a little more.

    "Your wolf''s name is Crystal?"

    "Yes,"

    "You named her?

    "No, she told me her name was Crystal the night we met,"

    "Exin that to me,"

    "Werewolves aren''t cursed like your kind. We''re mortal basically Just humans that were once blessed by the spirits of the past. When we turn sixteen and shift for the first time, the spirit of the wolf bound to us appears as we prepare to give in. We

    1/4

    |||

    ept each other and they free us,"

    Why do you say we''re cursed he grins

    679%

    n

    "You''re the Lycan king. Do you not know how Lycans came to be The vampires created you to take us out. When the first King found out he would be stronger joining our ranks, her turned on them. Killed the entire Royal Bloodline to free your kund from s***y,"

    "You don''t believe that ***t do you? I''ve nevere across a vampire, heughs.

    "Never

    "Have you?"

    "Yes, there is a coven just outside of Red Wood. They''re freaky,"

    "No s**t?"

    "No shit. If we go back for my cars, I''ll take you,"

    "Will you let me drive one?

    "Do you know how to drive?"

    would

    "Why w

    you assume I don''t?"

    Most Alphas are driven around. Never met one who can."

    "Are you serious?" heughs.

    "Mhun,

    "I can drive. I''ll show you my cars," he smirks. "How does a neen-year-old wolf be as rich as he did?" he holds up a tablet to show me Darren''s Wolf Bing Profile. "You two have quile the fortune,"

    "He had a hot mate that was really into making money, Iugh. He grins. "He created the algorithm for that app. He sold in for seventeen million and gave me the money to invest. Red Wood is stupid as f****k but it has really good schools. Jacob paid for us to go to the best private schools. The three of us had a really good father,

    "Three of you?"

    "Yes, Darren, Mackenzie, and me. Mack is Darren''s little sister,"

    "You have a Lycan sister-inw?"

    "I didn''t know they were Lycans," Iugh when the doors ping and then slide open. "But yeah. I guess I do,"

    "Where is she?"

    "Who f***g knows? She went crazy after Darren was killed. She was already in bad shape after their mom and baby brother died. She took off and we haven''t heard from her since. It''s probably for the best though. She was aggressive and very unpredictable. She tried to kill Morgan more than once, "I would have let her," he grins and walks out of the elevator.

    "I want to see Perry I am not leaving until I see my daughter, you big a*** f***g animal," I hear Jacob''s growl as we approach the lobby.

    "Sir, the Queen is going through a transition-"

    2/1

    hu, Oct

    [379%

    "It''s been four days. I know how long the transi" he stops when he sees the two of us walking in their direction. Ss and another Lycan step away from him. He visibly rxes. "Terry,"

    Jake, giving the Lycans a piece of your mind, huh?"

    "I was worried, he sighs and res at the King. "I thought he did something to you. I''ve heard the others talking about you being attacked by his brother,"

    He''s just a taller Calvin. Nothing I can''t handle," I go over and hug him. I didn''t notice before but I might be a little taller. My head goes past his shoulder.

    "You''re okay," he says stepping back so we''re at arus length from one another. His eyesnd on the King''s mark for a second and he nods. "You look good,"

    "Why didn''t you tell me?"

    "Step back, the King growls. We both back away from one another..

    "For our protection. All of us. Especially Mack," he answers. ¡°We can talk about this now,"

    "After she''s fed, the King growls.

    Hey, Rx-l nce back at him and link us through our bond He flinches.

    "What the f***?" he puts his hand on his head. "How did you do that?"

    You don''t have pack links?"

    "Oh Iugh. "I should have told you before,

    This never happened with the others," he says shaking his head. "I feel light-headed,"

    They probably weren''t strong enough, to make things worse my stomach grumbles.

    ¡°Come, little wolf. Let''s get you fed," he rubs his temples. That was insane. I heard you in my head,"

    "Perry!" I look back to see Andromeda and her mother walking in our direction. ¡°Ah! Look at you,"

    "Look at you," I say because she looks bigger. The marks on her arm are darker than before. She looks a lot more like her brother but also as pretty as her mom.

    "I shifted," she spins around in her cute sunflower sundress.

    "Congrattions," I say when shees over to me for a hug.

    "I knew there would be changes, but you''ve taken to the mark, Alegra greets me. She smiles putting her hand on my head. She''s still a few inches taller than me and she''s wearing heels. Her eyes move over to the man behind me.

    "Ally, this is my dad. Jacob Phurry. Jake this Queen Alegra," I introduce them. "The King''s mother,"

    "Pleasure," he says staring at her face.

    "Do we know each other?" she asks.

    ¡°Uh, we might. London, neen seventy-nine? You were Eliza''s roommate,"

    ¡°Oh, my goddess. You''re Eliza''s wolf, sheughs and holds her hand out for him. ¡°"How is she?"

    "She died about twelve years ago,

    ¡°Jacob, I am so sorry," she ces her hand on his shoulder. "How

    "Childbirth. Her body couldn''t handle a third and I couldn''t talk her into an abortion. They both died,"

    Tam so sorry," she hugs him this time. "You''re not her biological father,"

    "No, she''s my eldest''s mate,"

    ¡°Oh," she nods. "That exins everything she smiles looking back at me. "Wee to the family, Jacob. Breakfast. We can''t have hungry wolves in our home. I know your kind can be temperamental,"

    "You''re one to talk." Jacobughs. I didn''t know you were mated to the King. Thomas was a good man,"

    "He was," she says looking down at her hands. "Come. Let''s eat. Tam famished,"

    ¡°Me too." Andromeda grins. Her eyes sh and her canines elongue. She covers her mouth embarrassed. control it yet."

    ry. I can''t fully

    "Mother, after breakfast, Perry and I will be leaving the territory to go back to Red Wood. Will you please show Mr. Phurry. around? He''s part of our

    pack now, the King informs his mom.

    "Permanently?"

    "Yes" he confirms. "Permanently."

 Bait Novel 15

    ?

    Chapter 15 Perry

    After breakfast, the King takes me down to a garage. Iugh as he takes a key fob from the wall where there are dozens of them. I used to think that

    Darren was pretentious when it came to his s***d cars but it turns out that, that was nothingpared to this man.

    The garage is massive it''s an entire sublevel of the castle. The whole floor n is just decorated with luxury cars that have probably only ever been driven once. There''s a man standing guard and another polishing a car. We stop in front of a red one that looks like something out of a Hot Wheels package. I don''t even know what this is. It looks fake if I''m being honest.

    ¡°Other side,¡± he says when I approach the car. "That''s the driver''s side,"

    "How foreign." I say and go around. He grins and presses a button that pops the doors open. It opens upward and the seat slides back as the lights insidee to life. Holy shit,"

    "I just got this one," he says and gets in. "Come on. It''s a long drive. I want to see how much time we can cut from the four hours."

    I take a deep breath and get in. He reaches over and has me slip into the straps before he buckles me into the seat like a toddler being strapped into

    a car seat. I''m not kidding. That''s what it feels like to be in this chair. The doorse down and the car purrs to life. It sounds like a **n*

    "Wow, you just couldn''t wait to rub this in my face, huh? After the whole Darren* liked ssics thing."

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," he grins and pulls out of the spot. We move toward the darkness ahead and I can''t help but look at all the pretty cars out there.

    "Have you driven all of them?"

    "Yes, but they''re not all mine. Every Lycan that has one parks their cars in here. We don''t have use for them in town. So, they''re stored here for safekeeping. Your ssics will be safe. I promise,¡±

    "I believe you."

    When we reach the end of the garage, a massive industrial door opens up revealing the daylight. A little screames out of me when he hits the gas and then shifts gears. I hold onto my seat as he just goes faster and faster when he hits the road.

    "You don''t like going fast?" he asks turning his head to look at me

    "Please, don''t take your f****g eyes off the road. You''re going like a hundred,"

    "One twenty," heughs. "Even if we were to crash, we wouldn''t die."

    "You know what? You''re going one twenty, I seriously doubt we''d survive crashing. But you do you, I shake my hands out and reach for my phone. "You have a phone?" he suddenly asks and I feel trapped. More than I had when he strapped me in

    "Yeah," I say skeptically. "Am I not allowed?"

    "I don''t care. I just didn''t know you had one. The mind trick you did. Isn''t that enough for you guys?"

    "I didn''t always deal with pack members," I say opening up my emails. "Vampires love their money and they like me. We''re going to have to introduce you to some for your financial problems,"

    "Mmm, granted our history. I don''t think that''s a good idea," he says.

    "Says the guy who didn''t believe in vampires a couple of hours ago, Iugh.

    "F***k off, Perry," he growls yfully.

    "These are new-gen vamps. A lot of them are our age and they''re barely climbing their ranks. They''re intelligent and driven. More like bloodthirsty," "Our age?" he asks with a smirk pulling at his lips like he knows something I don''t.

    "You''re not that much older than me, are you? How old are you!"

    "Thirty-four."

    "What the f**k?" Iugh. He grins. "You don''t look that old,"

    "Lycan. We outlive wolves by centuries,"

    "What?" Iugh and my s***d mouth falls open. "Seriously?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Yeah, most of us die because we kill each other. Aggressive and unstable, remember?"

    "Note to self." I nod

    "It extends to you now. Just so you know. You''re not as strong a**, but your life is tied to mine."

    "Quite the four days, huh?" I tease making himugh.

    ***h," he shakes his head.

    "I have very many questions, I say scrolling through my emails

    The vamps are wondering where the f*** I went and they''re pi**d that Calvin sold me to the Lycans. I reply to some of the, emails to reassure them that I''m fine and that I will be propositioning new business soon. I''m not sure what I''m working with yet and I might have to transfer my investments to him to get them to trust him. The alpha of Slick Rock is just as upset. I''ve worked with him a few times and his mate is a good friend.

    "I imagine you do. Ask whatever you want," he says when I finish my reply.

    "Your castle is a fortress. How the***k does your brother keep slipping in?" ¡°He''s still the second prince," he says like the answer is that simple.

    "He murdered your father, I look over at him with disbelief. "And your mate."

    "It happens," he shrugs. "It''s in our nature,"

    "So, if he wanted toe in with an AK to shoot up the ce no one would slop him?"

    "Of course, they would. You''ve met him. Does he look like the kind of person who has a n? I don''t think he nned to do what he did. James is an alpha. One of our strongest. When I went to Ennd for training, he was the acting Alpha in Clifion Way. He trained under my father.

    Lycans don''t often find their fated mates. It''s very rare. My parents weren''t fated. It was an arranged marriage. My grandfather was a duke and my dad was a pretty good person for the most part.

    James used to be a good kid. He''s your age. We were really close but fighting the bond of a fated is impossible. He and Eve had just gotten married. They were waiting for me toe home so he could mark her and make her part of the pack officially

    |||

    §±

    "When I told him, he asked use to reject her. Eve was standing outside the door and it upset her. She attacked him and for a female to attack her potential mate, it''s considered betrayal. We don''t take threats or backstabbing well.

    "He reacted and he broke her jaw. I tried to stay away from her at first, but my every instinct was to go to her. Especially because she was hurt. When I saw her again, her face was bruised so badly and I marked her, he shifts gears and takes a deep. breath. "I hated myself for what I did, but he hated me more."

    Considering how he''s reacted to everything about me since meeting, I see how very little self-control he has over his beast''s natural instincts as a mate. Not to mention that the bond is exactly as he describes it. I never once considered fighting it. I know Darren didn''t either. But there was never anyone else.

    we were

    F***k, I don''t know what I would have done if there were. I know myself well and I''m very possessive. Even mated, I think I always considered Darren to be mine. My friend My rival. My everything. Those instincts oy became stronger once we were mated. A lot stronger. Çú

    |||

 Bait Novel 16

    ?

    Chapter 16 Teny

    "What happened after?" Lask even though I shouldn''t

    "He left. For almost two years, we didn''t know where he went. When my father tracked him down. He was living in his Lycan form in a cave two hundred miles away from Chilion. Eve begged me not to bring him back, but he was my little brother. And we had been mated for almost two years already. She was five months pregnant.

    "My mother moved him into the vige away from us. He was there a few months before he came to me. He apologized and I thought we were doing great. Heered Eve during one of her art shows and we fought. She was w giving birth to our daughter.

    Hot days from

    "Dad took him up to his study. Mom sent me to pick up Annie from school so they had time to calm him down. She was eight at the time. When I retuned my mother was passed out ut the courtyard surrounded by our guards. I could hear him. screaming inside. He was sitting in front of my bedroom door covered in her bloodl

    James looked me right in the eyes and said that all of this was my fault. If I had rejected her, he wouldn''t have done what he did. 1 attacked him and we fought. He had gone feral in that cave and my father didn''t think to tell any of us thinking he woulde back when he saw that things were as they should be.

    "Talmost killed him. When he woke up again, he swore that he would make my life hell for the rest of our lives. I sent him away against my mother''s wishes. She hated Evangeline and passed aw to never mention her again. I told her if she ined to erase her I would do the same to her son." Just not in front of her. I say trying to lighten the mood. It works because she grins.

    I think we''ve made her suffer enough, he shrugs. "James is really smart. He''s very charismatic,

    "Yeah, I got that," I agree. "Down to the way he dresses,"

    "Right," he nods. "I can''t take the throne without a mate. I''m the King in name, but it''s not official until I''m fully mated,"

    "We''re not fully mated now?"

    ¡°No, I mean. We are, but we have to get married through the council of Lycans. You have to take the oath and there lies the problem. James doesn''t let us get near the council building. As an alpha and a prince, he has ess to the packs all around the world.

    "It''s considered an honor for an alpha to go feral and still be able to control his shift. Even if he''s more unstable and crazier. Others like him think he should be the King in my ce, but for that, he would have to kill me and he''s not strong enough to do it,"

    "Which brings us full circle. Kill your potential mates so you can''t ascend the throne,"

    *Correct.

    "That''s pretty smart. I admit. Heughs. "I mean, it sucks for you. But holy shit. That''s brilliant. Not only is he keeping you from bing the king. The piece of shit is making you look like a ***h,"

    "Right, he says offended.

    "I''m on your side, big guy We''re team Lycan King, but you gotta give credit where credit is due,

    "Perry," he growls. "Shut up,"

    "Where is the council buildingugh.

    1/4

    E

    In Nova Scotia."

    Dude, Holy that You''re royal-royal," Iugh. "Tell me about the former mate potentials. What were they like?" "Submissive,"

    "That''s it? No other talents?"

    No

    "How did you hear about me?"

    "Calvin contacted mest year."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Last year?" Iugh

    Yeah, he said he knew I was looking for a Beta Female and he dropped your name. Said you were trouble. He said your name was Nelson,"

    "That was my father''sst name. I changed Darren''s on our marriage certificate to be an a***ole after he said there was no way I wasn''t taking hisst name."

    "That''s cute," he says gently.

    "He didn''t think so, but he never changed it either. Last year was rough on Calvin. I killed two vampires and I took out an alpha near Oak Grove. They were trafficking unmated teens,"

    That sounds like a win to me."

    "I did it while he and Morgan were in a rut. I was f***g tired of his a***taking credit for my work. Slick Rock''s alpha only sipped his alliance because of me and he made it a public statement. Cal and his dad were pi***ed,¡±

    "So, it doesn''t surprise you that he called,"

    ¡°I''m surprised he didn''t call you sooner. I loved his reaction when I set all of Darren''s **on fire in his yard. Almost burned the house down. I stole his truck and Jacob totaled it to get me to stop. That was on the first anniversary of his death. It''s probably why he wants my house. It''s the biggest in the city. The water damage done to their house was too much. It would, have been cheaper to tear it down and rebuild it. But the alpha told him to ***k off."

    I would have killed you before you set anything on fire in my yard," he huffs

    "That''s what Ss said," Iugh. "Tells you how pathetic Calvin is,

    "Why do you me him?"

    "Because it''s his fault"

    ****

    happens,"

    "Nope. It was his fault." I growl.

    Im just having trouble understanding" he pats my hand. "Tell me what happened. You know my story now,"

    I dont think we should get this close. I don''t feel bad about what happened to you. Your mate sounds like a social climber," I sood. He sighs "Perry, I need you close. I''ll just make me want to give you what you want that much more. Just help me understand why you think it was his fault" Chapter 16

    "When Calvin found out that Morgan was his mate, he rejected her because she was a beta. He was fucking Alice Cooper, if he breaks our deal, I''ll make him regret it.

    The singer!" heughs.

    "The alpha of Venom Stream''s daughter. They had been dating for a couple of years. She was that rogue ***h''s mate. But an alpha is better than a rogue,"

    "Liam''s mate?"

    "Mhm, and Cal was hiding her in the city. Darren and I told him to send her away, but that f***g idiot didn''t listen. Liam had Luciel Garrett attack the East Towers. Darren had pitched the towers to the Alpha two years prior. We had just gotten into the Beta program and I designed them for him. He put formations in ce. We used to get high together in the academy. When we weren''t fighting we were doing weird shit like that.

    The alpha didn''t hesitate to repurpose the towers used for this new security protocol. The entire city went on high alert. Morgan was staying in the packhouse because Cal''s mom hated Alice and Morgan was "I pause letting out a heavy sigh. "She used to be smart. She wanted to be the top huntress and she wanted to be a teacher at the academy. She was worth something

    "The alpha ordered Darren to stay there not wanting to lose his best Beta candidate. He ordered Cal to stay there with them and that f**g idiot left to look for Alice. They left Darren alone in the packhouse with Morgan.

    "Liam knew Morgan was Cal''s true mate and he wanted her to exchange her for Alice. I was two blocks away from getting to him when he linked me and apologized for breaking his promises. That was thest time I ever heard his voice in my head crashed my car when our connection broke. I was in aa for six months.

    "When I woke up, Morgan and Calvin were mated. Alice had been taken by Liam. She''s how I got to them. I killed everyone in that roguepound praying that at least one of them would take me out. It was his fault. Everyone knows that,"

    "Why didn''t you kill him?" he asks.

    "Because of Morgan. Her mom and mine were best friends. We grew up together. I never had any siblings. My dad died when I was four. My mom killed herself when I was nine and Morgan''s family took me in. She was like my sister and I know how much she suffered when he rejected her. I know she epted him because she knew I was going to kill him. She''s the only reason he''s alive,"

    I''m sorry, Perry. I can''t imagine what that must have been like, he says quietly. I can smell the sweet saltiness of his tears in the small cabin of his ridiculous car. Oddly, I''m not the one crying.

    "This bond is f****g crazy, huh?" I scoff. "I feel angry, but that burning sensation that leads me to drink isn''t there,"

    "Oh, that''s you," he clears his throat. He slows down and pulls over. His hands cover his face. I try to reach for him but these s***pid straps are very constricting.

    "I don''t like this car," I groaned trying to take thetch off. Heughs reaching over to press it together. As soon as I''m free I climb over to sit on hisp. Tm sorry. Being a wolf is very emotional,"

    "I see that," he says leaning into me to inhale my scent

    "I can drive if you''re over it," I say tapping the st**d oval-shaped steering wheel. "Are you sure this is a car? It looks like a f**g spaceship."

    "It''s not the car''s fault you were raised on ssics," he sighs. "Do you want to drive?"

    Im not too excited about it, but if you need me to. I will,"

    "I''m okay," he bumps his forehead to mine.

    "This feels gross. I made you cry and now I''m upset with myself

    "Wee to being a Lycan, little wolf," he smirks.

    "Oh, so you guys shoot first and apologize second."

    "Pretty much," heughs.

    "I''m getting good notes" I admit..

    Our connection is strange. I find myself focusing on him and I can feel his contempt for me, but under the bitterness. I feel his kindness. His love for everything Based on my little intel, he seems like the kind of always happy before tragedy took over his life. He strikes me as someone who was very sheltered all his

    re of all the

    **was

    "Are you okay?" I ask him. He nods and pushes me back to my seat. I sitck in the st***d spaceship chair and he buckles me back in.

    Thaven''t had a friend in a long time. I don''t really talk to anyone. I think this is the most I''ve spoken to someone in years." he says when he starts to drive again.

    "Do you even

    want to be King?"

    "Yes" he nods. "Before all of this happened, that''s all I ever wanted. I love my home. I love my people. But I don''t know how to shake this. James is standing in my way. If he had just disappeared, I wouldn''t want to go after him. I wouldn''t hate him this much.

    ¸Ê

 Bait Novel 17

    ?

    Chapter 17 Perry

    The house my mate built for us is empty. There are four Lycans standing guard with a big a** truck waiting to be loaded with my cars. The alpha and Calvin are both standing in the driveway keeping them from getting to my cars.

    The King and I get out of his spaceship and Calvin''s jaw almost hits the floor. The King holds his hand out for me to take and I take it. Ss lets out a heavy sigh when we approach. His lips tug up into an almost smile before he gives the King his

    attention.

    ¡°We have a problem, my liege, he states and bows his head in my direction. "My Queen,"

    "What?" the King demands. "What''s the fucking problem?" he pulls me with him roughly as we get closer to the driveway. "Get the fuck out of the way."

    This property is on my territory. She''s no longer a wolf. She''s your little pet whore. So, she''s not entitled to anything she left behind,"

    The King releases my hand and the sound that Calvin''s face makes when his fist connects makes meugh. I wonder if it was as satisfying for him to watch me kick his idiot brother. The other Lycans look at me like I''ve lost my mind.

    "Get the ** out of the way or I''ll f*** kill you both. Those cars are my Queen''s and she wants them. So more," he growly The two of them look over at me and I smile at the two of them

    My Queen, where are the keys? Ss asks.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    The two of us walk inside and I open the safe where the keys are. They immediately start loading up the cars. I reach for one of the sports bags and start putting everything in the safe. Money, passports, and documentation Darren had for us and his family. Evenis sister''s things. The Kinges over and takes the bag from me when I zip it up.

    "Is that everything?" he asks:

    up

    on the table and push the ceiling tiles up to get the two suitcases he had up here of "secret money". It was my fault my mate was this paranoid and he had contingency ns for his contingency ns. The king takes those back to his spaceship as I walk through the house onest time. When the cars are loaded up and I have everything I want, I step out of the garage.

    "I always knew you were a wh***e," Calvin''s face is swelling where the King hit him

    ¡°Me too, 1 nod. That earns me augh from everyone and I take p

    "Voice activation," I call our "Protocol vacation Lockdown, the garage door shuts and everything in the house locks down airtight, "Good luck getting inside, ****h,"

    "You f****,¡± he growls. Ss is standing in front of me before he can get to me

    "What are we supposed to do with a house we can''t get into the Alpha-calls after me as I get back to the spaceship.

    ¡°I don''t know, man. Often, it felt like I couldn''t get out. It''s probably best it stays how it is," I shrug. Tm sure you''ll be getting an email from our vampire friends soon, but I''d like to inform you that I sold my Red Wood Inc. Shares to Penelope Krught for fifty cents a piece," Iugh. "I have enough to get me the ten-piece chicken nuggets,"

    His mouth falls open because I own thirty-two percent of hispany. Well, I did. His stock is about to drop about twenty points in the next fifteen minutes.

    "You wouldn''t," he shakes his head.

    ¡°Oh, I did. You f**** sold me to this monster for two-hundred K because you raised a f****g ***y* I s****ut. "Did you think I was going to let that slide? Do you even f***g know me? What did you think was going to happen? Hmm?

    <

    "Even if he hadn''t imed me, I would have found a way to ***k you better than you did me. And this is just the start. Now, I''m going to get into this f***g spaceship and I pray that I never have to see either of your pathetic faces again,"

    "I should have f*** killed you." Calvin growls.

    "You couldn''t kill me even if I were stumbling drunk off my **n an alley, Cal. You''re going to run this city into the ground. There''s no one here stopping you from it anymore. Jake is noting back either. You better hope that Mackenzie doesn''t decide toe back looking for him. Because she''s not going to give a f****k about you or anyone else here. She''s just gonna light the match,"

    "Get in the car, Liule Wolf, the King demands. I turn around and go over to the spaceship.

    ¡°Good little b****." Cal tries to have thest word. I let him have it. It''s not like it''ll mean anything soon

    "Which one is his?" the King asks when he reaches over to strap me in.

    "The blue one across the street. I point at it. He taps something on his dashboard and calls Ss.

    "Make a mess, Start with the Corvette across the street, he orders.

    "Yes, sir," heughs and hangs up.

    The truck backs up and then dashes forward mming into the front of the Corvette. My mouth falls open and the truck plows through all the cars on that side of the street. The alpha and Calvin are staring at it in disbelief as Ss stops the truck and climbs out

    "My bad," he waves to them. "It''s just a little ding

    He gets back inside and continues to f****k up the cars and yards in a winding snake motion.

    "Better!" the King asks,

    ¡°F***k yeah, Lycan King. That was awesome, Iugh looking over at him.

    "Are you going to share your chicken nuggets with me" he asks

    "Im going to share my everything with you. Whatever you want. It''s yours," I swear.

    "For punching him in the mouth?"

    ¡°Yes, and for f***g up the whole street. I can''t believe I never thought of that They have those trucks in the pack''s provisions storage building." "They still have those here?"

    "You don''t have a provision''s storage space? Aren''t you savages like super traditionalists?"

    "We know how to hunt. We''re predators. Skin or beast, he shakes his head. The food you had this morning was fresh,"

    "Oh, my god," I cover my mouth. "No! What was it? It was so good."

    "It was pork, My Queen. His name was Chucho, Ss''s voice res from the speaker.

    "F***k," the King growls ncing over at the dashboard.

    Severalughs echo in the car with my own as he tries to bring up the call. I reach over pressing the red and green picture of a phone and the call ends for real this time. He looks over at me getting super red and then turns his full attention back to

    2/3

    the road. I cover my mouth with my arm trying to stay silent.

    "Oh, my god. Are you okay?" I whisper and try not to giggle again, but ites out

    "I''d like not to talk now," he says quietly,

    We got chicken nuggets and made the drive back to this castle in silence. It''ste in the afternoon when we get back and I feel his hostility when we walk into the lobby from the garage''s hallway to find Jacobs is still here.

    ¸Ê

 Bait Novel 18

    ?

    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    -Are you still upset?- I ask him. He flinches hard and steps away from me on instinct.

    Jonas," his mother sees his reaction and stands up worriedly.

    "You startled me." he roars. I could have hurt you,"

    "I''m sorry." I step back watching his eyes turn pitch ck. He turns away and straightens himself out. He puts his hands on his head like he''s trying to piece his head back together. Til try not to do it again,"

    "What is going on?" his mother demands.

    "He''s not used to the pack link," Jacob answers for me. "My mate had trouble with it in the beginning as

    should be

    easier for you. You''re only linked to her. I was linked to my entire pack, he pulls his cor down to reveal a scar on his corbone. "Ellie fractured it in three ces and dislocated my shoulder. Both of you should be careful,"

    "Holy shit." I breathe out. "That was terrifying."

    "I should get going. Jake says when I step to him and the King growls at me.

    "Great" the King says tightly and we watch him leave.

    "That was really **y, Jonas," Andromedaes over to us. "He like wouldn''t shut up about how great Perry is.''

    He does that," I nod. "I am going to give him time to cool off before approaching. He''s swung at me a few times. This is the first time he warns me. That scares me more than when he''s swung at me for saying mean shit to him. We fight a lot when we drink.

    ¡°Finally, something normal, she nods. "He told us your credit score.

    "He did Alegraughs.

    "He doesn''t talk to a lot of people. So, I''m d he did to you, I clear my throat. "Change the subject or I''ll use the mind thing again," ¡°Ss crashed a bunch of cars on his way out of the city," the king says immediately.

    "You two mother***rs can never behave yourselves when you''re alone," Alegra shouts "You do this every time you go out,"

    "This is the first time we go out, I try to defend us. Her eyes don''t turn ck they''re pale, Void of everything and with her whole ice queen vibes, it''s petrifying.

    "Not you. Him and Ss," she puts her hands on her hips.

    "You should learn to just keep quiet, Little Wolf, Andromedaughs. "I love this one, Joney. You should reconsider not keeping her. What is she going to do? Kill herself?"

    "I''m standing right here,"

    I know. Look at you. So cute and small," she pats my head.

    "Is that your urge to punch her or mine?" I whisper.

    Td say both, the King answers keeping his gaze on her. I can see how the mind thing woulde in handy now."

    "Mom, they''re going to talk shit about me in their brains," she points at us,

    1/5

    |||

    11:25 Thu, Oct 17 u BG

    "Everyone, really, he admits, Ilis mom looks between the two of us and smiles.

    "Just-" she raises her hands up and then walks back to the fancy couches deciding not to deal with the entire situation. -There is no way we just fit like this- I tell him.

    "How do I use it?" he whispers.

    Think really hard of me

    "Eww," Andromeda grimaces.

    "Not like that. Unless that works for you," I tell him. "But I would like to rify that I didn''t mean that in the original statement,

    79%

    "Not working." he shakes his head.

    "Mmm, try touching your mark and focusing on how that feels,

    "And describe it. Andromeda adds.

    "No, you don''t want that," Iugh.

    "Why not? What does it feel like?" she gives me a hard pat. I take a step away from her. Enough to be out of arms,

    "Umm-" I shake my head trying to warn her.

    reach.

    "Like fingering yourself, their mother says from behind us. My mouth hangs open and squeakes out of my mouth. She said that, She really said that to her sixteen-year-old.

    ¡°D***mn, Ally. You and your family straight up don''t give a f*** croak.

    "She just i

    shifted for the first time. It''s time she learns the basics. She''s not a baby anymore. Time to grow up," she scoffs.

    "You two always make people ufortable. We are going to not be here anymore," the King grabs my arm and pulls me away with him.

    "Bye, guys, I''ll see you around, I guess,"

    "Bye, Perry, they both harmonize.

    "Officially, creeped the f***k out." I mumble to myself and try to keep up with the beast hauling me away. "On a scale of one to I can''t wait to f***ng* to strangle you several times now. I''ve almost done it twice,"

    "Oh, will you be sharing your dislikes at the-"

    **

    "Pernicious," he stops and spins around in a split second to face me. My body ms against his front and he wraps his arms around me tightly so we''re inches from each other. "I need you to shut the f*k u*p already. There are six hours left of daylight and I am already exhausted with you. Yeah?" "Yes," I squeak and nod for a visual confirmation.

    -I could kiss you- his voice echoes in my head. I press my lips together.

    "What

    "Did you mean to do that?" I ask. He stares at me for a moment

    BK 78%

    "Do what?" he asks.

    "In my head. You said I could kiss you," I grin. The tips of his cars start to get red. "I wouldn''t. We''re having a lot of fun. Id hate for you to ruin it He swallows hard and nods before releasing nie. I take a step back and clear my throat.

    "Don''t fall behind." he says and starts down the step

    I am taking the lift. I go over to it and pull the lever. I scream when he appears in front of the lift just before it touches downpletely. "You have superspeed?" I shout. He smirks. "You can spider monkey me. That would be both ***d and amazing at the same time,

    "I don''t- what is Spider Monkey you?"

    "I am going to lie to you and say it''s a variation of Spider-Man so it''ll drive you crazy to know what it really means and you look it up. The vampires call that securing a date, I call it a movie night and we can invite everyone. Including your idiot brother so I can put a tracker on him next time he''s around. I brought some with me,

    "That-" he stares at me for a moment. "You''re **g nuts. That is a terrible idea,"

    "Well, you''re not the only Lycan royal I know. So, see what happens if you don''t do it, I shrug.

    "I''m the master here, he growls.

    "Do you feel master-y?" Iugh.

    I see why everyone hates you, he sighs.

    "Show me what you were going to show me: I point behind him.

    That was shameless, I admit. But we need to pinpoint this guy. Watch him. See if he has a routine. It shouldn''t be hard to tag him. Pushes to shove, I let him hit me next time. If he kills the, they still get that information.

    "What are you going to do, bug his phone?" he asks. I crouch down.

    -That is the ***t thing I''ve ever heard.-

    -What are you doing?-

    -Nice. You got it. Anger. You have to think of me negatively and I didn''t want to get hit. I was standing right next to you.-

    -Why is bugging his phon***d he bends down to pick me up and then pats my head. That is so patronizing. I want to bite his f***g hand.

    -If you can think it up. So can he. It''s most likely he''s going to toss the phone as soon as he leaves. He takes my hand and pulls me with him. I have to power walk to keep up with him.

    -Did Darren create something small enough to put on his skin?- there is a sharp bite in his tone. I feel it go through my body like when you press down one of those shock-pen toys. It makes meugh.

    "What?" he asks out loud.

    That was such a me move, I throw my hands

    What the ****? Why are we taking so much from each other like this?"

    "What?" he asks again.

    |||

    7

    "That was jealousy. Have you always been like that?"

    "Yes, especially with things that belong to me. We''re fully mated now," he reminds me.

    This moved so fast, 1 growl "Regrets were made four nights ag

    I don''t deny that he agrees. "You were the insecure one in your rtionship?"

    "When you get the really nice versions of the dictionary, Jonas. There is a picture of me as a visual example under the definition of insecure. That''s

    not me bragging. That''s me warning you. My therapist fired mest year. It was Jake''s idea. She has to put a warning stamp on my file, so we couldn''t get another one,"

    "Why?" he asks looking me over.

    "Why are you?" I shoot back.

    "You first. You''re the one bragging." he keeps walking. Slower this time.

    "Maybe because I lost my parents young and was raised by a bunch of people who loved me, but never included me in the cool ***t they did. Until I met this guy who called me Trashbag until he found out I was his mate,"

    "Ooof," heughs. ¡°Oh, s***t,¡± he stops gripping his stomach. People stop to stare at us as he stands thereughing. I knew what you were going to say was going to be ***d up but I can''t stop,"

    You''re turn, Lycan King, 1 scoff.

    was groomed to be the Lycan King. I''m not insecure. Everything belongs to me. Including you, I have the receipt right here, he holds up a piece of

    paper.

    "You kept that?" and you keep it in your pocket? Who are you reminding with it?

    "I am going to keep it forever. I scrapbook when I''m stressed. It gets weird,"

    "You scrapbook?"

    "What do you do when you''re stressed out?"

    "I go for a run or to the gym,"

    "You can tell," he points at my arm.

    "What is that supposed to mean?"

    "You are all kinds of aggressive. I''ve never been with an emo girl before, he smirks and keeps walking. "It''s kind of hot,"

    I''m not an emo girl,"

    "Fine, an alcoholic. Whatever you want to call it. I was trying to be nice,"

    "You''re an **ole,"

    "So are you," he shrugs. "Come on. I want people to look at us being pieces of shit together. I cleared my afternoon for you,"

    4/5

 Bait Novel 20

    ?

    Ss and I bothugh when he growls lowly under his breath when we find Jacob and his momughing at the exit door that leads to the courtyard. He doesn''t say anything, just storms past hem.

    Jacob doesn''t say a word to me as Ss escorts us to wherever the hell my things are. A smile tugs at my lips because I know Jacob is going to put the moves on the Queen. In fact, I think he already is and she is one hundred percent falling for it.

    He''s dressed nicely. There''s not a single hair out of ce. He smells great and he trimmed his beard to the setting I put on his electric trimmer. I hope it works out for him and maybe I need to talk to the King about his insecurity of letting his mother be happy again. She deserves that after birthing not one but two a****es. Three if we add the little girl.

    There is a team of Lycans ready to take what I want up to my room when we arrive. They''ve set everything up as if I were shopping at a bodega. The first thing I pick up is my urn. I growl at the Lycan that tries to take it from me as I tuck it under my arm. I hold up the ck matte jar and smile. "I missed you, Extra Crispy," I whisper to it.

    "Just touch what you want to be taken up, Ss tells me. "You too, sir,

    "Thank you Ss," Jacob says,

    I walk around looking for my things and tap them as I go

    "Can some of this be taken to the dome as well?" I ask him. He straightens up and nods before waving someone over. whispers to them and they nod handing him an old price gun with ck stickers

    "ck sticker on what you want in the office," Ss hands it to me.

    "Thank you." I call out to the man. He bows and goes back to his position.

    "You have an office?" Jacob asks.

    "Thought you weren''t talking to me,"

    He

    ¡°What would you have me do, Pernicious? Jump for joy to hear the only person I have left is leaving me just like everyone. else?

    "As opposed to what? Do you think these people are here because they want to be? I''m a f***g essory. We were sold to these things as pet sl****s. They f*****g pat my head, Jake. This is all I care about, I hold up my jar. "I love you, but thest time I trusted you. You let Calvin humiliate me in front of the entire pack for something you did.

    Tm tired, Jacob I am so f***g tired of being in pain and angry all the time. I wake up with a knot in my belly every morning. My eyes hurt from not sleeping properly. My head literally feels like it''s going to explode all day long. I haven''t turned off my survival mode since my mother died and the only person who got me to calm down enough is in this f***g jar. So, excuse me if I don''t have any more f****ks to give,"

    done.

    I continue to touch things and put stickers on them because that''s what everything my mate ever got for me has been reduced to. He only kept a couple of frames and some extra linens and nkets. It didn''t take long and when we were de Ss told us they were going to take everything down the stairs for a bonfireter.

    "I know you haven''t had it easy, Kid. You don''t give yourself enough credit. You''re the strongest person I''ve ever met and it kills me to see you trying to throw away something so special," he says when I head to the elevator to take my jar up to my room. "My son knew exactly what he had. He wouldn''t change a thing about you. I know this kid is going to see it too,"

    "I''m not going to change a single thing about me, Jake. I just want to write my epitaph before things get too embarrassing,"

    I take my jar up to my room and start cing things around as wait to be called down for breakfast. Ss is the one who

    |||This is from N?velDrama.Org.

    escorts me back down. Everyone is here and no one says a word as we eat breakfast together.

    Back at the dome, things are starting to look like an office. There are a few desks on the tform andputers are still being updated. Ss is showing me what the King meant when be said he was working his allowance.

    He''s using the money granted to him by his ownpany to triple it by investing it in small payoutpanies. He then takes that money and puts it in his mother''s ount and that is what is used to keep their family assets from being sold. Including this vige. James Prince is the biggest piece of shit I''ve evere across and I know Alpha Du**** personally.

    The Lycan Council is a lot like the Alpha King''s. Except, there aren''t as many Lycans as there are wolves and there''s a whole lot more money involved.

    Lycan Tech was founded by a man named A***ial Barton a hundred and fifty years ago. It''s designed some of the most innovative tech for shifters ever. It owns smallerpanies run by mortals and wolves.

    When Darren was recruited into thatpany, his new boss was from the pack they hade from in Ennd and gave him some really great advice. That''s where Ie in: Morgan''s family worked minimum wage jobs and six kids take care of Seven when they took me in.

    to

    Money was stretched thin. I had a small inheritance from my parents and learned quickly that if I wanted to survive in the city. I had to keep my head down and let things work themselves out patiently. Observe, strategize, and execute.

    There wasn''t a lot I could do to help them legally. So, I chose numbers as a coping mechanism. Business mathematics, physics, and coding. Darren handed me five hundred thousand dors when I was sixteen years old. Days after my first shift. I took that money and invested four hundred thousand in a new electronic currency project called Paw Coin and gave Morgan''s parents the rest.

    He was so mad, but it was the only way I could hide the money from what I really wanted to do with it. Had we taken it to the bank, his dad would have gotten in trouble for tax evasion. Paw Coin is now worth two hundred and seventy-two point eight credits to the dor. My four hundred K jurned into a hundred and ten million overnight. Give or take a couple of million.

    I took half that money and bought my first piece of Lycan Tech shares the following morning and paid for the program that Darren designed for them. Then he sold it to them for ten times what we had invested and we were both offered jobs and full-ride schrships to keep working for them. When I turned twenty-one, I was offered the CEO position. I had a single term left to finish my degree and I turned it down. because I realized that I was living someone else''s dream. Someone who didn''t exist anymore. I didn''t want any of it because the person I wanted to share it with was gone. I became a head hunter for thepany instead. Brought in the vampires, other alphas, mortals with deep pockets, and now it''s time to bring the Lycans in. I had a lot of time on my hands and well, I joined the City''s police force. I had tarnished any chance of me bing acting Beta because of all the shit I did to Calvin and Morgan.

    How crazy is it that I ended up here, Jar of Ashes? Everything you trained me for, I have to use to help a guy who paid two hundred thousand American dors for me. That was all I was worth to the people you died to protect. To the people we bled for. Every asset we establish isn''t going to keep our city from dying. It''s going to save a race of monsters we''ve never even given a second thought to.

    "What just happened?" Ss asks when the graphs on the screen change.

    "We just went up twenty-six points on the stock market, someone else points out. The King turns to look at me. "You didn''t have to do that," he shakes his head

    own fifteen percent of yourpany now. Is that enough to get me on the board?"

    "Yes," Ss nods.

    78%

    "Great. Who else is on there

    James, the King answers. "He owns a third of it. It''s his inheritance. Who''s fifteen percent did you take?"

    "Your Mom''s. You should have more than enough money to stop using your allowance like this." I hand him his tablet back "We can use this money to get in with a little vampire girl in Magique City,"

    "You want to go to Magique City?" he asks.

    I don''t. That ce sucks, but we have to. If anyone knows what you''re brother is doing with his moneying from thispany, it''s her. Until we can get a tracker on him, we go where the money goes. You''re going to have to start making more friends, Big Guy. He''s covering his tracks well. He''s destroying everything and if he keeps this up, you have maybe five years before you and your family have nothing left and that''s wishful thinking"

 Bait Novel 21

    ?

    The next ten days the team the King put together helped me catch up with everything. I''ve slept in the dome talking to the New CEO of Lycan Tech, trying to convince him to let the Queen in on some of my projects.

    James, that piece of shit, has stepped all over the name Alegra Prince up and down the business world. When Eddie Sentinel heard me say mated to Jonas Prince, he almost hung up on me. Killing James is not going to be enough. The damage done is extensive. I can see why the King wants everything so public.

    "We''re going to have to do some illegal shit for some really mean people," I say to myself.

    "I''m still here," the King says from his desk. I look back to see that he''s the only one here. "What do you have in mind?"

    "Magique City." I sigh and slide down the armchair I''m sitting in enough for my chin to rest on my chest. "On a scale of one to I''ll kill you before I let you do it. How flexible are you about selling some of your brother''s minions to the vampires for blood harvesting

    "Somewhere in the middle, he answers honestly.

    "We need to get that tracker on him, Lycan King, I don''t like not knowing where he is or what the f*k ***e''s using all this money for.4 think it''s time for movie night,"

    "You want to invite my feral Lycan brother to watch a movie about a hundred-and-something-year-old teenage falling in love with a sixteen-year-old so we can put a tracker you still haven''t shown me on him?"

    vampire

    Yes, I push myself up to sit on the edge of my seat. And I think Be was seventeen. Girls mature differently-especially those with mothers who have children very young. They raise themselves and their mothers. They get mean when you add extra siblings."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Is that why you''re mean?"

    "Yes. I was older than Morgan. She has two sisters and four little brothers. Then there was Mackenzie. If I had a dor for every time she f***d me over growing up, I''d be able to buy your family,"

    ¡°She sounds like a Lycan," he smiles. "You really don''t know where she is?"

    "She uses the money I transfer into her credit card at an ATM in Madrid, but there is no record of her ever actually being there. Phurrys are insanely smart and c***y. If I hadn''t been raised the way I was, I don''t think I would have been able to keep up with them.

    "Even Jake. He''s a tracker and he was the best Chief of Police Red Wood had ever had. His ability to close cold cases is unmatched and he did it while drunk. I''m good at making friends with rich people because of their mom,

    "So, you know what socialites are,¡±

    "Yes, I do. But influencers in Red Wood are nothing like what you guys have going on here. Your sister posts a video of her morning routine and thepany that manufactures her lotions makes millions. Your spaceship. There were only fifteen of those made and people are fighting over the other fourteen for more than it''s actually worth. There was a time I would have killed to have your marketing expertise,

    "My mother wanted me to ask you if you would like to buy the rest of her shares and take over her position on the board," he says after a while. "I told her what we''ve been doing and she realized that she''s way in over her head,"

    "I don''t have enough for the rest of them and if she lowers the price we''re really f**d,"

    "We can sign you in,''

    The other Lycans wouldn''t like your pet wolf owning a third of one of the biggest corporations in the world. They''d drop

    La

    the prices to get out of their shares and it takes us back to square one. We need to start ying dirty and for us to do that "We need to ce a tracker on my brother."

    "Yes, your mom is just going to have to hang in there for a little longer. I''m sorry. I want to help, but my hands are tied here. Come over here. Ss gave me ayout of your territories. I want to show you something."

    Hees over to me as I reach for one of the tubes Ss brought for me. I take the map of Clifton Way out and set it on the coffee table. He uses our empty coffee mugs as paperweights so it doesn''t roll up again. I love how detailed this thing is. It''s hand-painted. You don''t see that in the city. Everything is f**g digital now.

    "What are we looking at?" he asks.

    "When we went on our first outing, you showed me all of your security measures. In the city, we had towers because it''s just concrete out there. It''s a good strategy, but you guys live in the countryside. This is you," I point at his popted areas. ¡°But all of this is open. You literally live in a hole in the ground. It''s not easy to get out. These towers have blindspots,"

    "I have runners on the ground."

    James doesn''t seem like the type to care about killing one of his own, I remind him. These, I tap the high hills. "Are better than towers. You told me you guys were beasts, Which means you can probably survive out there with the wildlife, right?"

    "Yes," he nods.

    "Use that to your advantage. There are four hills here. There is nothing behind them and because they are the highest peaks. it would be difficult to sneak in. And if all things go ordingly, you can use these same hills to evacuate the people if needed."

    "No one is s***id enough to attack us like this,"

    James is Jonas, to you, he''s your brother. And you love him, but that''s not what you are to him anymore. I''m in here. I tap his chest. "I can feel you the same way you can feel me. This man is your enemy and he''s turning your people against you. That''s called mutiny. He''s a traitor whether you and your family want to admit that or not.

    "I would know. I''ve been trying to get the people of Red Wood to turn on the alphas of the city for the past five years and it''s working. Without me and Jake there, that city is going to fall. I''m willing to bet that your brother is using the money your father made to pay his way through this uprising.

    "I know you don''t want to hear this, but your brother is kind of an evil genius. He''s winning a race you''re barely starting because you refuse to see him for what he really is, I reach up th cup his face and smile. "You think we''repatible, but the truth is that you''re a really kind and gentle person. I''m not. I never have been. You''re angry, right now, but once you get to where you need to be things will fall back in line for you. These people will love you again. You are their King. I know it''s because we''re bonded that you think I hold Darren on this pedalstool. But between the two of you, you''re the better man. He was an***. The genuine article. Just like James. We''re bad people. You''re not. But you''re going to need to pretend to be if you want to save your family.

    "It starts here. Protecting those who are still on your side and you need to do it as discreetly as possible. You are in the perfect position to turn the tables. James is already iming victory and it looks like he''s right. Your n is good. We just need to make a few adjustments. I need you to trust that I can be this little gray area you need to give you that advantage. He knows you''d never do what I am about to,"

    "I don''t want to hurt anybody else," he whispers.

    "Let me help you with this and I''ll be thest pet you put down. think I can have some fun with this if you let me and it''s not going to take me five years. I already have everything I need

    "There is no f***g way you''re insecure, he smirks

    *

    There''s no f**g way you''re not, Iugh.

    "I think your dad is going to date my mom,¡± he whispers. "I don''t know how I feel about that,¡±

    I can tell you that if he does, he''ll make your mother very happy Jake is a good man. We got the ugly bits from his mate and the part of the city we grew up in we bothugh. "You and your siblings don''t get a say in the life your mother leads with our father gone. You don''t have to like it. You just have to ept that your mom is a milf and she looks like a live-action Elsa and there is no way Jake is passing that up,"

    I don''t know who that is," he says. "And I have the indescribable urge to punch you in the face and the fuck you,"

    You''re lying. You don''t know Elsa? Let it go," I sing. He shakes his head. I reach for my phone on the couch and look her up. I hold my phone up to show him the picture.

    That does look like my mom," he grins. "What is this?"

    "A princess movie about two sisters and how their love for one another saves their kingdom. Now that you know what spider-monkey is. We can change the movie. Maybe guilt your brother a little. See if he''s truly dead inside. It''s a heartwarming film."

 Bait Novel 22

    ?

    Chapter

    22

    "Did you watch these movies with Darren?"

    "No, Darren thought watching TV was a waste of time. I watched movies with Morgan when Calvin rejected her. We spent that first Summer locked in her room watching every Disney Princess movie on the app on herptop and eating junk food. They also have the best selection of Shark Week documentaries,

    "You like sharks?"

    "I love sharks. Like a st***d amount for someone who isn''t a Marine Biologist. When I''m super drunk I watch the ones where poachers cut their fins off and throw them back to let them die and cry for hours. It''s probably as pathetic as your scrapbooking."

    "You should scrapbook about sharks while we watch shark documentaries. Since you''re so keen on death. I''d like to keep something of yours that is ours," he leans back against the sofa behind him. "Taking a page out of your book, everything else I''m going to burn. Starting with those sneakers. I don''t know why you liked them. I can''t believe a store in my vige had them,"

    "You''re going to miss me?" Iugh.

    ¡°I going to miss having a vicious pet around. I might rece you with a Doberman,¡± "You gonna f***k that one too?" I re at him.

    "Gross," Andromeda''s voice echoes from somewhere. "Mom told me toe get y you guys for dinner,"

    "My

    y sister has the worst f***g timing, he groans. "We''ll continue this conversation in my room. I got a new door,"

    "Why not mine?"

    "I am not f***g you in the same room you keep your mate, Sicko," he shoves my head and stands up. "We should bring you to therapy on Saturdays," "Only if you give me a heads up so I can take my urn to his dad''s for a visit,"

    I listen to Andromeda tell the King about her incredibly mundane day at school. They''re amazingly close. She reminds me a little of Mackenzie and I find myself missing her for the first time in a while. If she were here, she''d beughing at my situation. If she had been around, the alphas would already probably be dead. If I can bend my morality to get s** done- nah. I doubt Mack even knows what morals are anymore. I could use her right about now. Even if it''s just for her to rip me a new one in a way only a Phurry can.

    I tune everyone out as I try to piece everything together in the back of my head. Lycan blood sells on the ck market for top dor. Dozens of people would do anything they can to get their hands on it. To have a live specimen would be the science freaks wettest dream. I can think of a couple of vampires who might want one or two.

    The King doesn''t have to know what happens to the victim after we catch one, but James does. He fucked with the Lycan King and now the King has me. It''s time we teach him a very valuable lesson. One I was taught at a very young age. Don''t ***k with the nice one. They probably have an unhinge sibling, mate, or pet f***g werewolf they bought for two hundred thousand regr American dors. F**k Calvin and his entire bloodline. I''m worth at least two hundred thousand Paw Coins. I almost have a master''s and I''ve got a sick-a***bank ount. Well, I used to. I gave it to the King. "You stare off into space a lot, Alegra says. When my attention shaps to her I realize that it''s just the two of us sitting here. I was done eating a long time ago. I just didn''t want to be the first one to leave. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

    "Extortion, kidnapping, illegal supernatural trafficking, and murder,"

    "In that order?" she grins.

    M

    18:10 Thu, Oct 1,

    "No, it varies ording to the n,"

    "Do tell."

    I can''t without hurting your feelings, I admit.

    "My son likes you," she changes the subject.

    I rather hurt her feelings and then sing Let It Go or Do You Want to Build a Snowman than talk about that. Of course, he likes me. I''m hot as tuck, reckless, insanely smart, and I don''t mind ripping someone''s throat out. He''s a**g prince for crying out loud. The guy literally lives under a rock.

    "Only because I do as he asks," I say taking a drink of whatever juice fusion was served tonight. Jonas wouldn''t like the real Perry. He couldn''t handle

    it.

    "I think you two make a good team."

    "Me too. I won''t deny you that,"

    "It''s going to ruin him if you make him kill you,"

    "That''s a you problem for the future, I shrug. "You might want to schedule more therapy,

    "Why not just do it yourself?"

    "No one suffers if I do,

    "Is that what you want? To make people suffer?"

    "More than anything."

    "I don''t understand why," she sighs.

    "That''s a good thing. Ally,"

    "I could lose both my sons to you,"

    "You could lose one son, I correct her. "Some might say you lost him the day he met she who shall not be named in your presence,"

    "I rather lose neither,"

    "We both know that''s no longer an option,"

    Then it happens. This poor woman shows me her sparkly glowing eyes as tears swell in them making them that much more beautiful. I never had the honor of seeing my mother cry and it feels like a crime being present to this Queen''s shame. She sits back looking up fighting a losing battle. "If he can''t kill you. I certainly will," she whispers without looking at me.

    "I''d be honored to die by your hand, my Queen," I stand up and bow to the best of my ability. So she knows I mean it "Dinner was delicious as always."

    Not wanting to insult her any more than I already have, I go up to my room. After a hot shower, I get on my bed and start browsing through Darren''s old coding programs to set up myptop for what my mate used to call the "you don''t need to know stuff

    I jump when one of my shoes falls off the top of the pile on the coffee table and hits the rm clock on the floor in front of it. Doin'' Time by Lana Del Rey starts to y and I contemte getting up to turn it off but it''s been a long time since I''ve

    2/4

    18 10 Thu, Oct 17

    listened to music. Any song could have been ying and it''s that one.

    ?? 53%

    Deciding to take a break from all this, I get up to clean up a little. My things are all over and I hate it. 1 pick up the shoe on the floor and a USB falls out of it. I stare at it for a moment and pick it up. It''s just a regr little USB keychain. The front of it has a picture of a snake. I take it back to the bed and plug it into myptop.

    "No."

    I try to stop the program from running but it''s toote. A better option would have been to take it out. ***it, I''m going to need a newptop if this fries myputer. I watch as everything loads and then stops. The screen goes nk and a small neon green windowbeled password pops up in the center.

    "You want to help me out here, Cripsy? I nce over at the urn sitting on my bedside table. "Password. Okay, let''s try the usual. Yellowleverphurry leva, ess denied. "No? PhurryOriginal01"

    The screen blinks and several windowse up. I read through some of them and look over at the urn. I feel an incredibly strong wave of guilt punch me in the stomach.

    "There is no f**g way you just did that for me, Crispy," I whisper.

    "Who are you talking to?"

    I scream looking up at the doorway to see the King leaning on the door frame. The door is wide open. It was locked. I feel like I just got caught cheating. The question right now is who? Right? I look between the urn and the King officially freaked

    out.

    You are not going to believe what just happened," I say standing up to get away from the urn. "He did something evil from beyond the grave, "What?" heughs. "It''s kind of sad that you talk to it,"

    ¡°Okay, I was just sitting here trying to get a good untraceable program to deep research s***t on the D-Dub and my shoe fell

    I go over to it and pick my shoe up. "Onto this rm clock and you''ll never guess what was ying?"

    "Hold On Til May?"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Close, Doin Time by Lana Del Rey."

    "That''s not even a little bit close, Perry," he grins.

    "It was one of Darren''s favorite songs to y when he was in the zone on theputers. Anyway, I got up to pick up the shoe and this USB fell out of it. I plugged it in and it''s his program for antique trading on the ck market.

    "He had these friends from Ennd that he used to steal s**t with when we were kids and they would sell them on these sights to people who would

    pay a lot of money for some of this stuff, I go over to one of the briefcases and pop it open. I raise this ugly demon carving collectible he decided he never wanted to trade. "S***t like this,"

    "Do you know what that is?" he asksing over to me. He takes it out of my hand.

    "Ugly." I answer.

    ¡°This is a mint condition Mayan Lycan figurine. This goes back almost three thousand years. You''re just carrying it around in a f***g suitcase. This suitcase was sitting out in the courtyard for like three days. Do you know how much this is worth?"

    "No,"

    "Of course, not. This is wasted on her, evil mate spirit," he shouts holding up the demon. "What do you want to find in the

    dark web?"

    Çú

 Bait Novel 23

    ?

    hapter

    23

    "Go a little faster, the King groans as 1 rock my hips on hisp. A little lower,"

    "Hey, I would like to enjoy myself as well. You''re huge and taking all of you is a struggle," I stop.

    "Fine, just don''t stop, he growls.

    F***k, I would like to not be facing you now,"

    "I would like that too, he agrees.

    1 get off hisp and turn around. I reach between my legs for him and position myself again. He groans putting his hands on my a**as if to hold me.

    It''s easier not to face him, but we were working on some stuff for his mom''s meeting in the morning and we ended up making out on the couch, I somehow lost my jeans and well, here we are. Not facing him is good. I feel less dirty about this.

    There is no denying that this feels amazing. He knows exactly what he''s doing. He knows how to work the bond to get me here. I can''t help the soundsing out of me or how turned-on I am for him. Out of all my outlets, I think I''ve finally found one that quiets the screaming in my head. This is the second time I''ve done this and I can''t stop thinking of all the ways this monster ***k can destroy me

    He pushes me forward shoving his ***k all the way inside of me and I cry out as I fall on top of the coffee table. body covers me from behind. One of his hands pins both of mine in front of me and picks up the speed.

    His huge!

    You are way too f****g gorgeous for me to take my take my time," he growls pounding into me and stretching me to take more of him.

    I cry out again when he growls, releasing my hands to go for my neck to pull me up so I''m pressed up against the front of his body. His hand tightens around my throat as he thrusts up into me faster. I feel him swell inside of me before he roars squeezing his hand tighter. The sickness in me responds and I explode with him.

    "We can both enjoy this," he pants and releases me. I gasp for air crawling away from him as my vision blurs and my dinneres up. "Well, I enjoyed it,"

    I look down at the chunks of food as a string of saliva connects the to it. Iugh wiping the sweat, tears, and vomit off my face. I deserve this. "Fine. You take the lead next time, I look around for my jeans and my underwear..

    "Are we done with this? I have to take it up to my mom before she goes to bed, he

    "Yeah," I nod and look around for something to clean my throw-up.

    says as I

    get

    dressed.

    ¡°Leave it. A cleaning crewes in. Let''s go, he waves me over jump on one foot trying to get my sneakers on when-1- almost stumble into him. "Did you forget something?" I ask looking back at the table.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "You don''t wear jewelry. Is that a personal preference? I know you can afford it," he says suddenly.

    "What?" I ask. "I''ve never worn jewelry. Where 1e from it''s a good way to get yourself killed for something as st***d as vanity.

    That exins a lot, he says and holds up a box.

    A big one. Like the ones in the Jared Jeweler''smercials that hold diamonds. The big pretty ones rich people get to pat themselves on the back.

    1/3

    53%

    "No," I shake my head. Tm not epting that,"

    Thaven''t even opened it yet," he shrugs.

    ¡°The sex wasn''t that good. I know. I''ve had mind-blowing sex. I just need to adjust a little more,¡±

    "I know," he nods. "And the sex was mind-blowing for me. You''re tight as f***k and you can take all of me. That''s not what this is, he opens the box to reveal exactly what I thought was going to be in there. A huge f***g diamond ne. It has three rows of raindrop-shaped diamonds. Each row gets longer and the bottom is what looks like a little medallion. That is a mini chandelier for a person''s neck. "You are my property and I didn''t have your hair cut that short for no reason. Put it on."

    You-"I lick my lips and take a step back. ¡°You got me a f*** cor?"

    "Yes," he says emotionlessly. "This is designed to nevere off again,"

    "Excuse me?"

    This was designed for you to be unable to remove it,"

    ¡°I''m not putting that on. I bear your mark. That''s enough,

    "Not to me

    "You can''t be serious,"

    I turn around and try to get away from him when his nose res All he has to do is reach out and grab me by my hair. He pulls me back into his arms and pushes us forward until my front is pressed up against one of the desks. Terrified out of my mind I stop struggling. He growls in approval and

    brings the ne around my front. He sps it together. I hear a little beeping sound when it connects on the back of my neck.

    I shut my eyes not wanting to see his demon eyes re back at me. His hand covers my mouth as he adjusts it to his liking. don''t move when he releases me and takes a step back. I open my eyes to see that he doesn''t look too upset. He looks my chest over and brings up his phone as if nothing happened.

    "There, When I tell you to do something. I expect you to do it, Perry. You''ve been a good little wolf from the start and I like that we can be friends. But you have to remember that you are not my mate. It''s just a title. You are my possession," he holds up his phone to show me a medical app. "This will help me track your every move and monitor your health. You asked me to trust you and this is me giving you that,"

    "This is a dog cor,"

    "A very expensive one and it looks quite lovely on you," he smiles. "Now let''s go home. I''m tired and you need your rest,"

    I''m not sure what to think. I just follow behind him thinking of the information I have gathered on him since we met. Suddenly, his not thinking he''s insecure makes sense and that leaves a whole lot of gray area in our deal. Maybe getting it on paper would have been better.**, getting a PDF would be fine too.

    "Don''t," he growls when I reach for the back of my neck. I immediately drop my hand as he waits for me to get on the lift. "I don''t like it. You could have picked something smaller,"

    "No, I liked that one. You have the perfect bone structure for it. I looks good,"

    "That''s not the point. I''m going to look like a f***g idiot wearing jeans and a hoodie with this monstrosity around my throat,

 Bait Novel 24

    ?

    Chapter

    24

    "Then dress better," he growls and steps off the lift.

    "I don''t know if you know this, but I don''t even have a closet. I don''t have a say in what I wear," I call after him. He stops and turns to face me when we get to the giant doorway that leads inside.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "What? These aren''t your clothes?"

    "No, Ss burned them. He said they were tacky and that you would never approve. In what f***ng world would I pick pink blouses and faded jeans. With sweaters for dorks? I like leather and heels. You did this. You made me look like a tw***k,"

    "I''ll fix that," he says looking me over. He reaches for my powder pink sweater andughs. "What?"

    "Ss probably tried to make you seem a little less intimidating. I''ll have the styliste in the morning so you can tell her your preferences-Heels?" "Yes, nice big heels I can use to crush someone''s throat with. You''ve seen the shoes in my room."

    "I thought they were decorative. My sister has a wall of them in her room. Mother doesn''t allow her to wear them," he stares at the ne. "It looks perfect on you, Pernicious. I knew it would,"

    His phone rings and he presses the bud in his ear as we make our way inside and into the elevator. I am f****ng pi****ed about having to wear this ****d thing around my neck. It''s heavy and I''ve never worn anything around my neck.

    Do you know why I''ve never worn anything around my neck? I''vee across dead bodies that have been strangled to death! Pretty girls whose throats were ripped open by some a***le trying to get the jewelry off!

    "I didn''t know that," he says turning around to look at me as tears slip down my face.

    "What?" I quickly wipe them away.

    "You screamed that in your head loud enough for me to be able to hear it. I apologize, but it''s noting off," he sighs putting his phone away. "You''re not in Red Wood City anymore,

    "You don''t understand people at all," I scoff and walk out of the elevator.

    "Perry," he takes my hand and spins me around.

    "You just ruined everything we''ve been building since I got here. All of it. I thought we were friends," I rip my hand out of his as I try to fight the rage inside me. Hot angry tears fill my eyes. "But that was on me, Lycan King."

    "We are friends"

    "Friends don''t do this,"

    "You''re also my property, Perry. Everyone has to know,"

    I know that. That''s why I let you mark me, I growl. "This is betrayal,"

    "No, it is not," he roars making me step back. "Do you want to know why none of the other she-wolves survived here? Lycan females are aggressive. They will kill to be in your position, Perry. They have. You running around here like you own the ce is dangerous. That is why you have an escort all day long. That is so they know you belong to me. That you are my wolf. I own you! Get that through your head,"

    His phone rings again and he takes a deep breath before answerang it. He says a few words and then hangs up.

    1/4

    "Go to your room. I don''t want to see you for the

    ou for the rest of the n

    of the night," he says tightly.

    Great. Now his f***g Royal Lycan emotions are hurt.

    Every instinct in my body screams for me to m the door shut, but I don''t. I just can''t give him the satisfaction of knowing that he got to me so badly that rage and door-mming are the only options left. He watches me as I give the door a little shove and watch it close with him standing there. To be aplete b**h, my eyes stay on him as the door closes. I can see the instant regret on his face and his perfect posture falters. Perry

    I lock the door when it shuts loud enough for him to hear it. I hear something bump against it on the other side before I hear his door m shut. I smile knowing that he''s probably over there mad at himself for yelling at me. Good.

    He put a f***g cor on me. This grotesque disy of power is never going toe off. I''m going to die in this thing. How the f****k am I supposed to shift in this? I groan and fall back on my bed. The stu****d thing makes a clinking sound when I hit the bed and it bounces on my chest.. "Can

    you believe this, Crispy?" I turn around to face the urn.

    I take the piece of chalk next to it and bring it over to me to draw Mr. Meeseeks''s face on it. It''s why I got it matte. Most of the time it just ends up saying. "You''re a piece of s***t for leaving me here".

    Something inside of me shifts and I get lightheaded. Tears fill my eyes and for a moment, I feel like myself again. Guilt, pain, and loneliness wash over me and I reach for my s*** jar again. I hold it to me knowing that I feel like this again because the king closed me off from the bond.

    Unable to take the suffocation 1 run into the bathroom and turn the hot water on. I stand under the spray letting the cold water hit my face and slowly start to get warm before it gets hot. The little bit of peace I thought I had found here is now gone and the sickness I''m infected with has returned with a vengeance enough to make me scream and that is exactly what I

    do.

    I scream until I can''t anymore. Until my throat feels raw and I''m lying on the floor fully dressed, drenched in hot water, with nothing but my idiot choices pounding in my skull along with the migraine I just gave myself.

    There is no sleep for me. The automated lights turn off because I don''t move a muscle all night. Not even after the water runs cold and my body goes numb. My wolf puts us into hibernation to preserve heat. This is how he finds me in the morning. Staring at the squared showerhead.

    "You f*** brat,¡± he growls and turns the water off. "Perry," he lifts me into his arms pushing my wet hair away from my face. "Ss, don''t just stand there. Get the f***g medic."

    "Yes, sir," I hear him answer.

    "Hey, hey," he cups my face and shakes me, ¡°Please, answer me. I sorry, he starts to remove his clothes to offer me his warmth. ¡°F***k," he roars ripping at my clothes. "You can''t do this. You can''t fucking do this to me

    -I can''t move. I inform him. He inhales sharply and holds me tighter to him. -Crystal put us into hibernation.-

    He doesn''t answer me and I''m d. It doesn''t hurt me to see him suffer like this, but I see it in his eyes. I saw it in the way he reacted. F***g idiot. This is good. He''s finally done it. The Lycan King has put me in ce and I ept it. I''m not his mate. I''m not his parmer. I''m not anything other than his property. Thir''s how things will move forward from now on.

    My King

    "She said her wolf put her into hibernation," he says and looks up at the doctor I saw the day I arrived.

    2/1

    53%Á¿

    "Good Mother Moon," she says when she takes me from him. "She''s ice cold,"

    "What happened?" his mother demands.

    He doesn''t answer her. She shoves him andes over to me as the doctor removes my clothes and pulls the nkets out from under me. Alegra''s hand immediatelyshes out and she grabs the ***d thing around my neck hard enough to lift me. She releases it and turns around to face him with a fury I''ve never seen on a woman before.

    "Mother-" he growls, but the sound that echoes in the high ceilings of my room when her hand meets his face is every telenov''s dreame true. He stumbles.

    "You put a f****g cor on her?" she shouts angrily.

    "It''s for her protection," he says standing up straight. If his face stings he doesn''t acknowledge it

    "This wolf has been such a good girl since arriving here, Jonas Zachary Prince," oof. Full name. That''s funny enough to help move passed her pet praise. "You cannot buy this girl like you did the rest of them. She is not a toy. She is an asset. How dare you disrespect her this way? After everything she''s done for us,"

    "She is our property, mother. I''ve had to reduce the staff to keep them from killing her. Ss and Tyler are stretched thin enough as it is. I need the females toe back and this is the only way. She is whatever I f***g say she is. Look at her," hees over-to me, lifts my arm, and drops it. "This is a fit, mother. I gave her some alone time and she''s having a f****g meltdown.

    "She''s a little girl," she roars. He flinches. "She''s twenty-three years old, son. What did you expect was going to happen? That she was going to fall on her knees in front of you to suck your d**k?"

    "Mother"

    I mean I haven''t but we''re getting ridiculously close to it. I''m seriously impressed with his skills. He hasn''t done anything worth it and with this, points have been erased.

    "I am very disappointed in you," she shakes her head, "As if I don''t have enough to deal with already, Jonas. Leave. Let her get

    some rest,"

    "She''s in hibernation," he says.

    "Do you know what that means for a wolf?" she steps into him. It means she was so distressed that her wolf had no other choice but to shut her down

    to keep her from going feral," she wipes her tears angrily. "You have never made me feel this kind of shame before, Jonas. Get out of her room,"

    He turns his gaze to me for a moment. The anger in his eyes quickly fades before he storms out.

    The heated nket, Dr. Alvarez, someone says.

    "Thank you," the doctor takes it.

    With the warmth provided by the electric nket, my body starts to shut down properly. I don''t want to shut my eyes. It feels so disrespectful to ignore her tears, but I can''t help it. She turns away from me covering her face with both hands as she

    starts to cry.

    -Please, don''t cry- I try to reach for her but I can''t move. -Ally, please don''t cry-

 Bait Novel 25

    ?

    Chapter 25 Jonas

    "You have something to say?" I ask Ss when he ces a file in front of me.

    "Nah, man. I think her Majesty said what we were all thinking, he turns away to leave.

    You know I''m right,"

    "You could have gotten her something smaller, man," he turns back to me angrily, I didn''t expect him of all people to actually like this girl. "You could have asked her to take the marks,"

    "Oh, yeah. I''m going to ask my mate to take the Lycan s***e marks," I growl.

    That''s the thing. Jo. She''s not your***g mate," he growls back. "She''s not. Evangeline is f***g dead or are you forgetting the mess we''re in because of her? This girl is ourst hope and she''s f*g ***perfect for the job. No attachments. She asked you to kill her when this was over. You are free to be with one of our own after. You will be king.

    Why you gotta do her like that? You know there''s something wrong with her. Can you imagine half the s**t she''s been through happening to Annie? She''s only six years older than her, man. You gotta stop and think about this s***. She''s not like

    It''s already done,

    "She is not waking up the same, Jo. We both know that. We are not her friends anymore. We''re her f****g masters. You gotta find a way to make this right, Jonas, I ain''t never seen a wolf go into hibernation before and I''ve been around a lot of them for longer than you have. You gotta sort your head. Perry is not your mate. She is not your potential mate. She is a means to an end. What the ***k is wrong with you?"

    "It''s this bond." I sit back. "It''s never been like this before. Not even with Eve,"

    ¡°What the f***k does that mean? Evangeline was your fated,"

    "I can hear her in my head. I feel her all over me. Our connection is strong as ***k. I needed a break from it. She was suffocating me. I can feel how much she loves him, Sigh. How much she misses him day in and day out. You''d think this man died a week ago. I think I miss him,"

    "That''s what a mate is," he sighs. "Why do you care if she loves him that much?"

    Tm jealous," I admit and it tastes like bile in my mouth.

    "of him?"

    "No" I stand up going to the balcony for fresh air. "She never loved me, Ss. Eve never loved anyone in her f***g life or maybe I never loved her. Do you want to know how I know that? Because I''m not f***g suffocating like this girl. If that is what it''s supposed to be like, why the f****k am I even fighting James for if it wasn''t even a tiny fraction of that?"

    I turn around to face him to see him staring back at me with disbelief. My mother is Standing just a few feet away from him dressed to go to work ***t 1 groan. ¡°Mom, I didn''t know you were he

    She''s standing in front of me in a sh. Her icy blue eyes search my face and then she wraps her arms around me. I hug her and rub circles on her back to try and get her to calm down. It''s been a while since I''ve seen her cry and Perry''s pleas to get her to stop earlier are only making me feel worse about yelling the two of them

    "I didn''t mean to hurt her," I say cing my hand on the back of her head. "I just needed it to stop. It I had to live like that-"

    1/3

    53%2

    "You have to talk to me about this," she pulls away to reach for my face. "This girl is different, Jonas. You can''t treat her like that. She was already ready to break when you found her. You''re not going to find what you''re looking for in her. She was seven years old when she met her mate, Baby. They grew up together. Eleven perfect years together. And she was robbed of everything over something ***id.

    "You can''t even begin to understand what that must be like. Your father wasn''t my fated, Jo, but I loved him with all my heart and I can tell you not a day goes by when I don''t miss him. You will have that one day. You will find a mate who is going to love every part of your soul" she sighs and pulls my vest down to fix my tie.

    The damage is done. I don''t know if there is a way you can fix this, but that doesn''t mean you don''t try. I believe this girl can help us. She''s already done a lot. Don''t make it harder on the two of you by hurting her like this. You chose to bind her to you this way. You made that deal and you will fulfill it. Understood?"

    "Yes, your majesty," I bow my head.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "You need to take that off of her,¡±

    "No."

    "How is she going to shift, Jonas? She''s not a Lycan. She''s a werewolf. Take it off her. If you''re so inclined. Put your ownership. marks on her." I can''t

    You can and you will," she growls. "And you''re not going to force them on her. You are going to tell her about them and you will wait for her to give you an answer. Do you understand?"

    "I don''t want to put those things on her,"

    "But you''re okay with putting a f*** dog cor on her, she shouts.

    "That is a custom princess cut ne that cost me my new car. It''s not a cor, mother. It''s a fifteen million dor gift," "You don''t put a fifteen million dor ne on a-" I growl at her before she can finish that sentence.

    That b***h just saved yourpany from going bankrupt with money out of her pocket, Mother. I''ll make adjustments to it, but it''s noting off. And I am not going to put the King''s personal ***e marks on her. You''re going to bete for your meeting, I remind her.

    "Try to talk some sense into him, Ss, she sighs and walks out of my study. I growl pressing my fingers into my eyes. I feel like my head is going to explode.

    "She might like them better than the ne, Ss says quietly The CCX?"

    "Yeah," I sit at my desk looking through the file he handed me when he walked in.

    I''m not going to be able to go to the dome today. Not with her in the condition she''s in. Not if the scent of what we didst night lingers. Maybe just not without her. It feels empty without her chaotic emotions running through me. Putting up my defensesst night, let me breathe easier. pall of

    From the start, her pain was like an addiction. It only gets better when I touch her. When she touches me. The way Perry regards me like she wishes | were someone else. Never looks me in the eyes. When we''reughing she reaches for me and when she sees I''m not the person she wants at her side, she pulls away. I don''t know if this is a result of our painbined. but I find myself wanting more. I want to keep pushing to see how far she''d let things go and I guess we''ve reached that limit.

    The cor is the only option. I refuse to mark her that way. I never even considered it. When I was thinking of what to do so that I could bring back our usual staff team, I thought of the marks. And then I remembered the way my marks on her shoulder looked. I''d never seen them before. Not on my mate and not on any of the other she-wolves.

    2/3

    53%

    The look of betrayal in her eyes stung and that f***g b****h made sure I saw it. We''re just two equally**d up souls. This is the only way things can be for us. The only way to feel alive and it feels like I''ve messed it up already.

    EE

    18.11 Thu, Oct 17 GG

    4

 Bait Novel 26

    ?

    Chapter 26 Jonas

    This file contains the updates on her getting on the board of directors along with Perry''s ownership papers. She did them through Lycan Tech. They''re anonymous through Lycan Tech itself keeping her identity hidden. Since her official job title is head of recruitment. No one knows she works for them anymore

    Unable to stop thinking about it, I lower my defenses, but I get nothing in return. The empty sensation worries me and I''m on my feet headed back to her room before I can think of it. Perry is sitting on the edge of her bed when I get to it. Dr. Alvarez is taking her vitals.

    "Can you move your jaw yet?" she asks.

    Perry looks up at her blinking rapidly and shakes her head. She has the urn sitting on herp and she looks down at it as Dr. Alvarez kneels in front of her to massage her face. She lookspletely out of it.

    ¡°Leave us,¡± I say walking into the room.

    Because I didn''t put any defenses up, I felt a sickening wave of feare from her. She gets up and runs around the bed to hide her jan Dr. Alvarez looks at her sympathetically before walking out without ncing my way.

    I don''t close the door hoping it provides her with some sort offort. I don''t care if the doctor hears this. I just need her out of thy way. I swallow back the knot forming in my throat and sit where she had been. I slide off the edge to sit on the floor/Pernicious Phurry''s tears smell like salted caramel. I tilt my head in her direction when she peaks out from the other side just a little.

    "I''d never take that from you, Perry, I promise. "Even if I were very upset with you. I''m not, I pat the spot next to me. here."

    -I don''t want to- she says backing away to hide from me.

    "I''m very sorry I pulled away from you without warning, little wolf,

    "Come

    -No, you''re not. You''re only sorry because of the way your mom reacted. You don''t care about me and I''m not asking you 10.-

    "That''s not true. I think we both know that by now. You''re my friend,"

    -No. I''m not. You''re my owner and I''m a version of a pet you can use as you please.-This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°F***k, Perry. You are not making this easy for me,¡± I sigh letting my head fall forward. "You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to be here. I never hid my intentions from you. This is a big a***castle and the staff I selected to ease you in here aren''t enough anymore,"

    -You could have exined that to me. You could have faked giving me an option. I wouldn''t have denied you. I told you that when we wereing back from Red Wood. You did this to me on purpose. To humiliate me. To show me you''re the master.-

    "Yes, I did. You don''t seem to grasp that. Come sit with me, Little Wolf. You know I''m not going to hurt you. I want to show you the other option," I turn my head over to her when she peeks out again. "Come here. Let me make this better,"

    She takes a deep breath and then slowly crawls out from her hiding spot. She sits next to me and turns her head up to look at me. The first thing I see are the dark circles around her eyes and I see why I can''t reach out to her. The dark shades of purple and gold in her eyes are gone. Ipletely pulled away from her. Enough to drain her of my energy. I didn''t know I could do that. I don''t know anything about f***g wolves. "S**it," I reach for her. She tenses up and I feel her anxiety flood through me. "I am so sorry, Perry," I sit her on myp so her

    1/2

    back is against me. I wrap my arms around her resting my forehead on her back. "I didn''t mean to leave you this. I just needed some room to breathe. There is a whole lot of you inside of me and I''m a piece of s***t,¡±

    -I agree.- she says in my head.

    "I don''t know what''s different," I tell her. "Why we''re connected like this,"

    -Do you want me to tell you?- she asks.

    53%.

    vulnerable like

    I sit up and pull her to me so I can look at her. Sheys back enough toy her head on my shoulder. Her head tilts toward me and I can feel her exhales on my skin.

    Yes.

    -I epted youpletely. No defenses or reservations. As you asked. My wolf considered you hers. All of you. She loved you. Especially the dominant parts, I told you we weren''t the same. You''re just not listening, Lycan King.-

    "I don''t understand what that means,"

    -Because you''re not like me. You don''t care to understand. All you care about is dominating. That''s not what a mate is and it sure as ***k isn''t what a King is. We''ve known each other for fourteen days and you don''t even know what I look like as myself-

    "You''re right. I haven''t been very fair to you. I apologize. Please, tell me what to do to move on from this,"

    -I don''t know that we can, Lycan King. You didn''t just break my trust. You broke hers. You abandoned her after strapping a cor on us. I think it''s best if we''re not friends at all, My King-

 Bait Novel 27

    ?

    Chapter 27 Jonas

    "Stop calling me that," I growl.

    She sighs and stands up.

    -That is all you are to me, Sir. she bows her head politely. I am at your service for whatever you need.-

    "Don''t say that, Perry," I look up at her. Tm sorry."

    "So am I, her voice is ****e. Tears slide down her face but she no longer looks at me.

    "Okay," I stand up not wanting to make things worse. "You can take the day to rest. You can go back to work tomorrow morning.

    "You''re very generous, My King," she says when I get to the door

    I want to turn around and tell her to knock this s***t off, but I feel f***ing exhausted and I just close the door gently without looking back. Dr. Alvarez is standing next to the door waiting for me to leave.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "You deserve that," she says quietly

    "Make sure she eats, doctor. She''ll just pick at her food and move it around to the te to make it look like she''s eaten. Put a hydration pack in her drink. It''s not easying back from alcohol. I put a little Xanax in there too just to make it easier on her. I can''t take that emotion into me anymore. She''s not going to let me. I''ll be in my study,"

    "Does she know you do that?"

    "It doesn''t f***g matter anymore. Just make sure she''s in good condition. I''m testing her out on the field in two days so don''t let her sleep all day. She''s all yours,"

    "That''s what she means," she says as I start walking again. I pause You''re just not going to try. You''ve always been that way, Sweet Prince. It hurts the way it does because you love her or at the very least you love parts of her. You''ve changed so much since she''s gotten here. I''d hate for you to revert back into the beast that woman turned you into,"

    I look back at her to see her already stepping into Perry''s room.

    Fuck this

    down to the lobby to get the hell out of here and find Jacob f***g Phurry dressed in a suit talking to our leading hunter. It has to be his interview for the hunting force. I stay back listening.

    "This is very impressive, Jacob. It says here you have a daughter and a son,"

    "Just the daughter now," he corrects Delgado.

    "Will she be joining us as well?"

    I''m not sure.

    "A free spirit?"

    Mackenzie is he chuckles,

    More like a caged one that somehow escaped," he sighs.

    That sounds rough," Delgadouglis. "So, just you and the Quee

    18

    18:12 Thu, Oct 17 & GB.

    "Guess so," he nods.

    "You know you don''t have to do this. You are an honorary guest of the throne,¡±

    ¡°I don''t like to take up space without contributing. Sir. After the kids graduated from the academy, their appetites grew. What I made was less than picket change to them and they asked me to quit several times themselves. Guess I''m old fashioned like this."

    "We''re a dying breed, Plurry. My kids tell me the same thing. What do we have if not the hunt?"

    "Amen," he chuckles.

    53%

    "Well, I''ve seen everything I need to. If youe with me, I''ll show you around, Delgado stands handing him his resume binder back. Jacob takes it and stands. "My King, he bows when he sees me approach. "Good morning."

    "Good Morning, Delgado. Mr. Phurry,"

    "My King" Jacob bows.

    "Making yourself at home I see," I smile.

    His lips pult up, but there''s this look on his face. Like he knows something I don''t. Maybe it''s the irony of his situation. I see where she gets it from. Her ability to hide all those emotions she just loves to keep inside. She learned it from this man here.

    "You''re very generous, My King," he says in the same condescending tone she used minutes ago.

    She might not be your blood, but she''s your kid, huh?"

    "You tter me," he smirks.

    "You know her well. How do I get her to forgive something s***id I said?¡±

    "Perry is the gentlest of my children," he says. "Quick to forgive. It would have had to be something very serious for her to get upset with you," "It was,"

    "Perry speaks twonguages, My King." his wolf shes in his eyes. "Nerd and Rage. You snuff out the anger when she''s upset the only way a wolf knows how. Shifting, f***ng, and fighting. Not always in that order. The nerd ***, well. You just gotta put her in front of aputer and watch her free herself. That one can be dangerous. Perry doesn''t know how to stop,"

    "Thank you," I acknowledge the information with a nod. The two of them bow.

    "My King," they say in unison. Delgado leads him away.

    "You''re a b

    a brave wolf, Phurry. I''ve seen the king take someone''s head off for just staring at him," he whispers.

    "He upset my son''s mate. If you knew her, you''d know Perry isn''t the kind of person who is easily-insulted. She''s all I have left and she''s been through enough for him to mistreat her in any kind of way."

    He says it loud enough for me to hear.

    "My King, will you be needing anything?" Charles, the head of security and staffinges out of the garage.

    "Have Perry''s cars been settled?"

    "Yes, my King, Near yours as instructed. They''re something." he miles. "They are a bit on the dusty side. If you like I could have them all detailed" 18:12 Thu, Oct 17

    G

    3.53%

    "No, I don''t think she would like that. They were her mate''s,"

    "I see," he nods.

    "You may reset the staffing to your liking, Charles. Have Juliuse to look at the Queen''s new cor. It needs to widen when she shifts. I forgot they did that,"

    "Yes, sir."

    "Also, have whoever is in charge of her clothinge ask for her preferences,"

    ¡°She is displeased with her wardrobe?"

    "Who assigned her wardrobe?" I asked annoyed

    The Queen, sir. Your mother. She said you''d prefer something softer. More delicate,"

    "Okay, whatever the wolf wants. Get it for her," I roll my eyes.

    "Yes, sir," he bows.

    "This is f*** ridiculous, I growl heading out to go to the dome. "This entire fight was f****g dumb," CREA

 Bait Novel 28

    ?

    "Our gym is equipped with the best exercising equipment on the market. There are three saunas, two heated pools, a spa, and a tanning room. All on the same floor,¡± Dr. Alvarez has not stopped talking since I told her that resting wasn''t going to help my s**id body mobile again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Dr. Alvarez is the smallest person I''ve met in this pack and that says a lot since we''re the same size. She''s got a very petite build. Not a lot of muscle, but she''s very beautiful. Just like the rest of them. Her dark auburn hair is a mess of luscious curls that she keeps out of her face with a thick mint green headband

    The headband makes her soft green eyes pop. Her fair skin gives her a very, what is the word I''m looking for here. venomous? Yeah. She looks like something ¨¤ casual mortal like me shouldn''t be able to touch without dying a slow painful death. She''s dressed in soft pink scrubs with little mint chocte chip ice cream cones printed on them. The big pretty round specs on her face are gold. There''s no way they''re not actual gold.

    I love the way she walks. It''s so proper and very predatory. I bet she looks amazing in casual clothes. It''s not even fair to the rest of us, I swear to their mother moon. These things are all glorious and on top of being this gorgeous, she''s a doctor? There is nopetition with these women. They''re all f*g a***wesome. I bet they get some really bad ***s in their underworld. Hey, Mackenzie really does make a lot of sense now. That little ps****o is half-godly.

    "Would you like to start there, my Lady?¡± she asks.

    "Sure," I say unsure of what I just agreed to.

    "I''ll make sure to pick out a cute bathing suit," she smiles and walks away.

    "Bathing suit?" I whisper to myself.

    I have a really bad habit of wandering off into my head when something bores me. I just wanted to run. I can''t shift with this thing around my throat. I stuff my hands in my hoodie and look around to see there are a couple of guys lifting weights at the far end of the room. The spotter is staring at me so I make the awkward eye contact weirder by spinning away from his direction.

    Then there''s a woman standing in the middle of the field of treadmills staring back at me. It''s not a curious look the weird spotter back there was giving me. This *h looks pi***d. My body instantly bes very aware of the threat.

    "Please, don''t," I groan. I''ve had a long f****g night and thest thing I want is to end up in the hospital"

    "How about a morgue then?" she asks.

    Iugh and then pull my hands out of my pockets. I drop to a crouch still feeling stiff, but I''m able to avoid her taking my head off. I kick out hitting her ankle and shuffle to get away from her. She cries out but I only put a couple of feet between us before she''s on me again.

    I slide back those few desperate inches with my hands squeaking along the shiny ck tile and spin around lifting my leg. I kick her in the face trying

    to get her off me. She takes two kicks before she releases me again. I cry out this time feeling her ws dig into my other ankle.

    "You f****g **h, I kick her again.

    My wolf fully alert now rushes forward. Ish out with my ws cutting across her face. She screams letting go of mepletely and I take the opportunity to not give her the upper hand again. I get up on my knees andunch myself at her. Her back hits the floor and I pull back to punch her in the face. growl when someone grabs the back of my hoodie keeping

    me from her.

    "You''re supposed to be f***g resting, the King lifts me by my hoodie like I weigh nothing to him. I growl at him reaching up to get him to let me go. "Oh, really?" heughs. I stare back at him in disbelief. His f****g disrespect knows no bounds. I stop struggling and remember my ce. "Oh, all done then?"

    1/a

    5

    53%

    "My King," that st***d big ***h gets on one knee to bow to him like a good dumb b***h.

    "Get out," he growls at her.

    Her shoulders sag and she stands without looking up at us. I kick at her as she walks by hitting her rib cage. She stumbles and catches herself on a weight rack. He growls again when she turns to look at me. She bares her teeth at me before she stomps away.

    "My King. Dr. Alvarezes out of wherever the hell she had gone.

    You w

    were supposed to be watching her," he shouts.

    "It''s not her fault. I wanted to go swimming. She said you had a heated pool and I''m stiff remember?" I throw my hands up.

    The f***g sweater takes this moment to decide that my weight is too much and cr***cks. My *** hits the floor when I fall out of it and the T-shirt I had been wearing. My arms immediately go over my bare chest and I lift my legs to hide myself.

    I nce up at him when a low warning growl rumbles threateningly in his chest. The two other guys are staring at us. The one that had been benching is up. He grabs his friend''s arm and pulls him away. The two of them go out of one of the other doors I''m assuming are exits. "Perry"

    "Please, don''t touch me right now. I''m very embarrassed," I lift up my hand for my clothes.

    He hands it back to me and I slide the shirt out of the hoodie and start putting it on. I use the hoodie to cover the tears under my armpits so nothing identally pops out again.

    "Per-

    "Mm." I groan putting up my hand to stop him.

    I take a minute to put myself together because if I stand now I''m going to punch his f*****g balls into his stomach. See how well he does creating an heir when he''s rematedter.

    "Are you hurt, My Lady?" poor Dr. Alvarez asks. Shees over to me and kneels on the floor where I''m bleeding into my new favorite shoes. "Mostly embarrassed. I just got my a** handed to me by some p***o, I was scolded like a bad dog, and 1 shed four people within a two-minute time frame," I

    groan.

    "If it makes you feel any better. None of us were disappointed with what we saw," she smirks. "They''re very nice," "Good mother moon, I fall back feeling my face burn hot. "I''m gonna have to start wearing the bras aren''t I?"

    "Yes," the King answers.

    "Why don''t we take you back to your room to get your ankle wrapped up?" Dr. Alvarez wraps the bright red swimsuit around my ankle.

    "I''ll be fine in a minute," I say sitting up. I pull my jeans up to show her it''s already healing. "Perks of the big guy."

    Isee she smiles. "You still want to swim?"

    "Yeah, I need this stiffness gone. It kind of hurts,"

    "Would you like something for that?"

    "Nah. This was nothingpared to thest time it happened,

    2/3

    G

    "When was thest time it happened?" the King asks.

    "When my mate died."

 Bait Novel 29

    ?

    "I''ll get another swimsuit," Dr. Alvarez gets up and is quick to leave me alone again because that worked so well for us thest time.

    I look around and find a trash bin. I toss my shoes in and my socks

    This is what I was talking about the King breaks the silence.

    "Maybe the tag wasn''t big enough. Maybe you should add lights to it or something,¡± I turn around to face him. ¡°Maybe you can tattoo THE KING''S B****H in big bold letters on my face,"

    "That was the other option," he slides his right hand into the pocket of his ck cks and looks down at the floor while I stand here processing what he just said.

    "Excuse me?"

    "It''s that or the marks of the King''s s****e," he says and there''s a hint of shame in his tone. There are rules. Laws and traditions we follow, Little Wolf. I should have exined things better to you. As your friend. I''ve never had to exin myself to anyone. Least of all to-

    "A s***e," I nod.

    "You were hiding it,"

    was with Dr. Alvarez. Do you see what I''m wearing? This shirt says Little Miss Sunshine on it and has flowers," I say showing him. "How ridiculous do I look with this thing around my neck!"

    ¡°It doesn''t matter, Perry," he sighs andes up to me. He pulls out from under the ripped fabric. "That was a newly shifted female. Her mother is probably going toe to try to kill you for marking up her face like that,"

    "Seriously?" I ask looking back at the door we came through.

    "Yes, Perry. Seriously," he stares at me as if saying, I f***g told you so.

    "Like how bad are the marks? I much rather get a sweet tat than this s***t, I hold up the mess of diamonds,

    "I would never put those marks on you, Pernicious, he growls. It is the ultimate disrespect a Lycan King can do to another being. You are not my s***e, little wolf. But you are mine. This is the least disrespectful way to im you,"

    I can''t hold his gaze because that''s actually really nice of him to say. It''s not enough for me to forgive him for pushing my wolf away like some street dog. Enough to send us into a state of mind sober me couldn''t handle after not feeling it for a few days now.

    "I think we need toy down some ground rules. Just so I know what I''m allowed and what I''m not. What you did was humiliating and I''m not talking about the holding me up by my sweater like I''m four. You did that to me on purpose. I feel it you know. Your anger. Your jealousy," he steps away from me averting his gaze. Lycan King, it only feels like I''m better at this than you because you''re finally getting somewhere,"

    "You think I''m jealous of your n?"

    "Aren''t you? Dude, it was seriously impressive how you were keeping s***t going all while juggling everything else. I''ve seen your press coverage and how you''ve been holding down the scandals. I have still get tagged in the Local L***ic b***it,"

    "What is the Local L***tic b***it?" he asks.

    "Here," I reach for my phone in my back pocket. "It broke, I whisper. "Jake is going to be upset. This is the fifth one,"

    1/4

    53%•þ

    "Use mine," he says holding qut four phones. "Pick one,"

    "What the f***k?" Iugh and take one. "Why do you have so many?"

    "I have three different jobs," he presses the side button. "Good choice. That is my personal one. It won''t ring unless it''s my mother or my sister,

    It''s not even password-protected. What an idiot. I open his QuickHowl up and search for the Local L***ic and type in Red Wood''s zipcode. I hand it back to him when the first video pops up and tap the y option. It''s captioned Local L***ic

    takes a break.

    "Bro, bro. Look it''s her," a seventeen-year-old kid with a f***g cellphonees up on screen and then flips the camera. There I am. Sitting near the pretzel stand during my lunch break. Three years ago.

    "Holy s***it, bro. That''s her. That''s Perry Phurry. The Local L***c, his little buddyughs. The kid zooms in on me as I take a couple of bites out of my pizza bagel before my phone rings. ¡°Dude, she''s kind of hot.

    ¡°She can m me on top of a car all day, the other kid howls.

    The Kingughs and then stares at the phone with disbelief when I nod angrily stand and m my bagel on the floor before gathering all my s***t. I take my soda cup turn around and throw the cup toward the trash can spraying several dozen people crossing the walkway during rush hour. "Yo, did you see that,"

    The first kidughs as he follows my movement while I storm off pi***d as hell. This man steps in front of me. When I sidestep him he follows. I do it again only for him to keep blocking my path I do it a few times and when the guyughs I pull back andy him out. I even walk over his chest when I get past him.

    The other boyes into the shotughing so hard he falls off the bench.

    "There are dozens of those along with the two high-speed chases I was involved in. I went viral for two years straight. Everyone was always out to get a video and s***t got bad because it only made me angrier,¡±

    "I am going to watch all of these and probably share them with my sister, he admits with a smirk. "What did he mean when he said he''d let you m him on a car all day?"

    "That was the one that started it all. This f****g as***le s***ed my purse and I mmed him on a car. When I lifted him he pulled my shirt down popping all the buttons open. You can see my bra. They called me the ***y Avenger until the kids realize I was just a piece of **** and I became a meme. They have the Hoback Girl song to me mming the guy repeatedly. That one I like,"

    "You don''t have media control?"

    "For what? I''m not doing anything special," I scoff

    "I am going to have to pull this. If it gets out, you''re not going to like it here," he says and tries to give me his phone back. 1 hold my hand up shaking my head.

    "I can get myself another one. Since you can track me now. I don''t have to be here all the time do I ask. He tenses up and stares back at me. I''m not going to run, Lycan King. Never ever considered it. I''ve got nowhere else to go."

    "You have a lot of friends at Lycan Tech,"

    "When s***t goes south, it''s the people getting something out of you that go first. I''m serious. You have the one person you need to keep me from doing anything *****id to you in your grasp and he just started working for you. What are you so afraid of?

    You getting ambushed like this and me not being close enough to get to you," he answers truthfully.

    2/4

    GG

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    §±

    "-And then she was like, why would you use glittery hot pink when I specifically ask for metallic magenta, Andromeda walks in dressed in a bathing suit. There''s another girl with her. The two of them start giggling. The girls stop when they see us. "Hey, guys,"

    "Aren''t you supposed to be in school?" the King asks his sister.

    "Early day. Got off at noon. Your blood smells amazing. B.T.Dub she points at my foot and smiles.

    "I agree, the girl next to her nods.

    This girl is fully dressed. She''s got on tight ck pleather leggings. Her ck leather ankle boots were redesigned with little skulls and s***s. Her mini dress has ck and whiteyers of tule and her corset is checkered. Perfectly fitted to her body. Her long ck hair is styled and fluffed going down her back stopping at her thighs. Her eyes are a shiny ruby red matching the glossy red lipstick. Her makeup isn''t too loud but hershes are killer. "Did you get your boots from S**********y Girl on QuickHowl?" I ask her.

    "Yes," she beams lifting her leg so I can get a better look at them. I have a collection. I can''t wait for the summer Manolos she''s designing. You a fan?"

    "I used to be. I nod. "She was my neighbor when I was in the academy. She designed most of my clothes then too. I created the programming for her 3-D posts,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Wicked," she smirks. "My name is Lillies,"

    "Plural"

    "Yes, my mother''s name was Lilly and my dad named me after her, my twin sister''s name is Tulips so I think I lucked out," sheughs.

    "You guys never wait for me," a girl in a baby blue sun dress rushes in with a stack of books in her arms. She looks identical to her darker counterpart. Except she''s blonde, big beautiful baby blue eyes, and a flum

    Ci***on Roll beanie on her head. "Oh, my god. It''s you," she points at me and drops everything in her arms. "The Local **ic,"

    "What?" Andromeda looks over at me.

    "I am such a big fan. I mean hello. You''re like a hero," she sn***es my hand and starts shaking it wildly. "You are so much prettier in person. I thought you''d be a little bigger, but that was wishful thinking. Good mothermoon, it is an honor to meet you. Your work on programming muscle memory into robotic prosthetics revolutionized medical theo-¡± I pull my hand out of hers. ¡°I''m sorry. I''ve been told I have a thing about personal space,¡± she giggles. "Why did you stop? You were supposed to change the world,"

    Her big blue eyes stare back at me both expectantly and usingly. Her words ring in my head louder than anything I''ve ever been able to scream at myself and I feel like the world is once again trying to squish me into nothing. Unable to answer or say a single word, I bail. I could hear the King calling after me but it was too much.

    "You were supposed to change the world,"

    Seven little words that have haunted me for the past five years. Words that have pushed me-into a hole I doubt I''d ever be able to dig myself out of. Grief is funny like that isn''t it? It takes over everything and it''s the perfect excuse for letting everyone around you down. It just puts its foot on your throat when someone tries to tell you you should be doing more. As if I didn''t know that. That was a horrible reminder of the person I used to be. Both her super tall goth sister in those glorious heets and the cute little bunny driven by a world that holds so much unknown potential. I never thought I''d never have to see it again. I haven''t been around anyone intellectually stimting in a very long time and it f****g hurt to have it thrust in my face like that.

    Thu, Oct

 Bait Novel 30

    ?

    Chapter 30 ÈÕòû53%

    My arms ache as I hit four hundred pushups. My arms are getting re*ady to f*****ng explode if I don''t stop b*ut my urge to drink is even stronger,

    Tears slide *down my face as 1 shakily lower my body again. I cry out when I try to go back up but they won''t let me. My belly finally hits the floor. My ripped t-shirt soaks in the sweat puddle under me and I *ly start to cry. I stretch my arms out to my sides before they start to cramp

    All I can think about is needing a drink. Even after not having any in almost two weeks. My mouth and throat feel f*ng dry. My body is trembling. I knew the King had taken this into himself and he''s been trying to get back into my head all day. But I don''t trust him anymore and neither does Crystal. She growls in my head every time we feel him pushing against my barriers

    "Mydy," Dr. Alvarez runs into my room and kneels in front of me. ¡°Are you hurt?"

    "No." I groan into the floor. "I was doing pushups and my arms stopped working."

    "Is this a side effect of hibernation?"

    "No, it''s a side effect of st*ity. I lift my head up enough to rest on my chin so I meet her eyes.

    "I don''t have anything for that," she smirks making meugh. "You''re all sweaty and gross,"

    "Mhm." I nod. I was exersising."

    Would you like some help getting into the shower? The stylist is here for your profiling and measurements. You have toe down because just a few select are allowed on this floor,"

    "I got it. I don''t have anything else to wear though,"

    "I have your change of clothes here. The King did rip your tops, she points at a shopping bag.

    "Thank you, Dr. Alvarez. You are amazing."

    "You can call me Oz"

    "Oz"

    "Short for Opal Zafrine,"

    "Oz it is," I nod. "Would it be weird for you to call me Perry and not mydy? Where Ie from saying this is mydy means I''m your girlfriend," Her eyes grow round like saucers and she turns a very pretty shade of pink.

    "I am so sorry I didn''t realize, she covers her mouth shaking her head.

    "It''s fine," I try to get up but my arms don''t want to move.

    "I can help, she reaches for me.

    "No. I got myself into this, I''ll get myself out, I roll onto my back and sit up before turning onto my knees and standing without my s***id arms. Take that alcoholism jitters. "See, I got

    "I can turn the water on for you. How do you take it?"

    ¡°Cold. I just did a full-body workout,"

    "That can be harmful if you don''t take the ri steps to cool down,"

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    "Can''t keep the stylist waiting. I remind her. She groans and nods as she takes the shopping bag she brought with her sets it on the counter and starts the water for me.

    "Would you like help getting out of your clothes?" she whispers.

    "No, I''m good." Iugh.

    "What about getting clean?" she asks.

    I got it. Oz. The cold water helps."

    "I''ll be right outside the door, my-I mean Perry. If you need anything just call out, she sings and spins around to leave. She pauses at the door and nces back at me. "Sorry, I''m new at being a private doctor for adults. I used to be a pediatrician."

    "You''re fine." Iugh.

    I like Dr. Alvares. On top of being smart and super hot. She''s absolutely f***g awesome. She''s kind of Mack''s type. Mack would love Dr. Alvarez being a private doctor for adults for her all day. Maybe I should try to track her down for our final goodbye. She didn''t think I was waking up from thata. It''s how Darren ended up in a jar. I left a note when I sent her money for the first time after waking up. All I got was an I love you. I''m d you didn''t die.

    My arms tried to protest my shower, but surprisingly, Crystal was very amodating. I guess what the kid said got to both of us and now that there''s an actual task at hand, she''s happy for us to stop thinking about it. I rinse myself off a few times before I dry up and open the shopping bag. I smile at the high-waisted denim shorts and the red crop top that says, I BITE in big ck gothic letters. At the bottom is a shoe box with the S****k*y Girl logo that is kind of a Batman rip off but not really. I open the box to find a pair of custom ck hightops with bats and little crescent moons. There''s also a note. *

    Sorry, my sister made you cry. FYI she might do it again so you can at least pass your research to her. She''s not going to drop it. She can be a real a*e when she wants something. She looks cute, but she''s not. All respect, Lillies.

    "Thanks," I whisper to myself and slip on the ck socks with thece around the top before putting on the shoes. I have a pair of these. They''re swamp monster-themed

    "Better?" Dr. Alvarez asks holding up a ss of water and a small stic cup with pills in it. These should help with the soreness. The red ones are b- 12 and the others, don''t tell the King I gave you something strong for the pain. You''re going to need it once you warm up again.¡±

    "Thank you," I clear my throat. "What is it?"

    "Codine," she whispers.

    Tm only taking half. I''ve never been good with pharmaceuticals

    "Sure, I''ll break it, she takes one of the white tablets and goes over to the vanity.

    "What''s the other stuff?"

    "The small one is Xanax and the gel tablets are vitamins to help with your-" she lowers her gaze.

    "Itching

    "Is that what you

    "Yes,

    you want to call it?"

    "With your itching. However, you might want to reconsider because it sounds like a different kind of problem,"

    "Maybe it''ll help the King stay off me," I shrug and toss the pills in my mouth..This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "I can provide an excellent excuse for that," shees back with half the pill.

    "I was joking. He''s actually-" I pause looking up at her. "It won''t be necessary,

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    "I was there when he was born and I''ve been his doctor his entire life. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I know he is the prototype of a true Lycan male,"

    The way she said it made me nce over at Crispy. He used to say that. He used to tell me that the only way he could ever live was to be the prototype of what he was best at. Everything he did had to be absolutely perfect. Down to being a mate. He''d spoil me and never failed to tell me he loved me even when I didn''t deserve it. Esepcially when I didn''t deserve it.

    But there were times when he could be cruel. When he made me stare back at the repercussions of my actions. He never once helped me fix anything. He''d always make me do it myself and he''d sit there with me even if it meant staying up for days. He would say if he put in everything. it would go without saying that his mate would do the same.

    Darren would be so disappointed in what I''ve be. I know I am. The only thing I am the prototype of is the pernicious way I''ve lived my life from the start. My mother was right to give me such a st**d name. I''ve only ever harmed and destroyed. Death follows me wherever I go and I only pray that this is the final stop before I can finally rest.

    É«

 Bait Novel 31

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    Chapter

    31

    A woman is waiting for us when we arrive on the lobby floor. She''s not a Lycan, but she is most definitely an alpha female. She has a team of wolves with her and right away, my wolf feels a little more at ease. That is until she turns around to reveal the ck tattooed marks that cover half her face, move down to her neck, and cover her entire right arm. They all have the

    marks.

    "My Lady, this is Calico Waller and her team. She will be asking you some questions regarding your fashion preferences and taking your urate measurements to have on file, Dr. Alvarez exins.

    "You didn''t like what I provided for you?" Calico asks.

    "No," I answer honestly. "I''m not a f***k"

    She smirks and her team all try not tough. She waves me to her and motions to the tform that wasn''t there before. There are racks of clothing all over the room. Each one has a wolf standing beside it. I step up onto it and shees over with a measuring strip thing.

    "What is your color of preference?" she asks lifting my arms up. They shake when she releases me. She snaps her fingers and two wolvese over to me to hold my arms up.

    "Red" I clear my throat feeling a little embarrassed. "But with the new color in my eyes, gold. The base color is up for grabs."

    Calico grins and snaps her fingers again. The racks are rearranged as she takes my measurements. I press my lips together because I have to admit that it''s really cool that she can do that and they allow it. Are they linked? They''re wolves, right? If she snapped at me like that, I''d f***g check her in the mouth. Maybe swing at her hand hard enough to hurt her. See how much she''s going to be snapping at me then.

    It''s one of my biggest pet peeves. Darren used to do that to his assistants and I would always tell him to knock that s**t* off. Sure, we were in a position to do it. Great minds or whatever, but I remember a time when that was me. When I was treated like s***t because I was no one. Just a little orphan girl who could hack the ATMs all over the city. A st**id little wolf no one respected. I earned my ce among those who would probably let me snap at them that way, but I''d never belittle anyone. Unless, you know, they deserved it or *f**d up monumentally,

    "Bring me dress rack sixteen," she orders and lifts her hand to snap again. I ce my hand over hers and shake my head. *

    "Do that again in my presence and I will fold your f**g hand in half*, Alpha Calico, I growl. "They''re working for you. Building your vision. The least you can do is show them some f**g respect,"

    She stares back at me for a moment and then pulls her hand away from mine. She nods and looks away. The two wolves holding my arms up take a couple of steps back and I''m finally able to shake the burning sensation starting to spread through them. I''m also feeling the effects of everything Dr. Alvarez gave me. I admit, that it''s helping with the itching.

    A metal rack is rolled over to us and she motions for me to go over to it. There are a lot of pretty pieces here. ck, red, purple, and gold. I flip through them liking all of them.

    "What do you think?" she asks as I''m reaching the end.

    "Yes," I nod and she smiles.

    "I can send a schedule and you can pick a piece to be brought up for you,

    "What if I just want to take the whole thing up to my room and choose what I want whenever I want?" I ask.

    TmShe nces back at Dr. Alvarez nervously and starts to shake her head.

    "I don''t see why not, we all look up to see the Ki*ng, Ss, and a lean I''ve never meting in from the courtyard. I might have met him. He might be **s''s assistant.

    18.13 Thu, Oct 17 BE

    "My King" all the wolves get on one knee and bow their heads low with their fists on the floor. I roll my eyes and turn my

    attention back to the rack.

    "Can I swap some of these out?" I ask. Her head snaps up to me, eyes filled with rage.

    "You don''t have to ask permission, little wolf. Take what you want, he says looking over some of the things on the rack. Heughs and steps away from them. You''re the Queen,"

    Dr. Alvarez presses her lips together and looks away from how angry the Alpha is. I sigh and turn my attention to her.

    "What?" I demand.

    "It''s not traditional to-

    Tm not traditional, I stop her.

    That''s what this is. Darren and his mother had an ick about me keeping my clothes in my room too. It took him a while for him to ept that I had a shopping problem when we finally moved in together. We shared a room with Mackenzie but she was born in Red Wood. She was used to it and loved borrowing my things.

    "Clearly" she mumbles.

    "What is that **it on your face?" I ask her. Her nose res when the Lycan who r

    "My im marks," she answers. "As a*** *e of the council,"

    They do that to your face?" I ask

    "Yes,"

    "Do you still live on your parnds?"

    "No, I belong to the Lycan council,

    "How did youe to belong to them?"

    "My father sold me to them when I was sixteen,"

    may or may not be **s''s assistant snorts.

    you

    "If I were you, I''d forget everything he taught you. F**k him and his traditions. I assure you they don''t think about following thews they''re bound by. Traditionalists are a dying breed. The world knows that. It''s why the new generation kills them the way they do. Why are you so mad? I want all of this and it''ll be paid for?"

    "There''s no guarantee you''ll wear everything," she says without looking up at me.

    "You see that?" I point at the King. ¡°He has a pampering kink. There''s no way in hell I''m not going to wear all of this. And what is left untouched will be returned to you when I''m gone. Deal"

    Ss is the only one whoughs. The King''s nose res and his eyes glow, but he doesn''t contradict me. Calico stares at me for a moment and then nods.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Deal, she agrees.

    "Your life would be much easier here if you stopped acting like you''re going to be able to go back one day, Calico. The marks on your face should have been enough proof that there is no going back. Our people forgot about us. If this is something you love doing here, do it,

    "Is that what happened to you? Your people forgot about you?"

    "My people will never forget about me. I''m very close to ruining everyone''s life, Iugh. "I''m very excited, I look around the 18:13 Thu, Oct 1.

    53%

    §±

    room taking in the other wolves. "Any of you from Red Wood City or are you from wherever she was from?"

    "Red Wood City," one raises her hand. "I''m a big fan. The Local Lu***ic in the Flesh,"

    "F***k my life," the King groans. "How viral was that?"

    "It''s has sixteen billion streams on HowTV, the girl says trying to keep control of herposure. "I didn''t know you had been sold. Everyone was told you were just kicked out. I assumed you were moving to Magique City,"

    "Nope. I was sold for two hundred k. American dors," I scoff, A few of the wolves gasp. That''s what I said," Iugh. "That''s not even enough to buy one of my programs,"

    The other alphas wouldn''t like to hear that, she adds. 1 spin around and smile at her.

    "Do you still have local followers?"

    "Yes, we''re very popr on their social media tforms, Alpha Calico answers.

    "You should take a picture with me, I ***p over to her and show her my new cor. "Make sure you get a good angle of my new dog tag. It has the return to owner information on it,"

    "Perry, that can cause an uproar, Ss says.

    "I know, I grin when the girl holds up her phone. "Hashtag Local Lu**c bes a good girl,"

    "That is a good hashtag, the girl grins.

    Tm Perry by the way. It''s nice to meet a fellow ***e," I hold my hand out for her. I hear the King sigh heavily.

    "Marcaria, but you can call me Marcy," she shakes my hand.

    I broke my phone this morning when I fell on my a*** but I''ll send you my information so I can send you pictures of the outfits I''ll be wearing. Fairtrade?" I look up at her Alpha.

    "It would be better if you post them," she sighs.

    "I don''t do that. I don''t even like taking my picture. You can post them. I don''t even have social media ounts. I don''t know how they work and for the most part, I''ve been nothing but a joke on them,"

    "I understand," she nods.

    "Did you need something, your grace?"

    "Hurry up with this," he says annoyed. "Your guy at Lycan Tech isn''t being helpful. I prefer if you work with him directly."

    "You said ou were going to take care of that,"

    you

    "Well, I changed my ***g mind, Pernicious. Hurry up, he growls.

    "If that''s the way you''re talking to him, you''re not going to get anywhere with him. You can talk to me like that all you want. You own me. Nate is doing you a favor. You asked me to be respectful of your people and now I ask you to do the same. You might be the Lycan King but you''ll never be the Alpha King. For more reason than one."

    "Oh, yeah? What reasons?"

    "The Alpha King would never treat his people like this," I nce over at Alpha Calico. ¡°And he sure as f***k would never let his people treat others like this. That''s how packs die. Why they fall and never rise again,"

    ¡°And where the ****k was he when you were being sold? Where the ***k was your Alpha King when they turned you into the

    53

    Local L***c after your mate died?" he growls.

    ¡°Waiting for me to burn the city down with my pardon in hand. Did you think it was Calvin keeping me out of prison thest five years?" Iugh. "Call him and ask, Lycan King. I''m sure he''d love to hear all about my new cor,"

    Óã

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 Bait Novel 32

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    Chapter 32 Jonas

    I haven''t been able to get what she said out of my f*** head all day. She has ties to the Royal Family in the pds. How? Why? My blood is boiling thinking about it and I can''t sit still to save my life. I''ve never met someone as difficult as this girl and she doesn''t seem to want to grasp the danger she finds herself in.

    Jo-

    "Get me the information I need to get in contact with the Alpha King." I growl at Ss. He sighs.

    "She said that to get a reaction out of you, Jonas,"

    "Well it f*** worked. Sigh. Get me the number or email. Whatever the f*** I need, I re back at him. He looks over at his assistant Floyd. He hands him a sheet of paper. "What was the f***g point of you telling me that if you already had it?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "You''re not thinking straight. It doesn''t matter. Who cares if she is pull with the Alpha King? He''s a f****g tool. It doesn''t matter. Jonas," he sets the paper on my desk and waves his hand at Floyd to get out. "You''re letting this bond get to you. I told you, man from the start that this **t was going to start weighing on you. This is the fourth bond you''ve had in the past four years. It''s *** with your head, Jo,"

    "Why is this one different?" I stare at the paper fighting the anxiety in my body to reach back in and I''m going crazy without it," "Without what?"

    1 out an

    and take it. "She''s not letting me

    ¡°Her f****g pain, Ss, I growl. The longing. The disgust she feels for allowing herself to be with me. It''s torture and I

    want more."

    ¡°F***k,¡± he sighs and turns away. I don''t know what to tell you, Jonas. You''re letting this girl under your skin. When the time.es for you to get rid of her, you''re not going to want to,"

    "Why would that be an issue?" I regret the words almost as soon as theye out of my mouth and he sees it. He stares back at me with pity. "You know the answer to that, Jonas. Even if you marry her before the council. Even if she gives us heirs and females. She will never be a proper Queen. She''s a werewolf. All she can ever be is your pet, he clears his throat and turns to leave. "I know she''s perfect for the role. She hasn''t been here long and I can tell you now that I am going to miss her when she''s gone. We might be a dying breed, my King, but we''re not going down without a fight. You used to understand that,"

    gone."

    He leaves my study without another word. I stare at the paper a little longer and then pull it to me. What am I even doing? I fold the piece of paper and slide it into the top drawer. I look up when there''s a tap on the door.

    ¡°Come in, I call out. Perry pokes her head in without looking in my direction. I think I summoned her with my mind. Is that a werewolf thing? "Is it safe toe in or are you going to try and bite my head of again?" she asks.

    "I will try if you keep annoying me, I growl.

    She grins showing her perfect white teeth andes in. I don''t know where she got the outfit she''s wearing right now, but I can''t stop staring at her. The shorts lift her perfect ass up and really show off her small waist. It feels like she knows that as shees in and turns around to gently shut the door. The cut-off shirt she''s wearing barely covers her heavy breasts and the words 1 BITE are printed across her chest with big ck bold letters Her short hair is pulled back into two tiny buns on the top of her head showing off a bunch of ck piercings going down both her earlobes. They don''t match the piece around her neck. Nothing she''s wearing does. She hops towards me jingling

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    the jewelry around her neck, but it''s not the only thing that catches my attention and everyone is f*g ***wondering why I''ve got such a h***-on for this girl. How the **k did Darren keep his hands off her? The answer is probably that he didn''t.

    "What do you want?" I ask averting my gaze.

    "Nate is under control. You have ess to the projects and if you choose, he said you''re allowed a seat at the table as long as you take me with you," she ces her tablet in front of me. I take it and start looking over the dozens of projects her part of thepany is funding.

    This girl has the worldid at her feet and all she wants is to go home to her mate. She can really care less what I do with her and his life''s work. It hurt to lose my mate. It hurts now, but it would hurt me more if I lost my throne. If I let my brother ruin everything my family means to our people. I don''t know how to deal with her. There is nothing I can offer her to make her less callous.

    "Thank you." I find myself saying.

    "You know how you treat me differently from everyone else because we''re bonded? You should try that with everyone else," she says tucking her hands behind her back. "Wolves are all bonded. Even those who aren''t in our packs. We all belong to the same spirit realm. It makes us all family in a way. I get that you guys are different and that you have traditions.

    I''m not asking you to change them. All I''m saying is that if you''re going to make it out there you have topromise. Even if it kills you to do what''s in front of you. What are you going to do when I''m not here anymore and I can''t fix the problem, Lycan King? You have so much untapped potential and you''re throwing it away for something as st****id as something your father forced you to believe in.

    "As opposed to throwing it all away because of a jar of ashes, I shoot back. She tenses up and I regret what I said, but has a way of getting to me. "Right. I''m thest person you want to be lecturing you," she presses her lips together and nods.

    "I didn''t mean that," I stand when she spins around to leave

    le just

    "Maybe, but it''s out there now and it did what you intended it to she whispers and stops at the door. My stomach clenches tightly when she gets on one knee and bows her head before standing up again. "Let me know if you need anything else, my King. "Perry,"

    She leaves.

    All I can do is sit here because I don''t know how to apologize to her. I''ve never had to apologize for *t. **I''m not like her. I''m not a werewolf. I''ve been taking care of my kind as a race, not packs. We''re not linked the way they are. I''ve never felt bad about being what we are until now.

    "Jonas," my mother walks and tosses the daily new letter on my desk. "What the f**k is this?"

    There is a picture of Perry mming a guy on a car with her shirt ripped open on the cover. The headline reads, NEW PET OR LAUGHING STALK and it''s followed by several articles about the Local L***ic from Red Wood City.

    "Did you know about this when you paid for her?" she growls. "We can''t afford this kind of scandal, Jonas,"

    "I didn''t. I just found out this morning. How the f***k is this**t out already?" I groan.

    "How are we going to fix this? Your brother is being considered for a chair in the council. You are just fueling the ammunition here," she growls. "The Valentines want to put up their shares for twelve million a piece," she panics. "I don''t-" she sits in the armchair across from me burying her hands in her hair. "We''re going to lose everything.

    Oct

 Bait Novel 33

    ?

    Jonas

    "Come take a look at this," I dismiss her antics.

    She looks up at me with a re. I swipe the screen on Perry''sptop and mirror it to my monitor. She nces at me and then turns her full attention

    to the screen and starts to go through some of the ounts and devices her programs are being adapted into and these are older programs she created before Darren was murdered.

    "What is all this?" she asks.

    That is everything Perry has built that is now at our disposal," I answer.

    "She created these programs?"

    "And that''s just the recreational use. This, I go into thergest ount she has and point at the numbers. "Is the medical stuff she abandoned five years ago when she went into aa after her mate was killed. No one has been able to pick it back up. It''s t

    complex. That''s why Lycan Tech recruits the way they do because they''re trying to find someone who can read this ***t. It''s not in anynguage we know. It''s something she built with her mate. Something only they understand,"

    "Oh, my god as she likes to say, she steps back.

    "I know she''s a lot to handle, but it''s only because she''s insanely smart. If I can get to the council and marry this girl. We would never be questioned again. She can teach this s***t to the twins and you know they can run with this. I''d be able to make Lycan Tech an actual Lycanpany. SI**e or Queen, she''s asserted our position here and it''s only the beginning

    "What do we do about this?" she waves her hand over the newspaper.

    "Ive been watching them," I say bringing up the videos along with the research I added. "All she was doing was solving little petty crimes and half the time it was on ident. Things she would stumble into around the areas she frequented.

    "This hot dog stand is the only one in the city that has pizza pretzels. See this area where she mmed this man? That''s the Lycan Tech main tower behind her. It''s where Lycan Tech began. Nothing she did was illegal. I''m not going to do anything about it because there''s nothing bad except the way it was all published to make her look like a ****ic,"

    This alpha f***g destroyed a good person," she whispers. "And she had no one to help her cope,"

    "I don''t know how to undo what I did, mother. How do I make her trust me again!"

    "Why is that important? She''s giving you what you want,"

    "This is thest thing she''s ever going to do, Mom. She''s helping ave our people. The least I can do is make sure she sees it''s not taken for granted," "Baby" she cups my face. "I beg you. Don''t fall in love with this girl. It''ll destroy you when she''s

    gone,

    ¡°Because, Perry. You can''t just leave when you want. You need someone with you at all times, Ss rips the door to my study open and shoves her inside.

    "What now?" I growl.

    "I just wanted to go into town and Ss yelled at me, she points him usingly.

    You were literally attacked this morning," he shouts back. She growls and crosses her arms under her breasts pushing them up higher before she falls into the seat my mother had been in

    "This is f***g r**ed, she mumbles.

    1/4

    Thu, Oct

    18 1

    Chapter 33 53%

    "I have two meetings left in g****y day. I don''t have time to be chasing after your pet, my King," Ss rolls his eyes and storms

    "You were gone fifteen minutes" I tell her.

    "Mhm she nods without meeting my gaze,

    "I have to help rearrange the stall. Your turn to watch her, my routher smacks my arm. "Be a good girl. Perry, she pats her head. I know she hates that, but she says nothing and even smiles at my mother. "Try not to get in another fight, you two,"

    Perry sits there a couple of minutes after my mother leaves us.

    Til just go to my room then. All I wanted was to rece my phone,¡± she says quietly and stands up.

    Let''s go get you one, Little Wolf. I was just going through everything. It''s not important," I stand with her.

    You don''t- she closes her mouth when I look up at her. "Okay,

    my

    I take my wallet and my phone from the desk and lock everything else up. I even locked my study so that the files "Nate" sent over are fully downloaded. I have so many questions for her. I can''t fathom the idea of dropping everything I devoted soul into like that. It would be the only thing keeping me alive.

    She pulls on a little ck corduroy jacket over her shirt, and as we walk outside, she slips on a pair of ck heart-shaped shades. I press my lips together wondering where the f***k she even got those things from because there is no got them here. Cute is not a word worthy of her, but that''s all I can think of at the moment.

    way in hell she

    "Is this how you like to dress?" I ask her.

    Perry nces up at me from underneath her shades and I smile because her big a** eyes are really pretty. I bet she got away with whatever the f*** she wanted when her mate was around.

    There was no way that kid was immune to this. I bet it was worse then too. She was probably always happy. It''s kind of heartbreaking to see just how badly the thing he treasured the most has fallen.

    "When I was sixteen," she says. "Oz, I mean Dr. Alvarez got these for me. Lillies gave me the shoes, she kicks her foot up to show them to me. "Cute, huh?"

    ¡°Uh, yes," I nod as we get on the lift. She grins and looks down at the lever.

    "What service providers do you have here?"

    "Fang Roam and Howler,"

    "Lycan Tech has towers near here?"

    "There''s a town just over the Northern Hill. Blue Moon Pack,"

    "Oh, those f***k nuts," she rolls her eyes

    "What?" Iugh.

    Alpha McLauren is just a tool," she shrugs. "He''s just slightly better than Calvin. My ***wouldn''t fit through that gap."

    "What is your idea of a good alphar

    Do you know Alpha Patterson in Ice Cove?"

    1 do,"

    53%.

    "That guy knows what the f****k he''s doing. Alpha Barnes in Magique City might be a huge Mafia lord but he''s a good man too. That crazy chick in Lockwood City. Love her. They have huge cities under them but they keep it together. Everyone is treated fairly. Red Wood is rothing and it had been rotting long before Darren died. Long before my parents died. My mom used to say thest good Alpha we had was former Alpha Michal. When he passed and Cal''s dad took over, everything went

    to s**t."

    "City life is very interesting," I say, "Half the things you do would make you an alpha here,"

    "Because your people aren''t categorized like we are. You all have titles, King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Duke, D***s, and whatever the f****k else. We''re ranked by power. Yes, I do a lot of things an alpha does, but an alpha would run circles around me. Like Vince Wolfe in Magique. We have to be able to keep up with our alpha and stand in his ce should we require it,"

    "I didn''t think we were all that different," I admit. "It always felt like you guys were a lot more bloodthirsty."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "We aren''t. But, it''s why we go to special schools. Why we have to study and train the way we do. Thest thing a wolf wants is to be left behind for being an idiot. We''re not just fulfilling our roles as people, we have to give our wolves the satisfaction they need as well. They''re as sentient as we are. They have their own opinions and urges.

    "Even when I try to fight hers, most of the time, I give her what she wants. Nothing else matters anymore. That''s what it''s like being a wolf. We''re taking care of two separate souls at once,"

    "Nate is an alpha?"

    "If you y your cards right and you help him into the position in Red Wood. You''ve got yourself an alliance for life. Nate is an a***ole like most alphas. He loves money and women. He''s twenty-two and unmated. The Alpha King is turning twenty-nine this year and they''re buddies. That''s a friendship you want, Lycan King

    We stop in front of the Howler''s store and I open the door for her. She grins and walks inside excitedly. Everyone stares at her as she sk***ps over to the most expensive phones in the back and starts ying with them. I stand back watching her make a decision

    "My King, is there anything I can help you with?" the manager asks when she starts putting the phones next to one another topare. "Whatever the wolf wants," I hand him my ck card. "Put her on my ount,"

    "Yes, sir,¡± he bows. "I can have the parental control codes for you when we set up her phone,"

    "Even if I wanted to regte her phones, I don''t think there''s a system that can keep her from doing what she wants. Set it up to her liking. I need her working that thing for us. It''s her weapon of preference, Elias,"

    "Of course, your grace," he nods and looks back at her. She looks around to see who''s going to help her.

    "Mydy," he calls out to her. She grins brightly for him. ¡°My name is Elias. I''ll be helping you pick out your new phone today. Do you know what you''re looking for?"

    "I was looking for the new H-187. The one with the expandable screen. Do you have it?"

    "Those are over here, he says pointing at one of the disy cases "We have to lock them down Some have been activated. They send out a powerful signal that disrupts the other devices,

    "Oh," she says and pulls something out of her back pocket. "Plug this into your main Wi-Fi router. The signales from the main Howler''s satellite for the updates. These phones aren''t for civilians. They''re basically handheld militaryputers. Howlers should have installed the blocker in their towerst month when they sold you these, I bet the Blue Moon du***es have the same problem. Help me set this up and I''ll have that fixed," 53% Chapter 34

 Bait Novel 34

    ?

    Chapter 34 Jonas

    I spent the rest of my evening looking up wolf customs and all I''m getting is traditionalist shit. A lot of it is adapted from what they call Lycanology. The study of Lycan traditions. I was aware that the council still epted yearly wolf canditates as offerings and that it was allowed. Had I just demanded theynd over the little wolf, they would have given her to me just because I''m the King. Same with anything other King. Alpha, Wraith, Vampire, Incubus, they would have just said f**k it.

    Take her.

    "You''re looking into going back to school?" Andromeda asks as she glues anotheryer of tissue paper over a balloon.

    "No, Perry brought up some things that made me think maybe I should read the manuel to these things.¡±

    "You mean she said something that was kind of mortal and it totes bothered you. The thirty something year old dude who is going to live until he''s like a million years old," sheughs

    "Yeah, I growl at her

    "Look. Jo. I don''t want to tell you how to live your life or whatever, but your new girl harshes the vibe. Like she totes made Bun-Bun cry all because she fangirled. Tulips was like upset-upset."

    "I hate when you talk like that,"

    "If I say it like you, I''d sound like an even bigger b**ch. Would you prefer to have a quickugh with me or do you want me to make you feel like s**t the way she did? Hand me the sparkles, please. I''m starting on Mars,"

    "The red ones?"

    "Yes, the red ones. And the orange, brown. Oh, def the ck. I love a good ck sparkle,"

    "You seem to know what you''re doing. What did you even need me for?"

    "I was hoping she would do it for me. She looks like the kind of person you could trick into that kind of thing. You know, I act like I don''t know what I''m doing. She growls at me and then is like let me and takes over,"

    "I can''t treat her like that. I''m bonded to her,"

    "Well, then use yourmon sense, s**t*d. You bought this girl who hates the entire world because she thinks she''s like this little mini-coding god. ording to the Consvener Twins, she is. You put a cor prized Yorke.

    ron her and you let

    everyone treat her like a

    "Stop doing that f**g *r**d," she rolls her eyes. "If you like her and you want to keep getting up in that, you gotta pick up on her habits. The clothes thing was a start, but eww. Where would I even put that stuff when I was done with it? It would look messy in my room. My room is my me space. Total rxation and naps. That''s all room should be,"

    "Right, that''s what I was thinking. She has a bunch of stuff in there already. I don''t know how she sleeps, I agree.

    ¡°Well, like she doesn''t have the rest of the castle to put ** in. Mother Moon, brother. You''re kind of slow," she res at me. ¡°I f**g hate you. I don''t know why I''m here,

    ¡°That was fifty bucks for the *advice, she calls out as I leave the family room. I''m gonna use it to get the metallic kes for Neptune,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I only ever use the ck glitter for backgrounds but thedy at the crafts store always convinced me to get the whole set. I have a **it ton of glitters in a drawer because I can''t say no to her. She''s elderly. Two thousand and forty-seven years elderly. I haven''t seen Mrs. Jepson in a while actually. I should take Perry for shark stuff. I was serious about that.

    1/3

    Thu, Oct

    ssical music ising from her open door when I get to our floor. Something very soft and soothing. When I peek into her room. I find her sitting in front of the TV set with aptop in front of her. There are two tablets connected on either side and her fingers are working over the keyboard at full speed,

    "I heard the elevator ping," she calls out without sk**i*g a beat.

    "Just checking in on you before I go to bed. You had a long day."

    "Not really," she says and stops when the three screens in front of her all begin to change.

    It''s only then that she looks back at me. She''s not wearing any makeup. There is a pair of tinted sses sitting on her face. Her hair is still damp from a shower and she''s got on a gold camisole with a pair of cotton pajama bottoms.

    "Did you need something?"

    "Not really," I shake my head. "What are you doing?" I walk in and sit on the sofa away from her. She turns her body to face me. "New program?" "Finishing an old ene. I found it in a box while I was cleaning up, she says. It does look less crowded. "I''ve got nothing else to do. Might as well." "You don''t know how to

    ow to rx, do you?" I ask. She removes her sses and shakes her head

    "Perks of being born blue," she whispers.

    "Come with me." I stand.

    To your room?

    No,

    "Mmm, I don''t want to put a bra on and I don''t want someone to get hurt because they looked at me weird," she shakes her head.

    "We''re not leaving this floor," I roll my eyes.

    "Okay," she nods and slips on a pair of fuzzy slippers.

    "What are those?" I ask.

    "Coats," sheughs raising her feet. "Cute, right? I got them at the first store I walked in before Ss dragged me out,"

    "He did that for your protection," I sigh

    "I don''t want to be protected," she says trailing behind me. I stop and she ms into my back. When I turn around to face her she immediately steps back putting her hands up. "Sorry,"

    "Why are

    are you afraid of me if you want to die?" *

    "Because I know you''re not going to kill me until you get what you want. I still feel pain. If I can prevent getting injured, I will. I promise I''m not trying to get you to f***k me up too," she lowers her gaze.

    tip her head back with my index finger. She means that. The instinct to apologize is just that. An instinct from other times

    she''s been beaten.

    ¡°No one is allowed to kill you but me, Little Woll You belong to me. So, I will protect you until this is over. By any means. You are not to leave that elevator without an escort. You are not allowed outside without an escort. You are not allowed to get into one of your cars without someone I trust making sure it is safe for you to get inside of it. You are not allowed outside of the front door without me walking out first. Do you understand that? The second one was sniped from the front door,"

    18:14 Thu, Oct 1/5

    "I can''t live like that. I will go crazy, Jonas, she closes her eyes as they fill with tears.

    Lard out of sight when woul

    ×Ö53%

    "The best I can do is keep go into the vige, but he will still be there. At all times,"

    "If it''s Ss or that cool one with the frost tips, I rather they be with me. It''s not fair for them to y ninja in their own home."

    "His name is Nn and he''s one of ****s assistants. I don''t like that you think he''s cool,"

    "He''s obviously g****y,"

    "He is the only man in our vige who grew up surrounded by women. His mothers are the g***y ones. They did the annual heirs chase a few times. He has three sisters. He''s just very- I don''t know what word to use.

    "Girly?" she asks. I give her a shrug. She said it, not me.

    "He''s vicious though and very organized. Ss loves him,"

    "Question, what is the annual heirs chase?"

    "It''s an event we host for unmated Lycans or Lycans like Nn''s mothers to get pregnant during the blood moon," 18:14 Thu, Oct 17 BB.

 Bait Novel 35

    ?

    Jonas

    "Specific to breed?"

    53%7

    "And does their partner know this is their child?"

    Why would that be an issue?" ask

    "Inbreeding." she snorts. "What if someday you fall in love with someone and all along boom, that was your sister? Or worse, your mom"

    "I don''t know how that works. I never tried it, but I am sure there are- you know every time I reveal something cool about my culture you tear it apart with your smug f***g mouth." I grip her chin..

    "It''s not my fault your culture is f****ything stashed in your rooms. You''re females are f***d in the head trying to kill anyone that goes near when you clearly don''t want any of them. Who does that?"

    "It''s part of the tradition. I can hold off my ruts now, but in some twenty-odd years, if I''m not mated I can do that. A female would kill to let me f**k a baby into her during a blood moon. It''s a sure thing. Imagine being nothing and then boom set for life with the king''s son."

    "Oh, s***" she steps back. "What''s a rut like a male version of a heat?"

    ¡°Exactly, I have monthly ones as well. You took care of it when we mated,"

    "If it''s a sure

    it''s a sure thing why would you do that?"

    ¡°It''s a sure thing with a female in her Lycan form under the sway of the blood moon. I told you female bodies change. You can''t take a female who hasn''t fully matured into her full Lycan form. She''d die. It''s why the female poption is so low for

    ???

    "At what age does a female fully mature?"

    "It all depends on the female. Some are ready right after they shift for the first time. Some of them take decades. I''m not exactly sure how it works. It''s kind of like a power-up. I didn''t have my first rut until after 1 marked my mate. Because my body changes, my mate''s body changes with me. Kind of like a trigger.

    "It''s special for us to find our fated mates. We''re biologicallypatible in every way. My parents mated when they were in theirte twenties and even with the mark, my mother wasn''t able to assist my father in his ruts until she was almost fifty. He had to be sedated,"

    "Huh," she nods looking up at me with his big eyes. I let go realizing I''ve been talking about this shir while holding her face. "ber, f**g crazy" "Come on Watch your step. I turn around and lead her to what used to be my brother''s room. It''s empty now.

    I re at her feet as she drags them quickly one in front of the other over the carpet. She looks back at me and then for some reason fearpletely overwhelms her and she shakes her hear

    "Hey, hey I step into the room with her.

    You''re going to lock ine in here because of the shower thing

    GG

    * 53%

    "No," I cup her face as her pupils dte and she begins to hyperventte.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Then why are we here?" she demands gripping onto my wrists as if she''s prepared to hold on to me if I try to leave.

    "This is your room for your extra stuff, I try to calm her.

    "Extra stuff?" her eyes search mine.

    "I am going to kill that mother f***er myself if I evere across him again, I growl pulling her into me. I lift her by the waist and take her out of the room. I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to scare you. Are you okay?"

    "I''m fine," she tries to step away. I don''t let her. I can hear her heart racing wildly.

    Tell me why you reacted like that, Pernicious,"

    "Please-"

    I growl lifting her up enough so we''re eye to eye. This thing is a f***g genius and it''s always crying. Why is she always f***g crying?

    Tell me."

    "I don''t like empty rooms," she chokes our. "Before Morgan''s parents took me in, they locked me in a dark empty room for a really long time. Jacob and Monica were the ones that got me out,"

    your room. It''s why I

    "I would never do that to you. Not once have you been locked anywhere since you''ve arrived. Not even you cleared the castle for you. So you could get acquainted,"

    She rxes and lifts her legs to wrap them around me. Her armse around my neck and I press her against the wall as she starts to cry. I''m afraid to ask what happens to orphaned wolves when no one ims them.

    "Lycans would never abandon you like that, Perry. We''re savages, brutes, beasts, whatever you want to call us. But it''s in our nature to take care of our own. If a youngling loses his parents the vige provides for it. He grows up with an abundance of information on their family and love. Younglings are rare for us. We''d never abandon one. It''s one of our top five absolute

    laws

    "Finally, something super cool," she cries into my shoulder. That and how freaking fast you are,"

    "Do you want the room?" I ask her.

    She looks up at me with her pretty eyes rimmed red. Her blotchy pink skin. I''m f**d. I don''t even know this girl. I know her pain and her loneliness. I know she''s bionically intelligent. But that''s all I know. In just the few days she''s been here, I''ve imprinted all of that in my soul in a way I didn''t know was possible. I''m sick enough to give her what she wants most

    anyway.

    "What extra stuff?"

    "Your room is not supposed to have all the ***t you have in there. How are you supposed to rx? It''s why you can''t shut down. All of it. Theputers. The T we get back tomorrow,"

    The clothes. Extra room I''ll have it shelved and ready for your things by the time.

    ¡°I like having all that stuff in my room, she shakes her head. ¡°It''s my room,"

    "Do you know why when I take you to my room, you fall asleep right away?¡±

    ¡°Because you f***k my brains out? she wipes her eyes with the back of her hands.

    "Because there''s nothing nearby for you to y with. All the s**t in your room is going in this room and you''re not allowed

    to go in there after eight. You need to stop working all day and night. Agreed?"

    2/4

    1814 Thu, Oct 17 GB.

    "Is it an order?"

    "Yes"

    "Then I don''t have a choice," she shrugs. I growl at her making her jump and then reach for the door to shut it. "My room is that way.

    "You''re sleeping in my room until all your things are cleared. Ife out of the shower and you''re

    TII be undressed," she rolls her eyes.

    "What?" she catches me byplete surprise. "That''s not what I was going to say."

    "What were you going to say?" sheughs.

    "If you''re back in your room-" I groan. "It doesn''t matter. You said it and I expect you to deliver,"

    "Okay," she shrugs..

    "Do you even want to?" I ask. She pulls back enough to rest her hands on my shoulders and then looks me up and down before meeting my eyes with a nk expression. "What?"

    ¡°F**k yeah, I want to. Look at you. Dr. Alvarez called you the prototype of a Lycan male. Do you know what that means? It means that perfection lies with you as its example and I don''t know, Lycan King. I''m starting to believe it

    Tm this little piece of s**it stray you took pity on, on the side of the road. But this," she ces her hands on my chest. This is always all kinds of fun. It makes all your other dominating **t kind of worth it,"

    "Do I really make you feel like that?"

    "You''re what we in the unmatedmunity call a simp. I just offered you my body and you asked me if you make me feel like s***t. The answer is yes, but the thing is. I doubt anything you do is going to make me feel any different.

    "I know that I''m done and all there is left is resistance. I will resist your kindness, your affection, your advice. I can''t change anymore, Jonas," she presses her lips to mine. "You''re all kinds of f**d up if you fall in love with me. I am just going to torture us both until your love turns into hate. "Until the people around you pull away because of how despicable I can be. Don''t do this to yourself. I''d like to die knowing that you thought I was once a friend who helped you out of the mess that is finding your fated,"

    Perry drops her legs and I set her down. When she turns to face my bed she kicks off her slippers and pulls the camisole over her head tossing it wherever it falls. Her bottoms follow and she climbs like that into my bed.

    Her words y over and over in my head and it brings tears to my eyes, Why is her soul touching mine so addicting if there is nothing but darkness there? How is it fair that she''s lived the life she''s led and will die with nothing to show for it? With no real legacy. No one to carry on her bloodline. No one to idolize her the way my sister does my mother or I have my father. Why do I want to keep her if I know that when I don''t keep my promise, she''ll hate me for betraying her trust all over again?

    Even knowing that I shouldn''t. That I should probably send her back to her room, I taste every part of her. I soak up every sound she makes. Imprint the way she feels around me into my head. How her ws dig into my back. The possessive bites from her wolf. For a moment, after her second or**m, her barriers crumble and she floods back into me leaving me breathless. Ie alive again.

    And then it hits me. The only reason why I want her this badly can''t because I''m falling in love with her. Her emotions bring me back to life because I don''t have any. Everything in me changed when I walked into the bedroom on the twelfth floor eight years ago. Something in me died and this girl so keen on finding a beautiful death has gifted me something I had lost when I put that mark on her. And it feels so good because it''s genuine. All that pain, rage, and self-loathing. I want to feel those things even if they''re ugly. Even if they''re stolen. I need Pernicious

 Bait Novel 36

    ?

    I didn''t expect to see a brand new, ck G-Wagon with a ck and gold candy paint job waiting for me when I came down this morning. I can see it through the open door. Didn''t think he was ever going to let the spaceship rest. I woke up with a note next to me that read, business attire. Don''t f***k it up. So, I got ready for a day of tours, meet and greets, and socializing.

    "Is the Queen ready yet?" he asks despite me standing right here next to Ss.

    "I am." I say. "I''ve been standing here for a bit.

    Everyone turns around to look at me. At least, I think they are. nce back to find that it''s just Ss and me standing here. Ss steps back and looks me over with his mouth hanging open.

    "You''re-" he starts to say and decides he can''t

    "Did I do it wrong?" I ask. "Do I have time to go change?"

    "No, the King growls making everyone flinch away from him. "LEt''s go,"

    ¡°That''s her?¡± someone whispers as I go over to him.

    When I get to him, he grips my hand tightly and pulls me toward the car. F***k me. It''s even prettier up close. The reflective paint looks stunning over

    the ck. Ugh. I''ve always wanted one of these, but I could never bring myself to rece my Buggy, Mr. Phurry and Darren built it from top to bottom. We found it in a dump.

    "Are we going to Lycan Tech?" I ask.

    "Yes," he grunts.

    "Request to drive this beautiful tank, my King." I rush out. He stops as he reaches for the passenger door. "I made you a PowerPointst night. Dos and don''ts. Profiles on the hierarchy of Lycan Tech. Information on the most valuable assets of thepany. You know so you don''t go in blind. It''s animated if you''re interested,"

    "You went back to your room after I fell asleep?"

    ¡°Pft,¡± Iugh. ¡°I doubt I moved. I woke up in the same position we finished f***g in. That was a great sleep,"

    "You''re wee," he says and pulls me with him to go around the car. He opens the door and waits for me to climb in before putting my seat belt on. "I know how-"

    He cuts me off with a growl and a re. I sit back just letting him do it. When he''s done he doesn''t get out of the cabin. He turns his head to look at me. Specifically my mouth.

    ¡°If I find an isted room at Lycan Tech where I can pull that tight skirt all the way up to your waist and bend you over to destroy you with my ***ck like I didst night, consider yourself f***d,¡± he leans in pressing his lips to mine and then shuts me in before going around to get into the passenger seat.

    "Okay," I choke out and clear my throat. "That''s one way of telling me I look nice," Iugh and open up my purse. I hand him my tablet and unlock it for him so he can see my s*** PowerPoint. Im not one for crafting, but I''m good at making these."

    "So You''re a Co-Owner of Lycan Tech, he reads the title. Confett erupts on the screens and crown drops on the words. crushing the letters as trumpets y. It makes him smile. "Okay, Little Wolf. Let''s go,

    "Quick question. Are you armed?"

    "No,"

    "Are there weapons in here?",

    "No," he shakes his head,

    L

    "We''re going to need to make a stop at a safehouse beforehand,

    "Why?"

    "You''re going to Red Wood City, Lycan King. All kinds of s***t happens there," Iugh.

    n

    This guy is not real. I swear. I didn''t think Princes existed anymore, but here he is. In all of his six-eleven glory. Using my new phone. I get into his dashboard with ease and put in the coordinates to Red Wood City. Lycan Tech to be specific or as my phone says:

    "Routing, choosing the quickest route. You will arrive at Make It Rain Tower in four hours and fourteen minutes." "What?" heughs.

    I named it that when I first started working there and never changed it, I shrug.

    You''d think that protecting the King would be the main priority. Where the ***k is his security team? He should travel with a small army Our King does. I mean the Alpha King does. He''s very young and while he''s brilliant, we all understand that he''s to be protected at all costs. At least, us loyal to him. I''d cut a ***h who hurt that cupcake. He''s not Jonas Prince, but the kid was definitely raised to lead us into this new era and he''s fine as hell. This is well put together,"

    "Thanks, I put a lot of thought into it, I nce through the rearview mirrors.

    "Are you okay? Do you feel uneasy?"

    "Yeah, where is your security team?"

    "Why would I need one?" he asks almost as if 1 just insulted him

    "You had one when you picked me up,"

    "I had Ss and Jeremy with me. I was told you were difficult, he says. "I''m not easy to kill. Not even with guns. Physical pain brings out the monster in me,"

    "You should have security anyway. Backup,"

    "One of me loose in a City as small as Red Wood is sufficient to demolish and you''re with me. You''re still a Little Wolf Girl but you''re stronger than them now. More-"he pauses, his sharp jaw flexing. "Resilient,

    "No **? Like how much more resilient?" why did he say it like that? As if the word burned the inside of his mouth.

    "I don''t know. Four maybe five alphas," he turns his attention back to the PowerPoint as if he didn''t just say I have the strength of four or five alphas

    now.

    "You''re-" he growls stopping me from saying anything else so he can focus on the PowerPoint. "Just onest thing," he tilts his head in my direction enough to re at me. "Thank you for making me like this. We''re going to have so much f***g fun together. I promise."

    "You''re Wee, his expression changes from grumpy to content in an instant

    "No, Lycan King. You''re Wee," Haugh.

    Four or five alphas. Ah! I can''t just not test that. Right? I am wildly excited about that. Holy s***t. Good Mother Moon, you are

    2/a

    an omnipotent goddess and I am unworthy

    f your blessing and your champion. I promise that I man out of the little bubble he lives in while I am by his side. You have my vow as a wolf. "What is that?" the King asks when I ce my hand over my chest. "Are you hurting?"

    "No, just swearing allegiance to your goddess, I grin. He rolls his eyes and goes back to the tablet.

    "Stop anywhere for breakfast," he says.

    "How angry would you be if I wait until we get into the city?"

    I don''t care.

    "You said it. Better not try and rip my head off halfway there,"

    "I want to do it now and we''ve been in this car ten minutes," he growls lowly.

    ???

    1952 %1

    will try my best to get this

    "Last thing." I add. He groans and gives me a scary side-eye. "I wanted to drive your spaceship. That''s why I made the PowerPoint."

    "Got rid of it. It was too small for me anyway," he answers

    ers nonchntly.

    "You loved that-

    "Enough. There are three hundred pages on this. Let me focus," he growls.

    I don''t push it. Mostly because he scared me a little.

    Okay, the King is going to be presented to Lycan Tech. Nate can be a picky piece of s***it. Letting people in is not his thing and since bing the boss, things have been a lot more exclusive. I''m hoping your champion has the sense to follow my lead today or at the very least ept that he''s not in charge, Lycan people.

    I think about all the ways things can go wrong and all the ways I can prevent the King from killing anyone. All I''ve got is to kiss him and or touch him inappropriately to lead him to that secluded room he talked about. I know where they all are and it''s going to f**g s**k because I''ve already been f****d in all of them.

    "Rerouting," the GPS calls out when I break her route and head over to the safe house.

    "Are we getting breakfast?"

    "Yeah, after this," I nod.

    He locks the tablet and presses his knuckles to his eyes before pushing the seat back to stretch his arms out and yawn. He''s either seriously a skilled

    killer or the c****y f**k truly believes he''s invincible. He''s rxed as s**t. My stomach is a tight knot of maybe I shouldn''t eat breakfast or I might puke in his beautiful car.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Óã

 Bait Novel 37

    ?

    "I sense your aggression,"

    "Maybe because my chosen mate is in one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world and he''s rxed enough to be **** sleepy." I mumble.

    He chuckles watching as the uptown houses fly past us and turn into filthy apartmentplexes. I park outside the safe house and get out to rub my body against the car and then gather as much spit as I can to spit on the windshield.

    "What the **k?" he pulls me away. That''s not verydylike. You could have said you didn''t like it,"

    ¡°I''m marking it so they know it''s mine. Do you want toe down to find it gone?"

    He stares at me and lets me go. I move around the car scenting it, I dust myself off and motion him to follow. The looks we get when we get inside have me on full alert. I growl at everyone as we step into the lobby. A woman inside almost falls over her own feet trying to get out. When the elevator doors open the guy inside with his mate pushes her back carefully gets out first keeping her f***d behind him.

    "Perry," he greets me with a nod.

    "Danny," I say without looking back at him.

    "That''s Crazy Perry?"

    The stairs, baby," he rushes her out. Iugh as I type in the code to the apartment.

    I walk directly to Darren''s room and pull out the weapon cases. We need a couple of handguns. I make sure the big babies. are loaded and slide them towards the door. I get a wad of money from his safe and shut it.

    There''s a picture of the two of us by the doorway and stop as I load my gun and pull up my ck pencil skirt to strap on my holster. I lift it a little more to wrap it around my waist to secure it. I fix myself up and smile at the old picture.

    "Wish me luck, baby,"

    press a kiss to my hand and then ce it on him. I take in a couple of deep breaths taking in his fading scent. F*** I''m so sorry for bringing the guy I''m f****g here, but he''s kind of clueless.

    I lock everything down again and pull the cases with me.

    "Take your jacket off, I tell the king and show him one of the new ck leather holsters I found under the bed. He does as I ask and I help him with it. He stares at it like he''s never seen one before. "Do you know how to use one of these?" I ask holding up the gun. Tell me now so I can teach you to use it really fast,"

    "I know how," he says taking it from me to check if it''s loaded. He flips the safety and then tucks it into the holster, I''ve just never worn something so constricting.''

    ¡°Oh, turn around. I''ll make it bigger, he turns around and I adjust it. "Better?"

    "Significantly,"

    Put your jacket on. Don''t take it off again until we''re headed home, I instruct him. "Help me with one of these," "Sure," he

    says and takes one of therge cases. "What''s in these?

    |

    "M-10s and ammo, I answer and wait for him to get out of the apartment. He steps out and I lock everything up again. "Will we need them?

    173

    Thu, Oct

    "I hope so," I smile at him

    CH

    There is a small crowd taking pictures in front of his car. They all jump back when he pops the trunk open. We put the cases inside and then shut the door before going around. He opens my door for me, but he doesn''t buckle me in this time. He doesn''t like the crowd. At least, he''s wry, llock the doors and press the steering wheel to get everyone to move the fuck out of the w

    "Breakfast?" he asks.

    You got it, my King. What do you feel like eating?"

    ¡°A lot of food." he admits. "Your choice. This is your city after all, Crazy Perry,"

    "It''s better than my nickname as a kid." 1 admit..

    "What was it?"

    Trashbag. Everyone called me that because I had to haul my trash bag full of things through the city when Monica took me home with her. They couldn''t afford a car so we had to walk. It''s why I have thick thighs and a nice a***Walked and rollerded everywhere. It''s easier to get away with **t when you''re just a figure in a hoodie,"

    Youmitted crimes here as an adolescent?"

    Tvemitted crimes here since I was in third grade. Never stopped. Never will. That''s how you get past the system. You learn it. You live it. You try to take it down one piece at a time. That is what the new world order is going to look like, my king Those smart enough to know they can do better than the fat-rich fucks keeping uscent will kill them one by one if they have to. They''re not even going to know who or why. That''s how overlooked everyone here is,"

    "Through violence?"

    "Violence is our lovenguage. There is no peace without it. It''s a good thing that there aren''t a lot of your people or this is what your cities would look like. Overpopted with no soul. No love or respect from the people you are meant to lead. You''ve never had anyone like me in your vige because you''re a good King just like your predecessors.

    "You have my respect because your home is beautiful. Your people can be who they were meant to be. Red Wood City is magnificent. You''ll never be bored, but it''s dying. Tainted by greed and false leadership. You know it''s going to **k you up when this is over, but you''re not going to hold back because it''s this or death. I''d do anything for an alpha with an ounce of your resolve, Lycan King,"

    I stop to get us breakfast tters at Tom''s Diner. A lot of food and it''s the best in the city. He eats so properly. It catches the attention of those who walk by us. Not that he needs that. The man doesn''t belong here and it''s obvious. The King seems to lighten up now that he''s fed and as we both stand in front of the Lycan Tech Tower. I can''t help but be a little proud of something since I''ve met him.

    The king has only ever seen my shame and this is one of the parts that I can never be ashamed of. I used to be a little orphan girl who believed that the sky was the limit. I always knew I could make a difference if I were given a chance.

    My mate gave that to me. Even before we knew. He was hard on me and it would bother him that would try to take shortcuts. He''d say there are no shortcuts in life. He was wrong, but I let him teach me. It meant a lot to him and it was the first time someone was taking the time to teach me something other than discipline

    Lycan Tech was the baby we built. It was a two-story storage ce when we started to work here and over our two years with them, the former boss, Mathew Renner was able to buy this building to expand ourlis. To bring in more people. He wanted to hand it down to Darren because he knew that only Darren would take it past what Mathew had dreamed of.

    Nate was the alpha Darren wanted to use to push the alpha family in charge out. When he died, those ns died with him. Nate doesn''t trust anyone. He grew up alone like me and after all the **it I''ve pulled, he doesn''t trust me either. Not like he

    used to.

    2/3

    Thu, Oct 1,

    52%2

    "And the prodigal daughter returns." Nate greets us with a huge grin on his face and his arms out for me. Iugh and hug him. His eyes immediately move down to the cor. He lifts the ag and the smile on his face fades. "So, it''s true then. That mo****er sold you to the Lycans," "Yeah. I say taking a step back. "Nate, this my master. Lycan King, Jonas Prince."

    "You know the building better than I do," he says ignoring the giant man behind me. "Show him around,"

    "You''re not getting away that easy, Nate. I''m not always going to be able toe with him. You have to find a way to get along."

    "I don''t want anything to do with them,¡± he growls. The King responds and I put my arms up to keep them from fighting. T only epted because it''s you "Nate, we need this."

    ¡°I don''t need this," he scoffs and turns to leave.

    "You do if you want to get Calvin the f***k out of here, Alpha Nathan,¡± I growl. He stops. ¡°I know you''ve seen it, Nate. The vampires are tearing them apart already. All it took was shing my cor around. You know we were thest line of defense for the people here. We made a promise," ¡°A promise you f***g broke, he shouts, turning around to face me. "And now you want toe back talking about our people: "Not ours. Yours, I correct him. "I don''t count as a wolf anymore I''m owned,"

    "And what? Your master is just going to walk in here and give me what I want? That," he points at the King. "Is a f***g monster, Perry. His brother almost killed the entire board in Thand and it was just him, TB. One of those things leveled my building."

    "Nate, that''s what I was purchased for. He needs to get married in the Lycan Council to ascend his throne. To save his family and his people. You know that I would never bring him here if it meant hurting us. We built this ce. You, Darren, Mack and me. I''m sorry for leaving you the way I did,¡± ¡°No you''re not, he scoffs. ¡°You''re saying that because that''s what you think I want to hear. Tha**it might have worked on your mate, but I''m not him. No matter how much I love you. How much I want to save you. You made it very clear you wanted nothing to do with anyone, but that f***g bottle. Why should I trust you?"

    ¡°Because we both know that I''m the only one who will do this without killing you at the end of it. I''m not here for you. I''m here for him," I point at the big guy behind me with my thumb. He doesn''t want this s**ty city. The man has an entire kingdom devoted to his every whim and James Prince is standing in his way. I hate to be the damsel here, but if you don''t help me. This guy is going to kill me, Nate,"

    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

 Bait Novel 38

    ?

    That was a low blow. I admit that I am ying with fire because, yes. I''ve known Nate was in love with me since we were in the academy together. He knew that Darren was my mate, so he ended up messing around with Mackenzie for a while before she started going feral. After Darren died, he was really nice to me and well. I wasn''t and I still don''t n to be obviously. He''s a d**k for trying in the first ce. Darren was his best friend.

    -That wasn''t very nice of you, Little Wolf- the king''s voice rings in my head.

    -He''ll get over it. He always does-This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Nate looks up at the King and then back at me.

    "Will you?" he asks him.

    ¡°What I do with my pet is none of your business, wolf, the King answers. I have to stop myself fromughing at the look of absolute horror on Nate''s face.

    "How do I get you out of this?" Nate asks genuinely worried. I turn my head to show him the mark and his face pales. "You don''t. If I don''t do this, he kills me like the rest of them," I whisper. His eyes focus on me and okay, I feel a little bad. Not enough for me to take it back though. So, I mouth a little plea. "Please,"

    -I''m the monster? I can feel how amused he is by this. That''s not going to help Nate make up his mind.

    -Yes, there is nothing about you that doesn''t scream it. You''re armed- I use my best-using tone.

    -You put this thing on me!- he growls out loud at me and Nate pulls me away.

    "Okay," he puts his hand up defensively. Tll help you. Just don''t hurt her.¡±

    -You''re an a****e. his nose res as he stares right at me.

    -I''ve tried to tell you.-

    "Edwin, clear the rest of my afternoon. I have to show our new partner around," he says calmly as if trying to defuse the non-existent tension in the air.

    "Oh, hey, Edwin. I didn''t see you there," I greeted his personal assistant

    "Hey, TB," he says sympathetically.

    -If TB is short for trash bag I''m hitting the next person who calls you that.-

    -TB means Terabyte. It''s what the old man calls me. You can do whatever you want, Lycan King. Who''s gonna stop your Certainly not me.-

    I hear him growl as Edwin brings Nate some stuff.

    "Okay, I''ll leave you guys to it. I''ve got s**t to do, I say and turn go toward the elevators. A massive handnds on my head to stop me. I stay still as a cold chill runs down my spine.

    "Where do you think you''re going, Little Wolf?" he demands

    "She''s got two meetings and has to sign off on a few deliveries from Wolle Tech in Lockwood City, Nate answers.

    ¡°I don''t need to remind you of what would happen if you try to run, do I?¡± he adds.

    £¤9.52%,

    "No, my King." I answer closing my eyes briefly. He retracts his hand and I look back at him. "You made things very clear, "Good," he gives me a nod motioning me to get going.

    Feeling a little embarrassed to be treated like a child, I leave. The only sounds are my heels clicking on the linoleum. I need a few things from theb and I do need to talk to the Alpha of Lockwood City, She''s very good friends with the Alpha King and I need to report my progress. It''s not much but it is still moving forward as nned. I just have a big a**problem on my a*** now. James.

    "Perry, I mean Miss" my former assistant all but jumps out at me when I step off on the top floor. "Whatever. Dude, what the f**k is happening?" "Ready conference room three for me. Has Alpha Eloise made contact?"

    "Meetings not til another twenty minutes," Nani sighs when her eyesnd on my cor.

    "Okay, I''ve got everything I need here." I say and hand her my carrier. She takes it and heads back into the elevator.

    My privateb is dark when I get inside. All of my things are the way I left them thest time I was here. That was two months ago before the Lycan King came. Before Morgan announced her bundle of joy.

    The Alpha King has been made aware of the situation here in the city. However, since the alphas here are not actually a threat, there is only so much he can do to help. Cities aren''t like packs. They require a lot more maintenance. This is where the stronger alphase into y Alphas like Eloise Lockwood have a special kind of wolf inside of them. Darker than what I like to call the lesser alphas. The alphas under the control of alphas like Eloise.

    Red Wood City and Gorgon City are both to be "cleansed soon. But we can''t let anyone know that the Alpha King was behind it. It would upset a lot of people and the Wolf High Council would be livid that we''re getting rid of their monkeys. Eloise is sending her security program for Nate to have replicated. I want to take one back with me to see what we''re working with.

    In myb, I have aputer Darren and I built for a program that we can''t download into just any chip without frying it. This program helps me byp*** security measures like Eloise''s Hawk Eye security system. Something tells me I''m going to need it. I want to know what this thing around my neck is made of and I have an idea.

    While I know it''s ted with white gold, the metal underneath has to be synth carbon fiber. It was created in the pit of the Wraiths by the wraith king who outed the supernatural over seven hundred years ago. He made eight hundred and fifty tons of this s**t and when he was murdered his creation disappeared with him.

    The former Alpha King believes it was the Lycans who took it. I don''t care that they did. I want some. To create the first supeputer chip out of that is going to ce the Lycan King at the head of the Lycan Tech board. No one would ever question it and maybe the wolves can teach the Lycans a little einpathy. Mother Moon knows they could use some.

    I gather my things and download my ns into a few drives before heading back down to the conference rooms. I look up at the elevator and almost smile at the woman staring back at me. She almost has purpose. Standing there in her ck pencil skirt, and shiny silk blouse. I hate to admit it because I''ve never had short hair before, but it looks good. I haven''t done my make-up in a long time and while it''s bothersome. I''ve changed so much. Grown and he doesn''t get to see it

    The Lycan King''s idea of apliment is still sitting in the back of my head. Darren and I weren''t exactly not doing it every chance we got. We were teenagers, but he was always a gentleman. He never said nasty s***t like that to me. He made me feel so loved and I had never been before that. It''s kind of ideal that my rtionship with the King is a brutal one. That he reminds me that he''s not Darren constantly. That I''m just a ***e like those wolves from yesterday. Alpha Calico said her father sold her to the council when she was sixteen. Chills break out all over my body wondering if that''s what would have happened to me if Monica and Jacob hadn''te for me. I was f***g twelve when my mother killed herself.

    "Ready, Nari says when I approach the conference room. ¡°Alph Eloise and the Alpha King are waiting,

    2/3

    É«

    18:15 Thu, Oct 17 G B

    "Thank you, Nani. Take a walk,"

    "Yes, ma''am," she stares at my cor again and her eyes fill with tears as she walks away.

    52%

    Since it has to be on disy, I have it tucked under my cor. I ce my hand over it. They''re not going to like this s**t, but there''s nothing I can really do about it now. I would have preferred the marks no matter how ugly they are. It''s not like I''m going to be around long enough for people to feel truly bad about it.

    I take a seat at the end of the table and wait to make sure that the door seals me in before hitting thes in front of me. The two massive monitors on the other end of the roome to life and Eloise is the first toe up. She opens her mouth to

    say something, probably something along the lines of why the f***k I took so long but she sees it and she doesn''t know what to say now. The Alpha King follows along with his angry growl.

    0

 Bait Novel 39

    "You have got to be f** kidding me," he rubs his head frustratedly.

    "My King." Eloise says gently trying to calm him. "What happene). Perry?

    "I made a scene and Calvin offered me up as wolf bait to the Lycan King. It''s nothing to worry about really. Our objectives align with his," "What does that mean?" the King asks.

    "I think I found who''s been robbing the federal wolf banks all over the world," I plug my tablet into the ports in front of me. James Prince, "The Lycan Prince?" Eloise asks.

    "Yes I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Tve recently been granted ess to Obsidian Corp''s finance database,"

    "He granted you ess? Why? You''re his ve, Eloise says thatst part with disgust.

    "Yes, but he didn''t want a ve for what they usually do. Whatever that may be. The Lycan King and his brother have gone to

    war over a mate."

    "A

    A mate?" the King asks.

    Yes, sir. Apparently, the prince met this woman and married her while the king was training overseas. They wanted him to attend the marking ceremony and when he returned the female turned out to be the King''s mate," "Even with the marriage, the prince wouldn''t have a im, Eloise says. "Fated are absolute unless both parties reject one another."

    and that didn''t happen. The Prince went feral. Lived in his Lycan form for a little over two years before the former Lycan King located him and took him home. The Prince killed the King''s mate, their unborn child, and the former King," the King shakes his head. "How How do do our objectives align, Perry?" Eloise asks.

    "James is the reason Obsidian Corp is falling. The King can''t take his rightful ce without a mate. He has to get married in the council temple. The only thing is that every time he gets close is, James, waiting there to stop him. I believe he''s using the stolen money and the reserves from O.C. to pay the council to push the King out of his position. I am the fourth attempt at his coronation. He''s killed the other three potential mate candidates." "Holy s***t, Perry. What the *** did you just stumble into?" the King mutters.

    "Sir, this works in our favor. The Lycans are sting me all over their social media. The people here are upset about the cor. I ce my hand over it.

    "How do

    do we

    to them?" Eloise asks.

    e get  ess to The other s**s. They have dozens, I rub the back of my neck Wolves sold to these things the same way I was. Willingly, by their alphas. There''s an alpha who designs their clothes there. Her name is Calico Jamerson. They tag them. Not like this. I think I lucked out being bought by the King, but they weren''t they reprogrammed her into submission. I''ve never seen anything like that in an alpha,"

    "Did she say how she was acquired?" the King asks.

    She

    said she was sold to the

    r council.

    sixteen by her father,"

    1/4

    "What do you mean tag them? Like you?" Eloise asks.

    "No, if you pull up her profile on the Quick Howl app. You''ll see what I''m talking about. It''s not hard to miss."

    "They tattooed her face," she says horrified. "They do this to all of them? They can''t do that to you."

    "The King refused to ce liis marks on me that way. It''s why I have this cor," I say.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "We have to get her out there, she says.

    "There''s nothing we can do," the King shuts his eyes. "It''s part of our treaty with them. I am so sorry this happened to you,

    Perry,

    "It''s not all bad. The Lycan King is kind of a sweetie."

    "They''re not mistreating you?"

    "In no way. At least not physically. They refer to me as their pet but in all honesty. It could be so much worse. I''ve proven to be an asset and as long as I get them what they want. I should be safe," "You put him on the Lycan Tech board. Do you trust him?" Eloise asks,

    I do. I-1 clear my throat and pull at my cor. "We''ve bonded. He''s just trying to help his family. To save his people. Just like us. He''s been doing his best to keep O.C. afloat. Trying to byp** some of theirws to make sure the people are safe and getting what they need, but there''s only so much someone can do with their hands tied behind their back. I think he can be an asset for you, my King. You can be the first King to align yourself with them. Properly. He''s not a bad person, just a little socially awkward by Wolf standards," "How do do we proceed with I with the alpha situation in Red Wood City he asks. The situation is taking care of itself. The alphas here are on the move. Nate has agreed to carry on the n he and Darren. came up with," "Will you be joining him? Would the Lycan King allow that?"

    Temporarily, sir. The The King is very possessive. He''s lost four mate bonds in thest eight years so he''s overprotective and paranoid. He doesn''t like letting me out of his sight for more than a few hours. He''s with Nate now or he would be here in my f** face telling me what I should and shouldn''t be doing "That must be rough, Eloiseughs. "I know you like being on your own since your mate''s passing. Are you sure you''re okay? I can send someone to assist you,"

    "I''m okay for now. But I might take you up on that offer once I locate the prince,

    she nods. "Anything you need to help this along. Can you link me to the tracker on your cor?"

    "Of course," she

    "He has an app.

    I''ve never seen anything like it. I''m going to try and get into it. I''ll let you know as soon as have something. It''s one of the reasons why I agreed to a meeting today. I came to get some equipment."

    "Good," she nods.

    "Anything else you wish to disclose with us, Perry?" the King asks

    all I have today. I haven''t been here a while, so I''m not really sure what''s going on in the Tylerter

    "That''s all

    "Of course, the two of them say.

    packhouse I''ll try to contact

    "Good job, Perry. I want you to know that I will try to do anything in my power to help you. I will have my personal team

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    52%

    put out an APB on James Prince. Do your thing and maybe we can corner that **k together," Eloise adds.

    !!

    ¦°

    "Thank you Alpha Eloise. I''ll be sure to inform the Lycan King. Thave to go, I check my phone to see that I''ve left Nate and the King alone for a little over two hours, "I need to make sure the King hasn''t killed Nathan," Be safe, Perry, the King agrees and hangs up. Eloise stays on for a moment longer.

    "If you ask. I will do everything in my power to get you the ****k out of there. I''ve taken on Lycans before. I would hate for that to happen to you," "You''re very kind, Eloise. Anyone ever tell you that?"

    "Never, she shakes her head.

    "I''m seriously not being hurt. My ego is taking a couple of hits but that''s the extent of it. I promise."

    "Good. Let me know if y

    if you need anything else. I''ll be avable to you whenever you need me. Don''t hesitate to call," she nods and hangs up.

    Nanies in with a bunch of files with **it I need to sign. I start reading over things and decide that I don''t f***g about anything and just start signing until I see something that bothers me.

    "Where are they?" I ask

    Upstairs waiting on you," she says quietly.

    Did you know about this?"

    "Nate announced it a couple of days ago, she nods.

    "Who is taking his ce?"

    "Per m my hand on the table.

    Veronica Amille. She''s there with him, she adds.

    Veronica Amille is standing there with him as I ce the file in front of him in his office.

    "You were leaving?" I ask

    I don''t see how that''s any of your business," he says,

    care

    "You don''t see how ourpany''s future is any of my business?" ask him. "You were standing before me asking about trust when the whole time you were stepping down to do what? Hmm?"

    "Perry-

    me and I turn my attention to his little wh***.

    "To do what, Nathan?" I shout. He looks down at the floor without answering n "And you were going to hand it to this b***h!"

    "Yes" I scoff. "What qualifies her to run Lycan Tech, Nathan?"

    "I don''t care, he shrugs.

    "You told me you would protectpany by all means. You wore it the same way I did and I have brought you

    52%

    everything you''ve needed from day one. I have given you everything required as we nned and you''re just going to throw it away." "We were supposed to do this as a team,"

    k you. You want to throw it all away then?"

    Oh, so because I didn''t want to f***k y "Don''t t do something f***d up, Perry. I am tired of your s***t. We were supposed to run thispany as a team. The four of us and I am all there is left. You''re not the only one who lost something, *b****h. I want to start living my life away from all this f**g emptiness. You don''t want t t to move on and that''s fine. Do you, Pernicious. You seem to be doing just f-" The sound Veronica makes when my ws cut across her throat silences him. I didn''t mean to cut as deep as I did but her head falls back as blood is sprayed all over his desk. I put my foot on her back, yank the rest of it off, and ce her head on. the tabletop. You made a f***g blood oath, Nathan," I say calmly. "You''re not going anywhere and sure as ***k not handing mypany over to this ***k-s***g***h just because she was a really goody. Now you''re going to take this head and you''re going to send it back to her family. Exin t to them that you got this woman killed for being a f***g idiot. You''re not the only one trapped here, Nate. If you ever talk to me like that again, I''ll take more than your little side piece. How long do you hink it will take you to grow that disgusting thing between your legs back, Alpha?"

    I don''t want to be here anymore, Perry," he says with tears sliding down his face.

    I never wanted to be here, Nate. You best hope this doesn''t get out to the old man. You have no idea what he''s capable of. ou got off easy. Try it again and I will call him," I wipe my hand down the front of his coat. "Clean this s***t up. You know Darren hated it when I made a mess," Does this conclude our visit for today, Little Wolf?" the King asks

    res, my King. It does. We should get going. Rush hour will start soon and I don''t want to be in the city when the streets are m-packed," 18 16 Thu, Oct 17 GG

 Bait Novel 40

    Chapter

    40

    The strength of four or five alphas is correct. My ws cut through her like it was nothing. Nate is a fucking idiot. Had he transferred the position over to her he wouldn''t have made it out of the city. What the hell was he thinking? If the old man. would have found out

    before I did, he would have made him kill her himself. What the hell was he thinking?

    "Are you okay?" the King asks. He''s driving now. I open my mouth to try and exin to him what happened when my phone goes off with the tornado warning siren ringtone.

    "Please, don''t say a word." I whisper and lift my phone to answer it. He knows. Fuck. "Mr. Falcon. To what do I owe this honor, sir?"

    "Don''t brown nose me. Pernicious, he growls. "Did you think I didn''t know about your little alpha buddy?"

    "I took care of it, sir,"

    Tve been very patient with you, Pernicious. And now you''ve gone and be an object. I am very disappointed in you,"

    "Belonging to the Lycan King isn''t going to interfere in anything, sir. I promise. I made sure Nathan knew his ce before leaving. Everything is where it should be,"

    "Not everything. Terabyte. I''d prefer you to be sitting at the head of the table. I''m d you showed dear Nathan his ce. Don''t let it happen again. Understood?" ""Yes sir."

    "Fucking wolves," he growls and hangs up. I hit the y button to listen to the recording and then send it to Nathan so he sees how badly he fucked up. My heart is pounding in my chest "Who was that?" the King demands.

    "dimir Sokolov," I answer. The owner of Lycan Tech,"

    "The alpha Wraith is the owner of Lycan Tech?" he turns to look at me.

    "Eyes on the road, my King. And yes. He started all of this. He used me to get in with the wolves here in the city. It''s the only city he could have done it because our alphas truly don''t give a fuck about the people. It''s our names on the paperwork, but it''s all his and he''s what I would actually call a monster,"

    "You''re afraid of him,"

    "Falcon wouldn''t kill me. He''d turn me. Make me live out the rest of eternity away from the next life if we ever betrayed him. What Nate just pulled. He''s lucky I killed her. He would have made him torture her until she died a slow painful death and then he would have marked him for doing what he tried to do,"

    "How did you even find him? No one knows where the fuck that pack is."

    "I didn''t. Darren and I used to get high in his room when we were in the academy. We came across this code on the dark web. It was a very sophisticated puzzle and we cracked it. That''s how he found us.

    "I was stupid, but we had nothing and Jacob was drowning in delit. Lycan Tech saved us. This thing saved us and all he asked for in return was our loyalty. We all took a blood oath. Nate and have been the only ones to live long enough to regret what we did." Full of fucking surprises, Little Wolf, he growls.

    I''m sorry. I didn''t think it would be a problem. I haven''t heard from him in years. This shit that Nate pulled. I''m not surprised he knew. He was probably waiting for my reaction. Nani told me he made the announcement two days ago,"

    1/2

    "What is going to happen when I kill you?"

    0052%

    "Nothing. Shit happens. Wolvese and go. You should know that better than I do," I stare down at the nk phone call. No way to trace it. No way to call back. A fucking ghost. "I have some questions for you,"

    I have a shit ton for you," he scoffs. "It''s a four-hour drive. Why don''t we get some food and we start when we''re both a little

    less tense?"

    "Okay," I agree. He pulls into a burger stand and Iugh.

    ""What?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    catf

    "Is this the first time you eat fast food?"

    "The first time we got chicken nuggets, he smirks.

    "You''re fucking wee," I say jumping out with him.

    He grins and holds his hand out for me to take when he gets to the ss doors. He doesn''t realize he does it as he pulls his phone out. I pretend not to see it and open the door for him. He looks up at me and then walks in withoutmenting. I am going to ignore that. It never happened. We order and sit down to wait for our food.

    "How did your meetings go?"

    "They merged or I would have taken longer, The Alpha King would like you to make contact soon. I have his information on my tablet. Alpha Eloise in Lockwood City is going to try and help me locate your brother. I still have to go into Magique to talk to the vampire about your position on the board. Maybe kill a few people for them, but it''s nothing too bad."

    "Killing isn''t too bad?" he smirks

    "No, I''ve been doing it since I was fifteen. I''m a huntress. That''s what I did for the pack. Which reminds me. I need to call Tyler and tell him to bail,"

    "Wait," he puts his hand over mine when I take my phone out of my purse. Just slow down for a bit, Perry. Why are you working for the King?"

    "I need you to trust me, Jonas. I haven''t done anything for you to question my loyalty,"

    "Except I see everything you''re doing. How you treat your friends. How you treated your superiors. There''s no other way of looking at this, Little Wolf. You''re a traitor," he whispers. "Mutiny, conspiring against your alphas, cyber-terrorism, racketeering, you have the worst kind of criminal charges. If you weren''t friends with people like the Alpha King and Eloise fucking Lockwood. You would have been hanged a long time ago. You''re loyal only to yourself,

    "Maybe," I nod. "But I''m not anything they didn''t turn me into. This is what I''m trying to tell you, Jonas. I''ve been doing shit I shouldn''t be doing since I was a kid. You see this lost little girl who misses her mate. I''m telling you, I''m not.

    "No one gives a shit about me or the ce I grew up in. Have you ever gone to Lockwood City? Do you know why Eloise Lockwood is a fucking legend?"

 Bait Novel 41

    "No." the King shakes his head. Typical.

    "She''s thirty-two now. Mated and has twin boys. She''s the prototype of what an alpha should be. The Lockwoods would be the Kings of the wolf race if we didn''t have good leadership. When she was eleven, Eloise was s***d right off her porch in Lockwood City. Tition Lockwood had a lot of enemies and one of them was his own brother. Alpha Tec looked for his baby for three years until he found her locked in a cell where they had tortured and raped her. "When she she turned she was already feral. She was a danger to herself and everyone around her. Still, he couldn''t put her down so he locked her away in their tower where she stayed for the next fifteen years of her life. She created one of-no. She created the best security system in the world and gifted it to her pack before she stepped out of the tower again. She cleaned the streets of the corruption her uncle had brought to their city "I had gone to Lockwood City with my mom when I was a little girl and she carried me on her back the entire time because she was afraid that I was going to be stolen. If you go there now, kids are running around without a care in the world because she dropped their crime rates to almost nothing. They have juveniles walking around in their bare skin. They have some of the best training programs and schools. She did that," "That''s what you and Darren wanted," he nods..

    "Yeah." I

    I say wh

    when a kid brings our food. He''s very young. Thirteen maybe.

    ??

    "Beta Phurry." I flinch when he calls me that. "Is it okay if I get an autograph?" he pulls out a picture of me and Darren from. his apron. "You don''t-" "Yeah, Kid," I say reaching for my purse to get ¨¤ marker. His face lights up. "What''s your name?"

    "Darren," he answers. Iugh. Of course, it is.

    "It''s very nice to meet you, Darren,"

    I sign the picture and dedicate it to him before sliding it back. He takes it, holds it to his chest, and bows formally before running back toward the kitchen. I watch him show the picture to his dad whoughs and ys with his hair. When he looks up at me he mouths a thank you. "I wasn''t always like this, Lycan King. But I''ve had enough. It''s finally caught up and I''m done. So you can call me whatever the f**k you want. A traitor, a terrorist, a f***g pet. None of it matters. It''ll all be someone else problem soon enough. One thing you shouldn''t question is my loyalty to you. "You''re going to be the person to give me what I want and that''s all that matters to me anymore. So if I have to kill, cheat, and betray my way through everyone I care about so you can give me what I want, I will. And I can tell you now that they''d do the same to get what they want want. They already have. I''m probably thest person you will ever fully trust this way. Because this is the world you live in. And if you let it, it''ll destroy you too

    T

    I take a bite out of my bacon cheeseburger deluxe and smile at how delicious it is.

    "What do you have going on with the Alpha King?" he asks when we''re back on the road again. We got extra food.

    The Alpha King likes the work Elosie did. Nate is rted to her mate''s brother. He runs the underground s** in LC. That''s why the crime rates are so low. He''s the son of the alpha who had her locked up."

    Her maler

    "Her mate''s half-brother. He was locked in the cell next to her for a while before she was located," "Complicated," he whispers.

    1/B

    18:17 Thu, Oct 17 BG. Chapter 41

    "Anyway, when the Alpha Kipg evaluated her work he asked her to help him clean up some of the other cities. Red Wood Gorgon. Midnight Moon. And High Rise. No one can know he''s involved because if the Wolf High Council finds out. They''re going to try and assassinate him and the Royal family. He''s been a King for a whole year now. Not even mated yet. Nate was Eloise''s contact here, but then Darren died and he thought-"

    You were going to swear your allegiance to him to save the city," he concludes.

    "Yeah, but things change. Nate doesn''t understand. He''s never had anyone but us,"

    "You might not get what you want out of him if he takes over the pack," he says. Alpha

    King will send someone else. His father put all of this in motion and the kid is running with it. He''s smart. Driven and dedicated. Just like you. Just a lot more hopeful. I told them that. So, the rest is up to you to even out with them. when the timees," "It feels like it all might fall apart when I kill you,"

    "It won''t. I''m expendable. There are dozens of others like me with a whole lot to live for. I told you. I''m nothing special. Now

    my tum.

    he sighs.

    hat isAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    my cor made of?"

    "Perry, you better not try to take it off, he growls. Don''t f****in our day already. Please,"

    "I don''t want to take it off, I roll my eyes. "I mean I do, but it''s already there and you''re right. The marks are ugly."

    "I can''t tell you."

    "It''s the t the thing the Wraith King made before he was assassinated, isn''t it?" **k, Perry," he sighs.

    "I don''t care that your people did that. F***k the Wraiths. I just need you to get me some so I can build you something." "What?" he asks. I reach into my bag to hold up the fried chip from the first time I tried to build this thing Lor

    "This right here was meant to be the soul of thepany. This was the baby Darren and I tried to create to surpass every other system in existence, but when I uploaded the program into it and put it in anotherputer it got so hot it burned through the second floor of our house when we first bought it. It burned down to the basement where it sat until it cooled off. It took 12 days," ""What would I do with that?"

    "You? Probably nothing. You''re not intoputers. But I know a little uwu girl with a ba*** goth sister in your kingdom who would love to have ess to the world''s greatest hacking system in all existence. Ima call it the L squared, "The L L squared?

    "Yeah, Local L***ic, Iugh. "That''s my favorite title and it''s perfect for this. That way D and I get to f**k the world up even from beyond the grave. And I know you like being in charge so with this. Lycan Tech would be yours. Not even the old man can take you. You can''t release it until I''m gone so they don''t suspect you killing me for this program. That''s when you''ll have a problem, Is that how valuable it is?

    That is how valuable it is,"

    2/3

    52%

    "Why would you give that to me? To my people," he asks.

    "Compared to the rest of the world, you guys make up six percent of the poption. This thing is going to be your hole-in-one. The thing that puts you back on the map. No one knows anything about Lycans because all you''re known for is killing and being monsters. Surely, that''s not the kind of king you want to be, right?" "No, I don''t," he chiens his grip o

    the wheel. the wheel.

    "Am I overstepping my boundaries?" I ask him because he seems genuinely upset. "You can say no. You can tell me to stop."

    "No, I just wish things were different," he says after a while.

    "I''m pawning off my responsibilities to you. It''s hardly worth the sentiment," I scoff.

    "That''s not what I mean. I just wish there was something I can do for you. Something proper,"

    "And you will,"

    "You could have left all of this to Nate, the way he says his name is hrious.

    "Nate has his own shit to take care of and if I would have died without naming a sessor. It would have gone to the old man. Once we get you to the council, we make you official. Legally everything that is mine will be yours. So, you are doing something proper. Whatever that means. I''m looking for a way out and you''re looking for a way in. It''s a win-win situation," "Perry, 1-"

 Bait Novel 42

    Whatever he was going to say is cut off when the back window makes a loud cracking sound. I look back to see a bullet stuck on the armored ss.

    "Yes. Lycan King." I smack his arm. Told you these were going toe in handy"

    "What the fuck is that, Perry?" he swerves when another barage of bullets hits the back ss.

    "The alpha knows we''re here." I remove my seat belt and unzip my skirt down the middle so I can get into the back seat. I watch the road to see the two SUVSing up behind us at full speed. I pull the first gun out and make sure it''s loaded before setting it down in the front seat so I can set up the second, Tm d they waited until we were done eating. All those, people would have died.

    "What-I-fuck, he groans.

    "Just keep it steady. I''ll do the rest," Iy out the ammo over the back seat.

    "Here," he says pressing something on the dashboard.

    "I didn''t know these had sunroofs. Don''t they have the thing you put on the top for like cool camping shit?"

    "I don''t know. My mom got you this car,"

    "Your mom got n

    me this car?" I ce my hand over my chest.

    "Yes. What would I want this

    "What you''re doing now. It''s a sick ass car and it''s bulletproof. I didn''t think the queen liked me all that much, I admit. "Whatever you do. Don''t stop,

    Im not one to stop. You know that, he grins, pleased with himself.

    1 feel my face heat up as I pull the ring on one of the grenades. His smile immediately falters. I throw it out the window and watch it bounce onto the top of one of the SUVs. The car tries to swerve but it''s toote and it pops.

    "That was a good shot, Iugh and stand up with them m-16.

    The cold afternoon air whips in my face stirring my wolf awake. She lives for this. My visionpletely focuses on the target. The two remaining SUVs start to swerve like snakes. I fire/spraying them both. I drop down as soon as the gun clicks and reach for the other one. I ce my hand on the king''s head as more bullets try to make it through the back windshield. "It''s also bigger," I add

    "What?" he tries to smack my arm away. I reach for the extra magazines and toss them

    on

    hisp.

    This car. It''s bigger. You''re a huge guy, Lycan King. You''re almost seven feet tall. I don''t know how you fit in the spaceship. I felt kind of cramped in there and I''m five eleven."

    "It''s not a spaceship, he rolls his eyes.

    Load this one up. Don''t touch the front it''s hot," I pause and look back at him. "You know how, right?"

    "Yes, he growls.

    "Just checking. We''re in a situation, I remind hiru.

    My phone starts to ring and I reach for the earpiece and stick it in my car.

    1/2

    "You just killed two of my guys, Perry, Tyler shouts..

    "You''re fucking shooting at me. Tyler. With the Lycan King in the car," I shout back.

    "Pull over. You''re not supposed to be here,"

    "Yeah, that''s what we''re going to do. Pull over, Iugh. "You''re so stupid,"

    "Fuck you, Perry. What the fuck are you doing here?" he growls. You got out,"

    G

    52%

    "Got out? Got out? I have a fucking cor around my neck. I can even fucking shift and I''m pretty sure I''m going to die where I am. Fuck you. Tyler. You let that fucking piece of shit sell me. I''m a fucking pet. They pet me and feed me like a fucking dog. Got out. You piece of shit,"

    I stand up and fire at both of the trucks. The ss from the one up front gives out and I fire into the opening. The car jerks to the right and with a loud screech it flips. The truck behind it hits the brakes hard.

    "You still there. Tyler?" I drop down again to find the King holding the loaded rifle.

    "These are our people. Perry," he says quietly.

    "I stopped being part of this pack the moment you and the alpha let my mate die. You should take your family and get the fuck out of here. You and I never saw eye to eye. But you''re a good person. I''d hate to see what happened to me, happen to you and Belinda. I respect you Beta Tyler, but that''s not going to stop me from burning the whole ce down. He never deserved any of us,"

    "And Morgan? She''s like your sister."

    "Nothing is going to happen to Morgan. This is all for her. When it''s over. I want her to see what she agreed to when she epted him,"

    "You''re not this person, Perry. You''re the best person I know. I''m begging you. Darren wouldn''t want you to do this. You meant everything to him. The pack meant everything to him. He died to protect her," he pleads.

    "Thank you for saying that. Leave, Tyler. Get out while you still have the chance,"

    "Perry. Per-" I hang up.

    "Will they follow?" the King asks.

    "No, but it''s in our best interest to get the fuck out of here fasterThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

 Bait Novel 43

    Chapter

    43

    The damage done to the car hurts. I mean holy shit. The Queen got me a car and I ruined it. The entire back of the car is littered with gunshots. I can''t even pull the ones stuck to it out because they''re silver. He''s going to f***g pay for this. They all are.

    "Perry," Jacob calls out my name from the inside of the castle as I stare at the rear of the car. All my things were taken up to my spare room, but right now I want to wallow in my self-pity a little longer. "Hey, Jake." I greet him when he approaches me. "Look at this,"

    "It''s fixable," he ces his hand on my shoulder.

    "I brought you something. I say and reach into my pocket for the small frame of the four of us at graduation. I took it off Darren''s desk before I left the safe house. His eyes light up and he smiles. "Thank you," he bumps the back of my head with his forehead. "Why don''t youe inside? Dinner is almost ready and you could use some cleaning up,

    "I killed five wolves today," I whisper. "Grand total of one seventy-two,

    "I told you to stop keeping track of that," he sighs.

    I can''t "Perry

    "I can''t, Jake. I don''t know-" I growl using the car to hold myself up. "I don''t know how to stop anymore. Every time I get closer, things only get worse for me. Why does this always happen to me, Jacob?" The moon wouldn''t put something in front of you, you couldn''t handle,"

    "You''re an ***le if you really believe that," I pull away from him.

    "Hey," he stops me. "I know it''s not what you want to hear. No answer is going to make you feel better, Perry. This is the way things are,"

    "Yeah," I pull out of his hold again. "Being a ***g terrorist is in my blood, I guess,"

    "Perry," he groans but doesn''t try to stop me again.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Yo, check this s***t out, Andromedaes out of nowhere with her tablet in hand and holds it up to my face before I can get to the elevator. She hits the y triangle.

    "Terror in the street of Red Wood. An unknown assant crosses our borders taking out four of our best guards, a video of the car heading out of the cityes up just as I toss the grenade out of the sunroof. Then again when Lpop up and start shooting. The angle of the shot hides my face. "That is madness, Andromedaughs.

    "Yeah, killing my former packmates is something to celebrate, Princess," Isay sarcastically.

    "They sold you to us," she says when I sidestep her.

    Yeah, they did and now I''m going to kill a bunch of them and ruin everything they believe in. So, let''s notugh at the misfortunes of others, Sweetness. You''re not in a better position than I am. I know I don''t have to remind you why I''m here,

    "You f**g ruin everyone''s fun," she growls and stomps her foot

    1/2

    "That''s me. The ruiner. It''s literally my name," I scoff and open the elevator.

    1B 52%

    ¦°

    "I don''t even know why my brother put that cor on you. I loved his car. I would have put those ugly marks on you," she shouts. I stop the doors from shutting.

    "What did you just say?"

    "I said I''d put those ugly marks on you," she repeats.

    "Before that, What about his car?"

    "He sold his car to get you that ugly ne around your neck, she storms off mumbling more obscenities under her breath.

    The doors shut and I step back putting my hand up to the cor. So, that''s what happened to his spaceship. I can''t believe he did that. Then again, it sounds like something the King would do. I pull out my phone to start trying to figure out what kind of car it was After a shower and a change of clothes, I sit on my bed and realize that all my stuff is missing and there are rows of empty shelves on the wall where the TV used to be. On the floor under them are the weapons boxes I had brought with us and the ones that I had brought up before burning the rest of my belongings.

    I spend the rest of my night putting my guns together and cleaning them before putting them on disy. Even the little one I had strapped on my leg. It looks like the inside of an underground dealer''s basement in here. The king is probably going to find this annoying. I like when he makes that look of disgust he attempts to hide every time someone does something he doesn''t like.

    [

 Bait Novel 44

    "Oh, mother moon," the Queen cries out when shees in without knocking. I look back to see her staring at them eyes. wide with her hand on her pearls. "Your majesty. Maybe try knocking next time. I could have warned you,"

    This

    i

    is my home, she dismisses me. "Are these real?"

    "Yes, I fail at hiding myugh.

    weren''t at dinner, shees over to me and starts inspecting the guns without touching them.

    I''m weren''t

    not hungry. It was a long day."

    "Yes, I saw it

    it on Wolf National, she sighs. "You''re quite the troublemaker, Local L**,

    "Maybe teach your son to look into people before he buys them I shrug. Tm not apologizing for what he got,"

    "Nor should you," she grins. "I admit that at first, it looks bad. But I understand," she sits on one of the chairs at the tea time- table. At least, that''s what I think that''s for. "Jacob told me some things about you. I hope you don''t mind, "As long as you don''t, I shrug, "He can tell you whatever he wants. They''re his stories to tell," You love him,"

    He''s like my father. The only one I''ve ever known,"

    She opens her mouth to say something as I set up thest handgun on the middle row. I look them all over and wonder why the f****k I brought all of them. But I oddly feel safer now. Like I have a little bit of control. I go over and sit across from her. "You don''t strike me as someone who wants to die, Pernicious,"

    Thisdy knows what I''ve been through from what Jake has spun into her head. I know how he sees me. I''ve always known, but it''s not the truth. Everyone sees what they want to see. That kid in the diner saw something that didn''t exist anymore. I signed that picture because I''m no one to burst his bubble and who knows? He could be the next generation of betas to take the city. To try and make it a better home. Neither of them knows that the s**t that happened with Darren was just the final straw to all the other f****d up s**t I''ve had to endure. "Do you still have your mother?"

    "Yes," "Do you love her! "With all my heart,"

    I

    "I loved my mother too. When my father died, she had to get a second job. When I was ton, she stopped going to either one. Bills started piling up. She stopped taking care of herself and I started pickpocketing. Selling ***t on the streets to keep the one-bedroom apartment we lived in I got beat a lot. Not by her, but I got beat a lot.

    The year leading up to her death, I learned how to hack the ATMs all over the city. I paid off a lot of her debt and I tried to get her some help. I reach into my pocket and show her the yellow parchment paper I''ve carried around with me since her death "Those were herst words to me. She saw that I could take care of myself and she injected herself with thus serum called M-190.

    "It''s used on wolves who need tumors removed. It stops the elerated healing around our major o**ns. Then she took my father''s a

    ''s army knife and cut her as open. I found her like that our bathroom. I had to sit there until the paramedics 18:17 Thu, Oct 1/ 18:17 Chapter 44

    came and took her away. That is one of dozens of stories about me and it''s nothingpared to what happened to me afterwards.

    "Jacob can tell you that I am the strongest person he knows. That maybe a long time ago I was the kindest. To you, I might seem like I have so much to live for. My work. My father. My friends that now include you and your family. There is this weight on me. Weight I''ve been carrying my entire life and I''m tired, Ally. The bad outweighs all the goodness that I once held on to. I don''t want to be strong anymore." "You know, I never believed in fate, she wipes her tears away, "I rejected my mate long before my husband came along. We were friends before we found out, but he lived a certain kind of lifestyle and it scared me. I was part of a pack that was a die-hard traditionalist and ne was." "A city boy?"

    "Yes, but upp**s. A different kind of socialite. We went to school together and I could never keep up with him. He was always the center of attention. As most alphas are. And I knew my family wouldn''t be able to handle those scandals. I couldn''t believe that was my fate. "And then my parents arranged for me to meet the prince. I told him and he thought it was funny, I fell in love with this man who had been raised the same way I had been. We had so much inmon. When I finally was able to get pregnant with Jonas, I came across my mate again. He was mated and had three sons. He''d changed so much. Grown. You might know him. His name is Archibald Menekus," founder of QuickHowl," I nod.

    The f

    "Yes,she smiles. "That''s him,"

    "Do you regret it?"

    "No, because fate brought me more happiness than I could imagine. It brought me, my sons, and my baby, she smiles. "Fate brought you to us for a reason,¡± "Don''t do that," I shake

    my

    head

    "I have to. I have to do this because you have so much to offer, Perry. I am at awe with everything you''ve aplished despite all of your limitations," spite, I correct her. Pardon don me?"

    "In

    I did it in spite of my limitations. I know that. I know people Ie across see me as more than what I see myself. I know what I bring to the table. I know that I''m for whatever reason, marked to be ahead of those who do nothing to save themselves. All I''ve ever done was survive. That''s what I''m doing now. I don''t know how to live another way. "Your son had to take all my toys out of my room because I can''t sleep at night. Every time I close my eyes all I see is death. All I hear is silence. It scares me. Going outside after dark isn''t even an option for me. Your surroundings are terrifying to someone like me because there is so much open space. It''s a different kind of darkness and it feels like something is out there waiting. That''s my head space. All the time."

    "If you want to die why not just let it take you?"

    I''m not afraid to die, Ally. I''m afraid of living like this for a long long time. I am afraid that I''m never going to be able to trust something love again. I''m afraid of building something only for it to be torn back down again. I''m afraid of you and what you will do to me if I don''t give you what you want. I''m afraid of disappointing and embarrassing my father more than already have. I''m afraid of watching him die like I have everyone else I''ve loved. I''m afraid of myself and what I''ve be. "That''s not a life worth living. Please, don''t ask me to change my mind, Alegra. I will ruin your son''s life. I will destroy him and he''s kind of perfect. He''s kind and gentle. He''s lost so much but he''s still fighting for what he believes in. You should be

    18 Thu, Oct 1/This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 44 1.52%

    very proud of him. He is everything a King should be. Look out for him. Have his best interests in mind always because he doesn''t think about himself when he''s out there fighting for you and his people. I''m not one of those things. No matter how badly he wants it and I don''t intend to be." "You could be happy here, she chokes out.

    "I am happy here. More than I''ve been in a while. Even with the limitations and the disrespect. You and your family have shown me more kindness than my pack ever did my entire life. It''s toote for me. None of it will be enough," Thu, Oct

 Bait Novel 45

    She stands and I look out the balcony doors to see that the vige lights areing on past the courtyard. I think she''s going to leave, but shees over to me, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and rests her head on mine as she cries. We stay like this for a while before she pulls away and excuses herself. I''m not sure if I feel bad for her. She reminds me of Ellie. She always seemed so in control of herself, but I always knew there was something terrifying under all of that. I sit here for a while. It could have been a few minutes or hours. But it''s never long enough. "It''s bedtime, Little Wolf, I nce over at the doorway to see the King standing there. He walks in, sets the gun I''d given him on the table, and turns to look at what I did with the wall. "I wasn''t sure what you were going to put there," he makes that face and shakes it off before facing me again. "I think we should have inspected all of your luggage before bringing it up," Thank you for giving me that privacy, Iugh.

    "I don''t like that you are going to bed without supper,

    "Supper? I grin. Do people still say that? "Your mom beat you to it. We ate a lot on the road and I feel a little full,"

    "I''ll allow it this time because I know it was very stressful for you to do what you did today," he says and sits where his mother had been. Thank you,"

    "What for?"

    "For all of it. For today. I can''t remember thest time I had this much fun,"

    Tm d that was fun for you,"

    "Oh, so you

    weren''t excited firing that thing off from the sunroof of your car?" he smirks.

    "I''ve had time to reprimand myself for allowing it to be fun, I admit. That''s what happens when you take my toys away." "You ruined your night and managed to me me for it. You have a f***g gift, heughs.

    "I have a few but that one is definitely one of my favorites,"

    "Your study is avable for you to use when you please. Except, I be locking it after seven p.m. I will drag you out if I have, to," he says,

    I stare at him for a bit. Outlining his sharp features. Taking him in properly. Nothing about him seems real to me. Not from the way he acts, the way he looks, or the way he speaks. It''s something straight out of a fantasy-even this room.

    "Your mom wants me to stay, I tell him. "She''s been around Jacob too much." "It''s an option," he shrugs.

    "Do you want me to stay?" "I want whatever you want, Perry. You''re giving me my life back. And if you want to stay with me after, you can. S**t, you can leave and work for the Alpha King for all I care. You can take over Lycan Tech. If you want me to kill you, I will. The choice is up to you. What I want doesn''t matter," Why not?

    "Because if I had my way, I would keep you here. Force you to be something you don''t want to be. You''d resist and we''d end up killing one another. I don''t want that. I don''t want to hate you Not now, not ever. So, after this is over. It''ll be up to you. We should go to bed," he stands.

    I''m sleeping here today. Indefinitely. I say when he waits for me. He stands there for a moment. Then lets out a heavy sigh

    1/2Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    before leaving and mming the door behind him.

    Sleepes easily tonight. As soon as Iy back, I feel exhausted. If Nate does what he''s supposed to, things should pretty smoothly from here on. All I have to do is take the King Magique City to meet the little vampire girl.

    Things seem to have all fallen into ce. Oddly, I agree with the Queen a little. Fate did bring me here for a reason and it just isn''t the one she wants. I never thought about naming a sessor. Mostly because I''ve never met someone who would. want to work on something that is kind of out of reach. Maybe I didn''t look hard enough and maybe I was looking in the wrong ce.

    rage.

    If the old man tries to do what he did to us to him. He''s going to be met with a whole lot of crazy and a whole lot of That Wraith mo****ker is going to be p***d and with that, I get the final f***k you to everyone who ever did us dirty. I''m not even mad that I was sold to these beasts anymore. It''s turned out to be quite the experience.

    0

 Bait Novel 46

    He actually did it. There is a huge white screen with a projector waiting for us when we get back from the dome. Obsidian Corp. is doing a whole lot better and to celebrate, here we are. Movie night. We''re watching Frozen. There are treats and snacks adorned with Frozen party decorations. There are bean bag chairs and nkets set up in the center of the courtyard. "Where are you going?" the Queen calls after me when I try to get inside.

    y tagging kit. Illi

    "My tagging kit. I''ll just be a minute, I reassure her.

    "Alright, you better not make us go up there," she says dismissively.

    I take the king''s hand and pull him with me.

    §¡§â§Ü§Ö

    "Are you excited?" he asks when I pull him into the elevator.

    I''m going to need you to listen to everything I say. You invited him, right?"

    I had Annie do it, he nods.

    "Okay, the tracker is a small needle. Like a really small needle. It can be injected on any surface of the skin and he won''t be able to detect it. We''ll never be able to remove it."

    How do you know that?"

    Thave one, I pull up my phone to show him. "And I''ve never been able to remove it. Not unless I cut that area out. There''s no telling how deep it is."

    "You could have told me before," he res at me.

    "Why would that be something I bring up? Hey, I have a tracker on me. How cool?"

    "Shut up." he ''he rolls his eyes. "Why do you have one?"

    "Darren tagged me and I tagged him. We used to go days without seeing each other. This is how we would check to see if we were where we were supposed to be without interrupting one another." "You mean the mind thing?"

    "Right. We limited our use of it when we were working on important shit. You lose your train of thought and it''s difficult to pick back up when something requires our full focus. Like coding and training." "How deep does the bond be?"

    "The more we use it between us, eventually you''ll be able to feel some of the things I do. If I''m hurt or scared. You''d be able to feel that and the other thing

    The other thing?"

    "You know the other thing. I point at his crotch. The elevator door opens and we head over to "my study".

    Like i

    Yes

    Yes

    if you''re h**y?"

    "You''re kidding," heughs.

    "Nope. And sex would be like a million times more fun,"

    18

    18

    "Huh," he nods. "How

    "We''re not doing that,"

    much more do we have to use it for it to get that way?"

    "I kind of want to do that,"

    "It''s not just that, Lycan King. It''s a different kind of intimacy. I don''t want to put you through that kind of stress when I''m gone. Trust me."

    "The trackers," he says and stops me when I reach for the doorknob.

    "What?"

    What?

    "Have you seen it already?"

    "No, I have everything I need at the dome," I shake my head.

    "Allow w me he opens the door and waves me forward with a smug look on his face.

    do?"

    "What did you do

    "I made you a study," heughs.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I groan and walk through the door. The first time I walked in here, I went to a really dark ce. One I hadn''t gone to in at long time. Longer than my mate''s death date. It had just been an empty room like it had been when I was taken into custody after my mother died. And now, it looks nothing like the room I had walked into a few days ago. The walls are a pretty matte shade of ck with pretty golden stars that were positioned to look like the Nothern Celestial Hemisphere where the Leo Constetion is located

    I know that because I''ve been obsessed with it since our neighbor, Justice Mercury told me that my Zodiac Sign was Leo. I didn''t know what that meant then, I still don''t fully grasp it, but Justie was a witch and she was awesome.

    In the center of the room is a round ss office desk. The frame holding it together is gold and the ss itself is tinted the darkest shade you can get on ss and still see through it. There are three curved monitors set up facing the center of the desk and right in the middle is a ck office chair with a golden trim. The cables are all painted with gold glitter and pulled up towards a Saturn chandelier where the f***g towers are hanging.

    The back wall where the massive window overlooks the courtyard is covered with empty shelves, I looked around to find that on the right side of the room, they built a closet space and organized my clothes by color. They even added some cool shoe racks for my shoes. On the left, there are huge e floor c***ons. ck suede decorated with glittery gold trims.

    "How did you-Jacob?" I look back at him crossing my arms over my chest.

    "Jacob told me your favorite thing and your preferred decor colors. It was easy to put this together,"

    "It didn''t look like this like four days ago,"

    "ck wallpaper. That he points at the ceiling. "Is also a wallpaper, but Tulie sells them. She painted that herself,"

    And the chandeller towers?"

    "That is my favorite thing actually. That used to be a piece in our old observatory. Ss put your towers in there and attached them to the venttion system to keep it cool. I think the filters have to be swapped out every so often. The rest of the stuff was just the staff and the remodeling people,

    2/3

 Bait Novel 47

    "Thank you." I say not sure how to react in a way that he doesn''t read a lot into it. I shake it off and head to the cases. I find the onebeled F***r. "F***, the King reads out loud.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I open it and take it over to the really pretty ss desk. I see the opening that leads into the center and walk inside. This is pretty ***g cool. I tap the table in front of me. He stands across from me as I take the sticker where the trackers sit. am going to ce this on your pinky finger. I will also have one. Whoever gets to him first," ne agrees.

    "I

    I take his hand and peel one of the tracker stickers with my tweezers.

    just can''t touch anything with it until you put it on him. It has to be skin-to-skin contact, I inform him. He holds his massive hands up and then drops his right one. This one." he he nods. "Okay, Iugh. "Go away, the King growls at her.

    "Mom made mee up to make sure you guys weren''t fooling around," Andromeda appears out of nowhere. "This ce is nice," shements. "You''re intos. I dig that. Finally something interesting about you,"

    "Whatcha doin?" she asks.

    T

    "Spy ***t," I say and gently set the sticker over the center of his finger pad. *Can you see it?" he asks holding his hand closer to his face. You shou-

    A croakes out of me when Andromeda ps the back of his hand to make him hit himself. I stare at him in disbelief when she bursts into giggles and runs out of the room mming the door shut. I get the notification on my phone when the trackeres online. "Perry, he he whispers. "Where is it?"

    "Umm,

    I open my mouth and shake my head, unsure what to say. "Where did you feel the sting?"

    "The tip of my nose," he licks his lips. His eyes turn down to try and look for it.

    "Dude, Iugh. "You''re sister is an a***le."

    He reaches for his nose and rubs the tip of it.

    "I don''t feel anything.

    I told you, I can''t stopughing

    "You can stop now, he smirks

    "I can''t believe she did that, I wipe my tears away. When I look at him, he''s bright red. Even the tips of his ears. Just so you know. I''d dig her grave for you. No one would know it was

    "You said it," he growls, "F***g tiny s***d. That wasn''t the galy oue, was it?"

    1/2

    52%

    "No, Mackenzie made a s***t ton of these. I shake my head. "I''m going to put one on your knuckles. In case you get the chance to hit him."

    "Perfect," he says and holds out his hands for me. I put one right under his middle knuckle and another on his pink finger. I do the same to myself and put everything else away. "What if we get more than one on him?"

    "Even better,"

    "Where do you have yours?" he asks. I look up at him and open my mouth to tell him but I don''t think I''m brave enough so I justugh.

    "We should go down before your momes up here," I say andugh at his tracker being right next to mine on my phone.

    Through the reflection of the elevator, I see him open his mouth to probably ask why I don''t want to answer, but then snaps his mouth shut changing his mind. I turn back to look at him and then look ahead when he doesn''t meet my gaze. The answer is simple. Darren put a sticker on his hand, ran up while I wasing out of the shower, and pped my a*** so hard I almost cried. It had a happy ending, but I couldn''t sit for a week after. The tension is

    is cut short when the elevator pings and his mom is standing there almost as if she were waiting for the elevator toe down so she can get to us herself.

    "I said I would be right back." I smile at her. She lets out a heavy sigh and turns away to go back to the courtyard.

    "I was just ying around, Andromedaughs from the space she and the twins took over near the snacks.

    "Shut up, Annie. You''re not allowed in Perry''s study anymore," he growls.

    "Aww," her shoulders slump a little as she fakes being disappointed. "What will I ever do? Not wolf bait''s study,"

    "Annie, both the King and his mother growl at her making the twins giggle.

    "Whatever," she rolls her eyes.

    The king brings over a tray of snacks and drinks to ce between us. We''re sitting the furthest from everyone. Ss and a couple of the King''s personal buddies are a few feet away. The light chatter is snuffed out when the unwanted presence arrives with two others. A woman and a man. His eyes scan the area until theynd on us. He stares at his brother for a moment before his eyes move to me. "You still have this?" he huffs. "Thought she''d be dead by now,"

 Bait Novel 48

    He looks around and decides to move toward the center space. It''s a good strategy for a triangle formation. He stops right in front of us and I finally get to take him in. His scent is a little simr to the king''s, except he has a hint of mes to it. Like burning potpourri. It''s intoxicating. Pleasant even. His eyes are lighter than the King''s. Colder. But they share a lot of their simrities. Like what you see, Sweetheart?" he asks. The King growls pulling me back towards him. "Come now, she''s allowed to look,"

    "She''s allowed what I say she''s allowed, the King growls at him. When James'' eyes move back to me, I wink at him, and he smirks before moving on.

    "Of course, my liege," he scoffs, "Like I''d be caught dead f*****g the help,"

    "Right, you''re into gold diggers." I shoot right back..

    The Kang tenses but he doesn''t say anything as he reaches for his popcorn. James turns around, his nose ring the same way the king''s does. His eyes spark to life and begin to turn ck. What did you just say to me?'' he growls.

    "I didn''t stutter, number two," I flip him off.

    I

    Before I can step back his hand is around my throat and I grip his wrist with my left hand cing the tracker on him. I dig my nails in so he doesn''t suspect anything. When I look up wondering why the fuck he hasn''t squeezed I see the King had his left hand around his throat. roat. "Release her," he orders. "Before someone gets hurt,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    James stares back at the King for a moment and then smiles. His hand opens and I step back without taking my ws back. His eyes move to where we''re joined. I retract my ws and he growls but doesn''t try toe at me again. -Hey, Jake-

    -This is weird-he answers immediately. Sweet, we''re still connected. I wonder if he can hear the King? -Come over. Bring your shotgun-

    Why?

    it for my wall-

    I need

    -All right. I''m on my way.-

    "Now

    go sit down and watch the movie, Mom asked us all to behave," he

    says and res over at me

    "Don''t take it personally, Jamie. She attacks everyone she sees, Andromeda says from where she''s sitting

    "Yeah, you''re not special, little prince, I add. "No matter how hard you try to be,"

    "Sit the King growls at me.

    I drop onto the red beanbag chair and take a handful of cookies James looks at me with disgust when I stove one in my mouth. I chew it a couple of times before I open my mouth to show him. He groans and finally turns his back to us. -Holy s***t. That worked-the king''s voice whispers in my head. reach for my phone and see that both trackers are now online.

    1/2

    -Let''s try to tag the other two. He obviously trusts them enough to back him up here.-

    -You get the girl- he agrees without hesitation.

    -I''m sorry about what I said. I didn''t mean that.-

    -It''s fine. You got him to react. That''s all that matters.-

    D

    51%

    51%

    The movie ys for a while and once the tension in the air fades, I reach out for my drink and spill it on the tray.

    TIl get it, the King and I say at the same time. We both put our bands on it, but I stand faster giving my back to the screen.

    "I spilled it. I got it," I say tugging it toward me.

    "I can go get you more snacks," he argues and pulls me forward.

    "Nonsense, you''re the King. That''s ridiculous, I shake my head and pull back. He releases the tray and I stumble back falling between James and his friend. The back of my right hand smacks her across the face as I hit the floor knocking the wind out of myself. "Okay, you go." I groan and try to sit up. Fuck, should have learned when I did the first time," I fall back. "Are

    1

    you people okay? I didn''t get anything on you, right?"

    I

    "Get the f**k away." James growls at me. I put my hands up and use my legs to scoot down and then roll away from him. "St***h,"

    I crawl back to my beanbag chair just as the King ising back with a new tray. He sets it where thest one had been and growls at me. I sit on the beanbag and start dusting myself off. I nce over at him. "What?" he demands.

    "Nothing." 1

    "I shake my head.

    "I''ve already told you to stop doing shit for me," he adds. Everyone turns in our direction probably thinking this is going to turn into a heated argument. When neither of us says anything they go back to the movie. When I look up, James is still staring. He sits upright when he sees he''s been caught. I try to stand up to leave.

    "Sit, the king grabs my arm. I rip it out of his grip.

    "With all due respect, My King. Go f**k yourself," I turn around to leave.

    I pause and turn back to get the rest of the cookies and my drink. The King stares back at me, his eyes burning with anger. I stick my tongue out at him. He growls loudly making me jumpck. Once again 1 spin back and start to make my way to the elevator. I heard the Queen ask him if that was really necessary to which he responded to with another growl. That f***g worked. I''m a little proud of myself at the moment. 0

 Bait Novel 49

    Chapter

    49

    "You like tempting death, James is standing in front of my escape.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "How did you get over here so fast?" I ask and nce back from where I came from.

    Tma Lycan, Sweetheart, he scoffs at me.

    "Are you going to kill me now?" I ask smiling at him.

    "Do you want me to?" he asks stepping closer.

    Think you can do it before the King finds us? You''d be doing me a big favor. Saves me all that extra work he has me doing." is this how it ends for me? Surely, it can''t be that easy.

    "How much did he pay for you, Little One?" he stops right in front of me. His wed index finger pulls my cor forward just where my mark is. My ws haven''t gotten there yet, but they''re starting to.

    "A humiliating amount, I admit. He moves down to the cor the King traded his spaceship for. "Oh, yeah? How humiliating?

    "American," I scoff. He tsks shaking his head.

    I bet he got the deal of his life, Little One. I''ve read all about you, he holds my tag in his hand staring at the King''s name on Tech wizard. Beta Female-ss One. First-ss huntress. It was like you were perfectly fabricated to be a grand prize. can offer you a deal and get you the hell out of here,"

    Tm tagged and marked. I wouldn''t be getting very hard-far. I meant far," I swallow when he leans into me.

    He reaches for the back of the cor and suddenly it falls off. A loud growles from behind us and James wraps his arms around me with one hand at my throat. I dropped my snacks and my new drink. I like this fruit thing. It wasn''t leaving the aftertaste from whatever anti-depressant the king thinks he''s slipping into my drink.

    "Let her go, the King growls.

    "Or what?" Jamesughs.

    He presses his nose to my head and inhales like a p**rt. His two friends tense up when the sound of a shotgun being ***des from behind us.

    "Take your filthy hands off my kid or I''ll blow a hole in your head Jacob says from behind me.

    "Jake, stand down, I call out.

    "Shut up, st***d. What did you do to provoke this thing?" he growls back.

    "Has a mouth on her, old man," James grins, yet he hasn''t squeezed.

    "I know. It''s why I carry this," Jacob saysing around to keep the shotgun aimed at James'' head.

    "It''s mine now, pretty girl," he whispers in my car. "It''s off. Guess leave the rest up to you, huh?"

    He releases me, holding his arms up in the air with my cor in his grip. How the f***k did he do that? The King''s hand immediately wraps around my arin as he backs away. Jacob steps in front of us without putting the gun down. They get into their C wagon and leave. "Mine is nicer, I say looking up at the King

    1/2

    "How did he take it off?

    "No, idea. He reached for the back and it slid off. There was no sound,"

    "He disabled the f***g ma, he growls and starts leading me back toward the elevator.

    51%

    "Oh, that''s what it was! I feel st***id," I admit. I have a few things in my stuff that would have identally discovered it was a ma when I went to "my study aka the greatest room in the entire world. He''s right to shut the door at seven. I''d willingly stay there the rest of my life. "Also, if you''re going to put another one on me, a new technique is in order,"

    "I''m sorry, Little Wolf. But this is a different matter. I can''t risk him trying to take you away. I didn''t think it would ever be an option. He usually kills them. You are not to leave our floor until we can get the artist toe down here and put those marks on you* Chapter 50

 Bait Novel 50

    Chapter

    Jonas

    50

    "I will never forgive you if you do this," Perry tries pull her arm out of my grip as I drag her toward her room. Her sneakers are squeaking against the floor as she tries to get free. "Please, don''t do that. Please, please, don''t," He tried to take her. He removed the ne around her neck and took it with him. The fear that came over me was unreal. Not only would he have taken her, but this girl has ess to all of our ounts and security protocols. With the marks, not even the council would be st***d enough to try and take her away. This is where our friendship ends, I shove her into her room. She stumbles forward and falls to her knees before she''s trying to keep me from shutting the door on her.

    "You said you would never do this. You promised me. You promised you''d never lock me in a room,"

    The panic in her voice makes me hesitate. The fear in her eyes and ck streaks of mascara running down her face keep me rooted here.

    I just wanted to help you, she cries. "I did this for you. Why am I being punished?"

    Im sorry. Little Wolf. But you know too much. This is what I''ve been trying to protect you from. I would have rathered he killed you than take you. I made a mistake tonight. Believe me when I say we will both wear this shame for the rest of our lives, Jonas" she screams when I shut the door and lock it. "Please! Jonas! Don''t do this,"

    "Jonas," my mother runs out of the elevator. She goes to the door "Let her out," she wiggles the door. "You don''t have to do this

    "He tried to take her," I roar. She stops shaking the ***b. "None of you are allowed up here until those marks areplete. Don''t make me force you out, mother. Leave us,"

    My mother straightens up and without saying another word she walks away. Perry continues to pound on the door the rest of the night and I sit here across from it listening to her voice give out. Sometime around three a.m., I feel her release the hold she''s had on our bond. Her anguish floods into me stronger than ever before. It''s insane how much more she can feel over what''s already there. As if the limit to her suffering hasn''t even scratched the surface. This one isn''t as profound as the rest of it, but it''s still leaving a disgusting taste in my mouth. Early the next morning, my phone rings in my pocket. I lift it to see it''s Ss. "When will he get here?"

    I can have a new cor made for her. One more amodating," he says. "No. Ss

    Jo-

    "He tried to take her. Ss. Take her. He let her go when the wolf had him at gunpoint. I cannot risk him getting his hands on the information we''ve given her. This is what I get for trying to be sympathetic.

    "The artist is here, he sighs. "You know she has guns in her room

    Im not s**d enough to leave them loaded, I scoff "She''s a danger to herself and everyone around her. Get Alvarez. Tell her we need something strong to keep her sedated. Bring him and bring others. She''s going to put up a light,"

    "This is f**d up. Jonas. She doesn''t deserve this, he hangs up.

    1/2

    10.13

    Dr. Alvarez is already crying when they arrive. I

    10

    nothing but she''s awake. I can feel

    there is a whole lot of anger waiting for us on the other side.

    her through the bond. She wants me to and d and ce my car at the door. I h

    "All right, Little Wolf," I call out. I''m going to open this door and you''re not going to do something dumb,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    of

    Still, nothing. I slide the key in and turn. My two guards step in front of me when I turn the k**b. Standing in the center the room is a fully-shifted beta wolf prepared to attack. The sounding out of her chest isn''t a warning. They''re full-on whines of distress, The four of us step into the room to see she''s destroyed everything. The walls are covered in w marks and the bed is ripped to shreds. It''s obvious she tried to get through the balcony doors.

    "Crystal," I call out to the wolf. She snarls at me snapping her teeth. "No," I growl making her shrink back. "Crystal, shift back." she howls and shakes her head back and forth refusing. "Come on, Little Wolf, don''t make me use mymand on you. It''ll be painful," she refuses anyway. It isn''t fair, but there is no other way. I won''t lose her like I''ve lost everything else to my brother. This is the only way I can keep her safe until everything is done. "Shift. Now,"

 Bait Novel 51

    the floor as she cries out.

    The sound her wolf makes has me shaking at the knees, but I stand my ground. She''s fighting it with everything she''s got. The wolf starts shifting back into its skin and the painfilled growls turn into screams. As soon as she''s back in her skin, I pounce on her. I pin her to "I hate you!" she growls trying to w at me. Her eyes are bloodshot from all the crying. Her short hair is sticking out in every direction. She looks almost feral. "Dr. Alvarez," I shout.

    "Yes, my King," she cries.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "No! No!" Perry screams as Ss and Keh pin her arms so she''s not cutting into me. Dr. Alvarez injects her and it takes her a moment to stop thrashing so hard. "Let her go," I order.

    I sit up looking down at her as she stares up at me with that same expression she did when we first met. She was beautiful then and she''s beautiful now. All that rage and pain are on full disy and she can care less who sees it. A testament to how well she holds herself together in spite of everything she''s had to endure.

    "F****k you too," she spits at me. When I flinch back as her spit hits my face I don''t see her raise her hand. Her ws cut across my face my face deep.

    "F****k," I move away from her before I kill her on the spot.

    "Jonas," Ss is the first to recover.

    "Put the marks on her," I growl at the artist. "Now,"

    "Y-yes, my King," he rushes into the room.

    "Cover her," Ss orders Alvarez as he pulls me away from Perry.

    "No, mister," she tries to plead through the haze of the wolfsbane. "Please, don''t make me kill you! I''ll kill all of you!" she cries. "Please! Please!"

    My vision is turning red from all the blood loss. I feel something pierce my neck. Pain shoots through my body as the wolfsbane makes its way through my system triggering my healing process as Dr. Alvarez cleans my wounds as fast as she can. She s***s while she holds my face probably trying to keep pieces together so they can heal faster. "This is insane," she s***s quietly.

    This f***g tracker idea was aplete failure on my end. It wasn''t her who ended up ruining the night. We had started yesterday so well. Politely. We even made progress with the other board members. We were able to convince some not to sell their shares after we presented some of her projects to them.

    Thest thing I expected was James trying to take her. If Perry had diedst night, everything she''s put in motion would still help me move forward. Even without Magique and the vampires. They would havee eventually. We have all her journals and research. I wouldn''t have had to kill her myself. She knew exactly what I was doing as well. She taunted him and he didn''t seem all that interested in the easy kill. ***k.

    My ears stay on the sound of the tattoo gun buzzing. Dr. Alvarez says something to me, but I just wave her off and watch as that man puts those marks on her with a special gold ink specially made for this. Her breathing is even. Her skin is stained red where I bled on her. Iugh sitting back because I know these marks are here to stay. We will both wear my shame for all to see on both our faces. 09:57 Fri, Oct 18 o

    She got me. Pernicious-Phurry got me when no one else has ever evene close.

    "Jonas," my mom rushes into the room.

    She gasps covering her face as she takes in the scene before her

    "My Queen, you shouldn''t be here," Ss tries to escort her out.

    000, 55%

    Her eyes stay on me for a moment before she lets him take her away. I''m willing to bet she''s heading home and is taking my sister with her. It takes the artist hours to finally get to her ankle. I see her toes twitch just as he''s pulling away. Before he can tell me he''s done, Perry sits up and attacks him. I stay still watching as she bites into his neck and rips chunks of his flesh out.

    "Jonas," Ss calls out to me not knowing what to do. I let her kill him. I''ve seen that rage before and if she doesn''t satiate it. just a little, it will tear her apart.

    "If you attack them, I''ll be forced to hurt you, Little Wolf," I grow when she turns her attention to Ss. Her eyes are glowing blue as she stares back at me with that hate she mentioned earlier. I stand up and go over to her. "Come. Let''s get you cleaned up," I offer her my hand. She tries to smack my hand away weakly and I take away the option. I scoop her up my arms. "Try to bite me or scratch me again and I will dew you with my teeth," into

    C

 Bait Novel 52

    5

    The others move away from the door as I take her to my room. Without saying a word I shut us in and carry her to the bathroom. She covers her face with her hands as she starts to cry. I set her down on the countertop between the joined sinks and go to the bathtub to run a warm bath. I add my personal healing bath salts and herbs. My attention snaps back to Perry when jumps off the counter to look at what I''ve done. She tilts her head to the left and stares at the golden marks etched into her skin for however long she may live. My chest constricts when she starts to cry. A scream so strong silently suffocates her as she holds onto the torn bed sheet around her and falls to her knees. I don''t want to look at her but I can''t bring myself to look away or even get close to try and apologize for mutting her even after I swore to her and myself that I would never subject her to it. I remove the rest of my torn clothes and I go over to her to bring her into the tub with me. She sitspletely still as I take us into the tub. Her armse around me and she continues to cry. I''m not apologizing this time. It feels a lot more patronizing than it did when I put the cor on her.

    She doesn''t move or flinch when I lick over the tattoos on her face and her neck healing them with my saliva. Once again iming her as mine. The swelling starts to go down as I move down her body. I set her down on the edge and continue moving down her arms, her rib cage, her belly, and her thighs until I get to thest golden vine on her ankle. All she does is sit there staring nkly at the wall.

    My scent is mixed with hers more than it was before. No matter how much she scrubs or douses herself in perfume, she''ll never be overwhelmed by anything else. This is a first for me and I''m not sure what it is I''m feeling.

    Perry lets me clean her up and wash her hair before I clean my blood off us. When I''m sure it''s all off, I take us over to the shower and repeat the process again. When she''s dry. I take her over to my bed and set her down. She justys there staring up at the ceiling. "This is the life you think I''m going to change my mind for?" she asks after a while. When I don''t answer her she starts tough. "The rules of a sl***e are as follows," I sigh. "You are no longer a person. You are mine. You do as I will be punished as I see fit if you are disobedient. You will not eat or drink anything unless I hand either of those to you

    say, when I myself. You will not speak to anyone else unless I give you permission. You will not offer anything to anyone without my

    say,

    and you permission. You will not-"

    "I understand," she cuts me off. "As always, I''m at your service, My King,"

    "Get some rest, Little Wolf," I stand and head for the door.

    I groan when she pulls her emotions back from me. My body breaks out in goosebumps. I growl at her and try to link her to bring them back but she doesn''t even allow that.

    "Sit in your own s***it from now on," she says and covers herself with the duvet. "Never try to reach for me like that again. As good as it feels, it can be just as painful,"

    Ss and the others are standing guard as her room is being cleaned out. Ss holds up some clothes for the two of us. across to find her shoes. I get the ck sneakers Lillies gave her and take them back to the room where she''s already fallen asleep. Her breathing is

    even.

    I go

    I get dressed for the day and when I finally see the mark she inflicted. I sigh running my hand over them. She cut across my face starting from my left eyebrow, down my nose, over my lips, and stopping at my chin. The four precise slices will never go away. I go out to get something to eat. Everyone must sense the mood I am in so they say nothing to me. They don''t even look in my direction. I''m fine with that. I prefer to be left alone after f****g up this badly.

    It gives me time to punish myself hard enough to be able to live with it. I did that. I hurt her and all she did was try to help me just like she promised. This isn''t like when I pulled away from her. She hasshed out at herself then. I doubt she''ll be doing that again moving forward. Perry is probably going to star fighting back the way she did today. I''m okay with that. We can now keep our scores even.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    1/1

 Bait Novel 53

    "What the f****k are you doing at my table?" I growl when I find James sitting there having breakfast as if he hadn''t once againe into my home to destroy the very little peace our family can get. When he looks up at me a massive grin spreads across his face. I rip him out of the chair and m him against the wall cracking it in the process. He groans, his bright red eyes ring back at me. "Feel better?" he chokes out augh. "There''s no one here to stop me from tearing you apart, you piece of s****" I growl.

    "You''re rattled," he smiles. "You like this one. You know, I noticed you have type, Jo. You don''t want a mate or a partner. You want a project. Something you can fix. Something to satisfy your need to save everyone around you, golden boy.

    "And she''s absolutely perfect for you, isn''t she, brother?" heughs. "I bet that damaged little b***h really gets you off with those big beautiful sad eyes and all those self-destructive tendencies.

    "Let me tell you something I haven''t been able to. You''re not the hero of our story, Jonas. You''re not the victim who lost his mate. You''re the cause of all of this. You ruined my life, you ruined Evie''s life, and you''re going to ruin that wolf past the point of no return. That''s what you truly are, big brother. You will forever be known as the Cursed King. Even after you save all of them and kill me. I wish you no love or happiness in the name of all the lives you destroyed," "You need to leave," Perry''s voice catches me by surprise. "I''m not going to let him kill you like this. When you die, I''m going stream it for everyone, everywhere to see,"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    James turns his attention to her and then back at me. The look in his eyes tells me he didn''t expect me to do that to her. He released my wrists and nods. I let him go and he ducks out from under me. "Come back here again and I''ll bite," she growls at him with all the aggression she used to kill the artist.

    Yet, she seems to be herself. Her demeanor is calm. Nothing like his. If she''s feral, there are no signs of it outside the sweet burning scent of sugar that makes my mouth water. Her hair is pulled back into two little buns on the top of her head. The marks on disy for everyone to see. My heart hammers in my chest and I have to remind myself that they''re not there for my pleasure.

    "I gave you an opening, Sweetheart. It was s***d of you to just stand there and not take it," he looks between us.

    "I never told you I wanted to escape him. I gave you one job and you proved to be just as useless as I believed you to be. I guess I owe you a thanks for getting that thing off me. I can shift now.

    "As you can see from the pretty marks on my King''s face. It''s not going to end well for you. Why don''t you ask the other Lycans to show you the artist who did this to me?" she points at her face. "I bet you''d get a kick out of it,"

    "We''ll see," he smiles at her and then looks at me. "I can see why you''re so smitten, brother. You did always like your women beastly. You should have rejected her, Jonas. It looks to me like you''ve finally found the one. Peas in a f****ng pod,"

    He tosses her ne on the ground between us and walks backward until he leaves the dining room and then disappears. She''s wearing a pair of sweats and one of my T-shirts. She steps forward and picks the ne up. She holds it up and lets out a heavy sigh.

    "He''s right you know," she says making my stomach churn more than it already is. "And you get to see me die knowing that you can''t really ever save me properly," I don''t recognize the tone in her voice. It''s calm, almost like it''s trying to soothe me. "I findfort in the fact that you will never know love like the love I had for Darren.

    "That''s why you like my soul entwined with yours, isn''t it? You''ve never known that love and you want it even if it''s secondhand. Even when it doesn''t belong to you. You''re f***g pathetic, Lycan King,"

 Bait Novel 54

    Chapter 54 more than enough.

    The cksmith is practically trembling as he watches me take the melted metal over to the casts we made to pour. It took us weeks to take the thread off the synth metal and press it down enough to create the cast for the chips I need. I can make twelve. Ten students is I haven''t seen the King since the evening after he had me marked. I wake up and find my food on the new bed stand he had brought up. He makes sure not to touch my urn. During lunch, he finds a way to sneak food onto my desk. I always catch his scent, but never a glimpse of him. Not that I want to see him. There''s a guard beside me at all times now. His name is Jordan and he can''t be that much older than me. He stays outside my study and taps on my door when it''s time for me to get out and then he leaves after locking the door.

    The King also confiscated all of my guns and revoked Jacob''s visitations. It''s been quiet these past few weeks. But it''s still no lonelier than when I was in Red Wood. At the very least, no one here acts like I''ve got the gue.

    I pour out the metal into each thread cast as carefully as I can for each part I need. When I told Ss, who has been around more and moretely, he brought me to Orion. The head of a family who might be the veryst Lycan cksmiths in existence. Having been reading the history lessons Jacob emails me, I''ve been very well informed of a lot of their insane traditions. Not all of them are bad. The ones that don''t involve wolves at least. "Start covering them, Orion," I tell him as I finish thest pour.

    "Yes, mydy," he agrees right away and finally stops looming over me. I ce his tools back where I found them and start cleaning up the mess we''ve been making. "You shouldn''t-"

    I stop him with a re and the kind man just smiles and puts his hands up in surrender. Once he''s done with what I instructed, the two of us finish cleaning up his workspace a lot faster.

    "I''ll see youter. Make sure the sandpaper I brought is ready,"

    "Yes, mydy. Everything will be ready when youe back," he bows his head.

    I almost jump out of my skin when I find the King standing outside the metal shed. I wipe my sweaty forehead with the back of my hand and keep going. He doesn''t look like he beat himself up over what happened or thest thing I said to him. B***h.

    "You could have messaged me, I growl at him as he follows me into town so I can get back to the castle.

    "You don''t have your phone,"

    "There''s a reason for that," I roll my eyes.

    "We need to talk," he sighs.

    "About?"

    "Preparations for the ceremony,

    Nope. Have someone else take care of that. I''ll go with whatever fiasco you want,"

    It''s not about that. You have to be seen doing these things, he says and I stop.

    There are a couple of women up ahead. The two of them scramble into whatever store they''re standing in front of. The other Lycans know what happened when I was marked. How I permanently scared their King. How I killed the man who did this to me. How I would have attacked anyone who came near me if the king hadn''t forced me into submission. They all stay out of my way now and there is a hint of respect in their prying gazes.

    1/2

    "You mean us?" I growl to myself.

    "Yes, Pernicious. That''s what I mean," he says just as annoyed as I feel.

    **

    "Today. We have an appointment with a wedding nner. You need to get cleaned up, steampunk junky," I growl out in frustration and continue to head toward the castle. "Oh, and be a good girl. Wear your cor today, Little Wolf. Since you want to be growling at me," The a***le had the ne fixed to where I can take it off with a regr sp and he had it reted gold so it matches the marks on my body. He also had the diamonds removed and reced with red ones. Didn''t ask what kind of gems he added. Rubies probably. He looks st***d enough to put big-**a*rubies on me just to prove he can.

    It''s a lot nicer this way. The marks aren''t as bad as the marks on Alpha Calypso and the other wolves. Their marks are pitch ck and border on tribal. These are very elegant. Vines with little bellflowers. The King''s name is etched over my rib cage and his family insignia takes up the full roundness of my left a*** cheek. The marks go along the entire left profile of my body. Over my leg, my arm, my torso, my neck, my cheek, my left eyelid, over my eyebrow, under my ear, and stops in my hairline.

    It''s beautiful and a very prominent reminder that I stopped being a person the day we met. He had been my friend up until the marks. I''vee to realize that a little toote. He warned me and I didn''t listen. Like a scorpion riding the frog across the pond, I''m going to do whates naturally to me now. I''m going to make shit worse for both of us and then when he kills me. He will never find happiness again. I''ll be da***ed if I allow it. 09:58 Fri, Oct 18All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Bait Novel 55

    Chapter

    55

    his presence, then he''s going to have to suffer all of mine.

    After a much-needed shower. I carefully do my makeup to match the gems and pin my hair back in loose twisties. I pick up the pretty red dress I had gotten off the rack when Calypso had been here and slip it over my body not bothering with underwear. If I have to suffer I know exactly how much it affects him when the elevator doors open and I step out to go over to him. His entire body stiffens as I hold my phone up to show him that I see now that he did actually message me a couple of hours before he showed up at the cksmith''s. "I apologize. You did message me after all," "Let''s go, Perry," he growls and grabs my arm roughly. I struggle to keep up with his long strides.

    He all but rips the passenger side door of the G-Wagon open. Someone fixed it. He shoves me inside and reaches over me to put the seatbelt on me before he ms the door shut so hard that the entire car rocks. I get myugh out as he storms around. I press my lips together and look out the ss so he doesn''t see me trying not tough. I see him staring at me hard through the reflection. "Am I allowed to ask where we''re going, my King?" I ask.

    "No," he growls and starts the engine.

    I can''t believe I scratched him the way I did. It''s something neither of us is ever going to be able to take back. He has to live with the reminder of what he forced me to endure for the rest of his existence. I didn''t deserve what he did to me and he knows that. His fear and insecurities eat away at his soul. More so when his brother is around. That was the reason why he did it.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    It wasn''t because of the information I know. We both know I''d never give him up. I may not love him, but I chose him to be thest piece of me I leave behind. He marked me because he was scared that James was going to take me from him. Like I''d willing go with that sociopath and leave him. His trauma runs deep and any time it surfaces, I''m going to have to pay the price. But I''ll be d***ed if I''m letting him make me suffer alone.

    I bet his nose almost fell off. A****le.

    "This arrangement isn''t working for me, Perry," he says after a while.

    inc

    "I don''t know what you''re referring to," I''ve been great. I feel well-rested and calm.

    2

    "You know exactly what I''m talking about. These petty shots you''re taking. We''re going to end up killing one another," "You''re not easy to kill, remember? It''s hardly an even trade,"

    He growls and hits the brakes to get out of the car beforeing around to open my door. I don''t turn to look at him. He takes the seatbelt off and pulls me out. My back hits the side of the car hard enough that the ss cr***ks. I finally look up at him not giving him any indication that this bothers me. It doesn''t. Physical pain isn''t going to undo the damage he''s inflicted. I stare at what he made me do to him and reach to touch the scars on his chin, "You don''t regret it," he says leaning into me. Pressing his body against mine.

    "Not even a little," I confirm. "I didn''t deserve what you did to me. I risked my life to get you what you wanted. I''ve given you everything I have to offer and you humte me at every turn. You belittle me every chance you get. I know I''m your property, but you lied to me. You pretended to be my friend,"

    He was going to take you," he shouts mming his hands on the car.

    "You know I wouldn''t have let him. You know that even if he had I would have let him kill me before I gave him anything. This isn''t about that. This is about him taking everything from you. You did this to us, Jonas.

    1/2

    2/2

    "You and all that pain you pretend not to have in here," I tap his chest. "It''ll always be an even exchange with us, Lycan King. You will get what you give. I''m never going to regret hurting you. That part of me died long before you. Long before I knew Darren was my mate. It''s just the kind of person I am, my King,

    "I''m sorry," he whispers as his thumb caresses the gold marks on my face. "You''re right. It did scare me. He fully intended to take you from me. And yes, I know you''d never give me up. He would have made your ending the worst possible. I rather you hate me just like this than ever let him put his filthy hands on you, Little Wolf. You''re mine and wear these marks beautifully,"

 Bait Novel 56

    "You''re always short of saying something really f****g s***id, Jonas," I turn away from how serious he is.

    Heughs leaning into me and turns my head enough to look down at his mark. I shiver when he licks me. I try really hard not to show him how my body responds to him, but my skin breaks out in goosebumps.

    "Isn''t that what brought us together, Little Wolf? The sheer st***y of our actions?" he presses against me hard. "My words are just as s**** as you wearing this red dress," his fingertips slowly move down the front of my body. He takes the golden cor around my neck and lifts it. "Red and gold are your colors, Pernicious. I don''t know what I was thinking with the white gold. You''re not a little princess, are you? You''re just as bad as we are," "Don''t make this weird, Jonas," I whisper.

    "Mm," heughs. "This got weird the moment we bonded. We''re both just too stubborn to acknowledge it," "You''re a piece of shit," I sigh.

    There''s really nothing I can do but let him fall deeper into this hole he''s digging himself. I can easily acknowledge that he''s lost his f*** mind. That he thinks I feel the same way he does. I don''t, but there is a pleasing reassurance in knowing that when I am gone this thing that is killing whatever is left of my soul will never have peace again.

    He grips my face with one hand and makes me look at him. His lips press against mine. When I don''t respond the way he wants me to he squeezes my side hard enough to make me growl at him and the a***le takes the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth. This did get weird when we bonded because of how simr we are in our self-destruction. Our contempt for anything that bonds us to outside sources. Our need to please those we failed and those who are no longer with us. We can pretend there is hope for either of us in moments like this, but we both know there isn''t. Not for me, my minutes are ticking down rapidly and his pain is only beginning.

    I give him what he wants and we end up in the back seat.

    96

    "You''re just going to walk around like this all day?" he growls sliding my dress up to reveal a whole lot of nothing. "Not the first time," I shrug.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Before he continues, I push him back and turn to face out the windshield so I don''t have to look at him. As if it''ll somehow change the fact that we''re both bing co-dependent on the other for different reasons. I let him f***k me ashamed to acknowledge the fact that I missed him. His voice, the sounds he makes when he''s inside of me, the way he touches me like I''m going to disappear suddenly.

    I''ve done a lot of f***d up s***it in my life, but this takes the crown. I''ve betrayed everything I believe in. My body and soul. I''ve handed them over with no regard for consequences like I''ve done many times before.

    The difference between this and everything other thing I''ve done is that I''ll never be ashamed of those things. They meant something to me. To those I loved. This doesn''t mean s***t to me but this is the hill I chose to die on and no matter the oue. I''ll never forgive myself. I hope that his mother erases me the way she did his mate. I pray to their goddess for it. I deserve to be forgotten. It''s thest thing I wish to take with me to the grave. A whole lot of nothing.

    1/1

 Bait Novel 57

    The za is hidden somewhere in the hills past the Blue Moon pack and it''s crowded. After cleaning myself up in the car, I think the drive was a total of forty minutes. The "wedding nner" is a woman. She''s dressed in a ho***al striped pantsuit. There is absolutely nothing under her zer. Her hair is up in a braid and pinned around the back of her head like a halo. These women are ridiculously gorgeous. Her silver eyes are very unsettling. The scar cut down her right eye says she wasn''t always a wedding nner. "My King," she greets the King with a bow and I try not tough when she shows a bit of what she''s got under her jacket. I don''t see a mark anywhere so she''s unmated. "Debora," he greets her.

    "I think I should set aside some of these dresses if you''re going to continue bringing these things here," she says looking down at me like I''ve got germs.

    "Why don''t you do your f****g job with your pouty d***k-s***g lips shut, ***h," I growl. Her mouth falls open and the King looks away trying to hide his amusement. I step closer to her and shut her mouth. "Like this," "Don''t touch me, dog," she growls pulling away from me.

    wy

    "Or what?" I reach down to button her zer. All seven buttons. "Hmm? What are you going to do?"

    "All right. You''ve made your point, Little Wolf," the King wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me away from her. "Show us what you''ve got, Debora,"

    "Yes, my King," she bows her head to him and turns around to lead us into the bridal shop.

    The walls are a pretty soft pink. Decorated with shoes and bridal tiaras. They look expensive as hell. There are huge beautiful dresses on disy along the walls in various colors. Red, pink, gold, silver, teal, royal blue, and white. The King ces his hand on my lower back and pushes me to follow.

    I never considered getting married. It never crossed my mind. I was a f****g kid when I was mated. The way I lived my life, it just wasn''t something that crossed my mind and it''s not something wolves with fated mates do. It''s something that arranged matings do and it''s not an easy thing to consider.

    "Do I really have to do this?" I whisper looking up at the King

    "Yes," he gives me a single nod. "Didn''t you ever want to marry your mate?"

    "I don''t think either of us thought of something this ridiculous," I sigh.

    I

    over

    "Maybe your mate wasn''t as perfect as you think he was then," he says and pushes me forward again. I almost stumble, but keep my footing not wanting to let this b***hugh at me.

    She stops at the ss desk and motions us to take a seat on the moon chairs in front of her. There are several magazines on the table between us.

    "What colors were you considering?" she asks. I''m not sure if she''s talking to me or him.

    "ck and gold," he answers when I don''t.

    "Royal wedding colors?" she asked surprised.

    "Is there a problem?" he asks. She immediately shakes her head and sorts through the magazines before sliding a few of them in my direction.

    "I was thinking pink and gold," I tell him.

    1/4

    003 55%=

    "No."

    No,

    "No?" Iugh reaching for the first one.

    "No," he repeats.

    "I thought you wanted a princess,"

    "Pernicious," he growls making meugh again.

    "Sir, I must remind you of tradition. Once you marry with the royal colors. You will not be allowed to do it again should anything happen to-" she looks over at me.

    "I am aware of our traditions, Debora," he brushes her off.

    "I j

    just think

    wasting tradition on a -" we both jump when his hand ps the top of the table shattering it.

    "We''re going to be taking our business elsewhere," he says and grabs my arm to lift me off the chair.

    "I think we should stay," I ce my hand over his. "If you think I''m being an a***le to you, I''ll show you just how much I hold back because you''re cute,"

    He stares back at me. His anger visibly fades and he releases me. He leans in grazing his lips to mine.

    "If you get a pink dress you will walk down the council aisle naked, Pernicious. Do

    Yes, sir. Loud and clear," I nod.

    you understand?"

    "Do whatever you want. I''ll be back in a couple of hours," he turns to leave and stops in the middle of the shop before turning to look at me. "Try not to kill her, Perry. I let you get away with it once. It won''t be happening again. Yes?" "Yes," I agree. He clears his throat. "Yes, my King," "Good girl," he growls and storms out.

    "You made a mess," I turn around to face the wedding nner. "Clean this shit up. I''ll be over here," her nose res as she stares back at me with contempt. "And get me something to drink. The King got a little carried away in the back seat of car earlier," my

    take the moon chair I was sitting in and drag it away from the ss. I grab a few of the magazines she set out for me and take a seat.

    "What would you like to drink, mydy?" she asks angrily.

    "Something sweet. No coffee. No liquor. The King is particr about what I put in my body. Do you have a marker? Something I can write on this with,"

    "We don''t write in the magazines,"

    "There is no we. Get me what I want," I growl.

    Two other girlse out of the back and start cleaning up the mess while she leaves to get me a drink. One of themes over and offers me a ck marker.

    "Mydy," she says softly. She looks very young. Pretty tinum blonde hair. Her baby blue eyes are as beautiful as the sky itself.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Thank you, Sweetie," I smile at her. She bows politely and goes over to the other woman to help her clean up the ss.

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    09:58 Fri, Oct Chapter 57

    The King is digging his grave just as deep as mine with these gestures. I flip through a couple of the magazines and find nothing that catches my attention. I get up and walk around the shop looking at the dresses on disy. What the f** am I supposed to do here? I don''t know anything about weddings or dresses. I''ve never even worn something this- I don''t even know a word for it. "Here you go. Passion fruit and lemonade," Debora returns with a huge cup. "Take the first drink," I tell her.

    "What for?" What fon

    "Take the first drink, Debbie. A nice big one for me, Gorgeous," I growl. She stares at me for a moment and then sticks the straw through the lid and does as I ask.

    "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn''t need to poison you," she says offering it to me. I take it and drink out of the same straw.

    "I don''t know. You seem like a snake," I say and let out a heavy sigh. "I don''t know how to be a girl. Not like this," I point at the red dress in front of me. "I''m a huntress. Mated young. Expert in coding and tech building,"

    I

    "You were mated before now?" she asks softly.

    "Yeah,"

    "No wedding?"

    "Wolves only do that with their chosens,"

    "You lost your fated?" she whispers.

    "Help me choose something to the King''s standards. I could have let him walk, you know. But you seem to know what you''re doing. Let''s n this fake wedding and save your insanely absurd race,"

    "Do you have a preference?"

    "Nope. I do love the ck and gold though. And sparkles. I love sparkles,"

    "Look at

    She led

    She

    at that," she sneers. "There''s a girl in there after all. Follow me,"

    I me to the back

    area where the two of the girls hade from. I feel like I should probably be cautious but the worst thing they could do is kill me. The walls are lined with hundreds and hundreds of gowns and I can''t help but feel nervous. I''m supposed to choose one? How? They''re all so pretty.

    "Here is my collection of royal gowns," she says almost bitterly.

    "You made these?" I ask looking around. "All of them?"

    "All of them," she nods.

    "What do you care if I wear one of these ck and gold ones?" I ask as I sort through them.

    "I''ve designed thest three gowns of actual Queens of my race," she says tightly. "You are not one of them. You''re a sl****e,"

    "Mm," I nod. "Well, this **e is going to do what none of your other queens have been able to do. Not even the former. So, I don''t know. Maybe show a little more appreciation?"

    "Even if the King keeps you. You''ll always be this, wolf," she points at my arm. "Even if you produce a powerful heir. Even when you save us. You''ll never be more. You''ll never be less. Not that you can be less,"

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 Bait Novel 58

    "Never been much anyway," I shrug. "The difference now is that there''s a name for what I am. Can I try some of these on? See whatpliments my figure? Do you need to measure me?" "No, Calypso sent over your information," she sighs and points over to the dressing room. "I''ll bring some over," "You''re

    u''re a doll, Debbie," I go over to the chairs in front of the dressing room and start to remove my heels. Debora groans and starts flipping through her creations. I guess I have a little more respect for her. She created these things and they''re gorgeous. I mean whatever the price they seem worthy. She takes the first dress out of the protector, leaves it in the big closet space, waves me in. "Let me know if you need any help," she says and closes the curtains.

    and

    The dress is a

    I

    s a satin material over a whole lot of tule. The bottom has a simr design to the marks on my body and I immediately hate it. "No," I open the curtain and hold it out for her.

    "What displeases you?" she asks. I hold the skirt up and she looks up at me. "Right, it won''t happen again,"

    Debbie takes the dress, sets it down where I had been sitting, and brings the second one. This is also made of the same material as thest one. Except it has gold glitter on the edges of the skirt. A lot of glitter. Ites up toward the corset fading into ck. The corset is simple. ck satin with pretty golden ribbons to tie the back. I remove my dress and slip into this one.

    "My t***ts are too big for this one," I say. "It''ll look worse if we tighten it,"

    "Let me see. Perhaps you''re wearing the wrong bra," shees in.

    "I''m not wearing a bra,"ugh. She grins.

    "A bigger bust then,"

    "Yup

    866-84

    I nod. "Do you have a robe?"

    "I''ll get you one," she nods. She hands me a white satin robe and takes the dress when I open the curtain again.

    My heart stops when she brings in the next dress. It''s gorgeous. The ckcy skirt is big and it''s covered in gold flecks. Layer uponyers of ck and gold. Like stars. The top is a simplecy fabric with elegant gold swirls that cover the front and the two seethrough sleeves. There is no back. At the curve of the lower back is a huge ck bow. I must have stared at it for a long time because she clears her throat. "Sorry," ''I whisper. -"Try It c it on," she smiles and waves me inside.

    My heart pounds in my chest as I stare down at the dress. I slip it on and rage floods through me. I''m not sure at what. The fact that it fits perfectly. The fact that I''ve fallen in love with something as ridiculous as this. The fact that I''m enjoying something I''ve never considered before. Or maybe the fact that this isn''t real. The fact that my life is one big, cruel, sick joke. "Come out," his voice calls to me.

    "My King, it''s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding," Debora rushes out.

    "Is it?" he sighs. "As if we weren''t already cursed enough. All right Get dressed, Little Wolf. We have to go,"

    It

    take it off immediately and get back into my own clothes.

    "I can design the rest around your dress," she says when I step out to put my shoes back on.

    "Sure," I agree and take my drink from where I set it down.

    "Don''t worry, mydy," she says when I stand. "I won''t tell anyone there''s a princess in there after all,"

    "F***k you, Debora. You can suck my whole d***k," I flip her off and rush after the King. All I hear is herughter when I get to the front of the store where he''s walnut he said do whatever you want. I''m a dead little s***

    "What do you have there, Little Wolf?" he growls when he sees the cup in my hand. I swallow hard remembering I''m not supposed to let anyone else give me food. But

    "Umm, I forgot to give this back to Deb-" I jump when he ps it out of my hand. Juice, ice, and fruit chunks stter all over the shiny white floor. I look back to see the other Lycans staring at me in horror. Iugh and mouth the words I''m sorry when he grips my arm and pulls me along with him. T

    "Let''s go," he he growls.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Oh, sh***t. I ***t. I forgot. If you''re whipping me, may I suggest a paddle instead of a whip? For my sake? I don''t want you to f***k up the thing on my a*** cheek. It''s really nice and scarring it is no longer an option since I have to live with-" "Perry," he turns around gripping my shoulders to lift me. "Shut. The. ***k. Up," he growls. "You talk too f****g much,"

    I nod rapidly and he sets me down. He takes a deep breath to steady himself before he takes my hand and continues walking. I have to power walk to keep up with him as he takes us back to the car. He sits me in the car and buckles me in. I am not going to be able to sit and I not tell him I took precautions to make sure I wasn''t poisoned.

    here

    defense," I start. He visibly tenses up. "I made her drink out of it before I took one drink. I''m sorry," I cross my arms over my chest. "It''s a dumb rule anyway," "You don''t seem to grasp the danger you''re in being tied to me, Pernicious. Now we''re going straight home and you are going to be tested,"

    "In

    my de

    "Why did you say it like that? Did you n on doing something else?"

    "Yes, I did. You''ve been working every single day for the past month and a half. I was going to reward you, but now we''re going to spend the rest of our night in the clinic making sure no one f***k with your drink even if they didn''t," he growls. "Can we at least count that as my punishment?" I whisper.

    The sound that he makes in his chest tells me the answer is no. Now that I have thoroughly f**d up yet again. I am going to start taking his threats a lot more seriously. Lycan traditions are** *******e.

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 Bait Novel 59

    Chapter

    59

    As expected, there was nothing wrong with me. However, he did call Debora right after my blood work came back to tell her to never do something that s***id again. I bet he made her cry. I would have cried if I were still sensitive. He can be a d**k. Since Ally and Andromeda moved back to Ally''s pack with her parents after what happened with the marks, we don''t eat in the dining room anymore. I''ll have dinner in my study. I have a couple of hours before I have to get out. I''m standing on the shelf table thing, putting what''s left of my stuff on the top shelf. "You could fall through the window," the King saysing in without knocking. No one ever knocks. Maybe I don''t get that luxury as a s**e.

    "You had them bolted," I remind him. "Just like my balcony doors,"

    "You tried to jump," he says setting the tray down on the ss table.

    "You don''t know that. And if my wolf did try to do that, you should be ashamed of yourself for driving us there. She''s never done something that reckless and we''re not exactly stable," The words almost taste sour in my mouth once they''re out, but it''s toote to take them back now. I don''t think I want to. He tenses up when I jump down to reach for another box. "Be careful," he growls.

    "What can I do for you, my King?" I ask opening the box.

    It''s one of our old boxes. I thought these were wire andputer parts. That''s what it''sbeled. Sitting on top is the first purse I ever bought for myself with the money I earned after graduating from my hunting program. It''s a Ci***nam*demands my attention. *

    "What? No," I say picking it up to feel how soft it still is.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    I used to stash my guns in here when I got on the subway. I find myself missing who I was before Darren. Little Pernicious Nelson had the world figured out. Life would have been better had it paused right there. Everything had been so clear. Nothing was shrouded by the blood mist that''s overtaken my existence.

    "I asked if you wanted to have dinner downstairs," the king reminds me that he''s still here.

    "No, thanks," I shake my head.

    "You have two hours left," he says and excuses himself.

    I unzip the bag and reach inside to find the matching wallet and a fifty-dor bill. I''ve only evere across this one. Sot kept it. Figured that as long as I had it in my purse, I''d never be penniless. I check the side pocket and find a little ck velvet box. My heart starts to beat in my chest really fast as I stare down at it.

    "What the f***k is this?" I set the bag on the shelf and go around to sit at my desk. "You didn''t do that," I choke out. "You didn''t,"

    I open the box and I find a ring. Two hearts curving into one another to form a circle. Each heart is surrounded by tiny diamonds. In the center of the top heart is a pink gent and the center of the one under is ck. The metal around the pink is white gold and the one around the ck is yellow. I take it out to find our names engraved on the inside. I put it back and shut the box. I take it and put it in the armored suitcase and take the suitcase to the closet space and I shove it under the clothes. "Perry-"

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    "Is it too much to ask for you to ***g knock?" I don''t mean to scream at him the way I do, but I''m losing my mind and he startled me. Treacherous tears slide down my face making me feel that much more pathetic.

    "Hey, what''s wrong?" hees over to me.

    "Please, go away," I growl. "Go away,"

    "What happened?" he asks kneeling in front of me.

    He reaches for the suitcase and I stop him. He removes my hand from his and takes it out anyway. He knows exactly what I found as soon as he opens it and it rolls into the side. He looks up at me and then opens the little ck box. I s*** it from him, throw it into the case, and shut it. "Now leave," I growl.

    He stares at me for a moment and nods.

    "You should have dinner in your room," he says and takes the tray. "Come on,"

    I follow him to my room and immediately regret letting him lead me out of the room so easily.

    "Don''t take it," I say when he turns to leave.

    .

    "It''s not healthy for you to be looking at those things, Perry," my heart ***s when he says that. "I''m sorry, Little Wolf. I promise to return it when it''s time," "Time for what?"

    "Time for you to go home," he says and closes the door behind him.

 Bait Novel 60

    Chapter

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    60

    The next few days go by in a blur. I don''t know what to do with that information. I can''t stop thinking about the ring. How perfect it was. Pink had been my favorite color once upon a time. I had turned my hair crispy trying to get it cotton candy pink. It was so bad it was stringy and stretchy every time I wet it. But it hadn''t mattered because it was ***ing pink. Darren was so mad when I cut it to the center of my back to fix it and then he forbade me from ever bleaching it again.

    Tulips is everything I thought she would be. I watch as her hands work over the keyboard faster than the other candidates. There are fourteen and only six are working out. I actually expected less. Four, maybe five of ten. These things are brilliant, but when you''re part of one of the most powerful races in existence, you get arrogant. Arrogance often leads toziness. And that''s what the rest of them are. Theyck the motivation to be better. "I have something for you," I stand by her desk. "An apology for how I reacted when we first met,"

    "You don''t have to. You''re not all there. I get it," she rolls her eyes!

    "Take the f*****g apology," I re at her and she smiles. I ce the bag and the wallet on the table between us. Her eyes go wide.

    "This is a twenty-fifteen special edition C*****on Roll messenger bag," she screeches holding the bag up like it''s the greatest thing in the world. "They don''t make these anymore. You''re giving it to me?"

    "Yes," I take a step back rmed by her reaction. Everyone turns to look at us. "I didn''t think it was valuable. I paid like twenty-eight bucks for it. I used it to hide my gun-"

    "You used this out on patrol?" she screams. I put my hand up trying to stop her from jumping on me.

    "No, no," I try to dodge her but she''s bigger and a whole lot stronger than I am. She buries her hands in my hair and massages my head.

    "You''re such a good girl," she screeches again and I can''t even stop her or be mad because that feels amazing. My knees hit the floor as she continues to squeeze her fingers on my scalp before she spins around and grabs the bag and the wallet before running off with them.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "You weren''t excused," I shout after her and just lets out a manic giggle on her way out of the dome.

    "She leveled you with scratchies," Ssughs and helps me up. "I''d tell the king, but he might kill her for putting her hands on you. She''s the best coder we''ve got,"

    "That''s not a word and it''s best not to. I can''t believe she reacted like that," I dust my knees and try to fix

    my

    hair

    "Those two are just as spoiled and entitled as Annie. They lost their mom young and their dad gives them whatever they want. I believe they''re your age. That''s probably how your life would have been if your life hadn''t sucked, "And they''re friends with Andromeda?" I ask, choosing to ignore the rest of that to prevent violence.

    "Yeah, Andromeda might be young but she''s very smart and very well-connected. Being her friend is a great honor. That girl doesn''t befriend just anyone. She''s cute, but has the same personality her brother does,"

    "Ugh," I groan reviewing Tulips''s work. It''s wless. She gave me exactly what I wanted. "We only have six candidates,"

    "I saw that. I can reach out to the packs to find four more,"

    "Not yet, I shake my head. "We keep this here for now. I still have to finish making theptops,"

    "Of course," he nods. "Fix your hair,"

    "Hmm?"

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    "The King is here. Your hair, he whispers. I run my fingers through my hair quickly and save Tulips''s work.

    "Perry. Gather your things. We''re leaving," the King calls out from the doorway.

    "These are the six," I write the names of the candidates for Ss and grab my phone from the charging pad. I stop in front of the King and I point up to the tform to ask if I have time to go up to get my bag. "Is it important?" he asks.

    "My purse," I take a step back to prepare to run up. He whistles and someone appears with my purse and my portfolio bag. "Oh, thanks,"

    "Mydy," the gentleman bows when I reach for them.

    "Let''s go," the King says taking them in one hand before I can take them and grips my forearm with his other hand. "You just love making me wait,"

 Bait Novel 61

    Chapter

    1968

    61

    No one in town is allowed to sell me any food, but I can go to the book store, tech store, and art stores. There''s more than one. I spend a lot of time in all of them when I''m not in the dome. The old folksy buildings are super cute and since killing the artist and attacking the King, no one bothers me anymore. They still treat me like a pet, but no one is actively trying to kill me.

    call t

    that progress and an opportunity to show off the purses Alpha Calypso sent me. This ck one with little tiny locks on it is my favorite. She''s been outdoing herself since she heard that I fell in love with the dress Debora made. "Do I have to change?" I ask because I''ve been in the dome all day teaching the Lycans how real coding is done.

    "No, you look good like this," he says ncing down at me.

    I look down at my fitted ck skinny jeans and matching vest over my checkered button-down. I shrug knowing that we''re probably not going too far. A ck Jeep diator is waiting for us when we leave the castle. He lifts me up into the seat and buckles me in as always. I nce back into the back seat to see some of my gun cases. "Where are we going?" I ask. Four more trucks pull up behind us. Did he get guards after thest time I made a big deal out of it? Nice. Good for him.

    "You need a passport and I can''t have anyone outside of the vigee here to get you one," he says

    "I have one."

    I have one,

    "Is it up to date?" he pauses looking over at me.

    "Passports expire?" I didn''t know that.

    "Yes,

    Perry.

    When was thest time you used it?"

    "Darren was still alive," after thest one, I hadn''t gotten a call from the old man.

    "You

    need

    "He didn''t take me anywhere. I went to Thand to recruit a couple of guys the Old Man needed on his side to expand that, way. You ever been?" when did you go to Thand?"

    Yes,

    "Winter twenty-fifteen,"

    "You blew up the abandoned theater in Bangkok," heughs. I tense and turn to look at him.

    "How did you know that?"

    "The locals were talking about an American b***h chasing down these two rogues who were wanted by their secret service pack wolves,"

    "Oh, yeah. That was me," 1ugh. "You were there?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "Yes, it was right before I went home after London. My grandfather lives there. He has a treaty with the six alphas there. They wanted us to hunt you down,"

    "Ha. You wouldn''t have been able to catch me. I was fourteen. Hadn''t shifted yet and was the best at sneaking into ces no one else could. I still had a mortal scent-and you know they all smell the same,"

    "They had you out on the field before you shifted?" 08:24 Fri, Oct 18

    I was doing worse things in the city. The Old Man forced Alpha Adrian to let me into the hunting academy when I was thirteen,

    "And Darren allowed this?"

    "He was only a couple of months older than me and he was mad that he wasn''t the one chosen to go into the hunting academy. We didn''t know we were mates and he didn''t tell me until I shifted. You always manage to get little bits of information out of me. Why don''t you tell me something about you? What were you like before your mate?"

    "I

    I will if you tell me how you got the scars on your body," he counters without missing a beat.

    If

    "Why is that important to you?" I scoff. From day one.

    "Something big tried to kill you, Perry. And you survived. I''d like to know what it was,"

    "A gorgon," my hands shoot out in front of me when he hits the brakes hard. "You f**** drama queen. What the f***k?"

    "You were attacked by a gorgon and you''re sitting there alive, fleshy, as if nothing happened," he growls. "No one survives a f**** my chest where the seatbelt locked and crushed into my skin,

    "Sir,

    someone knocks on th**e ss.

    "F***k off, Billy. I''m talking to my wolf," he growls. He nods and steps away from the car. "How?" How did I survive?"

    "Yes,"

    Yes,

    "I didn''t intend to. She showed up in the sewage system in downtown. No one wanted to go down there. Six blocks were closed off and evacuated. The city was cramped enough as it is and crimes started going up. "I wore reflective sses to protect myself from her eyes. She was young and hungry. I had just turned twenty. Darren had been dead for a whole year and Mackenzie left us. No trace of her. Jacob was in rehab after he ODed and I was angry. I didn''t want to make it, but 1 also didn''t want to leave that thing down there. She was luring kids to their deaths.

    "The scratch on my back kept me from shifting. I never intended to. I gave her clean openings to kill me and she took them When her ws went through my chest. I ripped her throat out closed my eyes and waited to bleed out. But I woke up in the hospital the next day. Calvin had followed me down there and he took credit for it. Told everyone I was the one that brought it into the city," "Why did he save your life?"

    "I don''t know, Lycan King. But it wasn''t the first or only time he did it. He''dugh at me every time I woke up in that hospital. If I ever catch him with my bare hands, he''s going to feel the wrath of four or five alphas crush his entire f***g body before I finally kill him,"

 Bait Novel 62

    §±

    "It sounds like you had a lot of fun before you were mated," he says turning on his signal light to show the others we''ll be moving again.

    "Hell yeah. After to. A lot more when it was over. What about you?"

    There''s a reason why all the women in my home want to kill you," he sighs.

    "It doesn''t surprise me that you were a f***k boy. You''re a prince. I know the Alpha King, remember?"

    Not to mention the way he f***ks. He clearly knows what he''s doing from experience. I thought I was going to struggle to keep up with him but he loves taking over just like everything else in our lives.

    "I was arrogant. I had the world at the tips of my ws, Whatever I wanted, I didn''t even have to ask. It was why my dad sent me to Ennd. I loved it there. It was the challenge I had been looking for. No one treated me like the Lycan Prince. We were equal and growing together. I was done when James called and told me he wanted my blessing for him to fully mate his wife. They had gotten together shortly after I left. I believe they met in Nova," "Where all the rich-rich people go, 1ugh. He grins. after her.

    "Yes, she was undergoing the new Luna program there. Anyway, I went to see my grandfather before I headed back. He said a little American girl was stirring up some trouble and that he needed someone to watch his pack so he could He''s never lived it down, you know. You slipping through his fingers,"

    Tell him he wouldn''t be the first to miss me," I shrug.

    "He''s going to be at the wedding and he''s going to be even more mad to know that you were still mortal,"

    "Do you miss Ennd?"

    0

    "All the time. Sometimes I wish I never left. I wish I would have let him keep her. I should have turned around and gone back the moment he asked me to reject her. Evangeline was my mate, but she was a stranger. I didn''t know anything about her. I regretted putting that mark on her almost instantly.

    "She loved him, but the bond between us was really strong. The more I tried to pull away, the harder it pulled me back. She was the one who put that scar on Debora''s face. Deb owned a shop in town. She moved to the new location after,"

    "You are an absolute a***e." I scoff. "No wonder she was all crazy when we got there,"

    "Yes," he grins. "You''re the only person who thinks I''m nice,"

    "Well, considering all the people I''ve known before you. You are. It doesn''t change the fact that you''re an a** No one is that perfect,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "You make Darren seem perfect."

    "He wasn''t. There is no doubt in my mind that he loved me. I felt it every day. Even before we were mated. He always treated me like an equal. What that means is that he treated me like someone worthy topete with him. He broke a lot of my bones growing up. I broke a lot of his. I used to wake up in the middle of the night afraid that he was going toe into the room I shared with Morgan to f***g kill me over all the dumb s**t I said and did to him.

    Things changed when he shifted. He stoppeding around. He stopped calling me trash bag. He tried to apologize for everything he''d put me through and it made me angry at him. After, I understood what he was trying to do. But I didn''t hold him ountable because I was there too. I did a bunch of dumb s***t to him as well. It wouldn''t be fair "I didn''t expect him to turn into everything I didn''t know I needed. We stopped fighting each other and it felt like nothing could stop us. Maybe you weren''t ready to meet her. Your life was perfect without her in it and you resented her when she 1/2 Chapter 62

    showed up. Even when we were mated, he''d get mad at me for being better at***t than him. Darren and I grew up together in a ce that might as well be a prison. I wanted things my way and he wanted things his. But the goal was the same. We needed each other. You seem to do fine on your own."

    "Your stone was pink," he says after a while.

    "Pink was my favorite color. I used to be kind of girly. Morgan has a lot of female family members and more than half were strippers,"

    "Oh, that exins a lot actually, heughs. "What?"

    "The shoes, the guns, your style. You were raised by strippers,"

    "F****k you, Lycan King. You were raised with a golden spoon in your mouth and you''re just as f***d as I am. Proof that we''re all just flesh and blood. At least, my story has strippers and romance," we bothugh. "Why are you prying?" "I''m not. You''re just the only person I know how to talk to," he sighs. "Go in the back and put on the protective gear. I still have to keep you alive until after the ceremony, Perry."

 Bait Novel 63

    There is an army of Lycans with weapons waiting for us at the-I''m not sure what this ce is. I got my passport in the post office the first time. I''m wearing a vest and as we get out of the car, the King has me pressed up against his side with his hand over my head pressing me down to protect me with his body. There are two guards in front of us, two on both sides, and two behind us. "Is this necessary?" I ask.

    "Yes, this is where the third one died," he says.

    Just as we get close to the steps to go into the building. A s***er shot echoes in the distance and one of the guards to my left smacks against the King''s side.

    "Get them inside, someone shouts

    Another shot is fired and another guard goes down. We''re taken into the building There are other Lycans inside. The words Lycan Embassy are spelled in big gold letters at the top of the marble ceiling.

    "Hurry up," the King pushes me toward two men,

    "Do you have your documentation, mydy?" one asks.

    "Yes, and I my old fect. You''re in the

    Perfect.

    It takes

    nim a

    old passport already," he says and takes my things when I hold them up for him. "It''ll go faster,"

    a couple of minutes to bring up my things and then my vest is removed and a woman fixes my hair and makeup before my picture is taken. I''m impressed that they gave me my renewed card right away. What the f***k is the rest of the world doing? I waited 9- 25 business days to receive my first one "Sir, it''ll be difficult to sneak her out of here, Jordan, my personal guard looks back at me worriedly.

    "I can shift," I tell them. They all look back at me. "The car is bulletproof. Even with the rifle he''s using now, it''ll take a couple of shots in the same spot to get through. Open the back lower the seats and I''ll get in there in seconds. It won''t be easy for him to get a clear shot," "T wouldn''t risk i it, my King," Jordan disagrees.

    "We don''t have another choice," he sighs, "Where''s the G-Wagon

    "Up

    front beside the Jeep, sir,"

    "Prepare it," he nods. Jordan looks over at me worriedly and sigh

    "Straight to the car. You jump into the crowd and stay low. Got it he growls.

    "Yes," I nod. He storms out.

    IW

    I watch him start to give orders. The other Lycans crowd the front of the building leading to the cars. I stretch and start removing my clothes. The King takes them from me before I throw them on the ground. Shifting hurts right now and takes a bit longer because I''m out of practice. I hadn''t shifted in a couple of weeks before I ended up in the King''s castle and I didn''t have time before he cored me. It feels good to let her out.

    Crystal lowers her body stretching her front legs and shoulders. Her spine pops into ce as she arches back, stretches her hind legs one at a time, and shakes out her fur, Thezy b****h sit and lets out a loud yawn and thenzily tilts her head to look at the King In this form, we''re the same height.

    17/3

    08-25

    17/3 08-25 Fri, Oct Chapter 681

    The King smiles at her holding his hand out, but she rejects it and stands to move around him, sniffing and scenting his clothes with her head. Iugh when she stops at his c****h and Eks the front of his cks making him jump back to cover himself

    "Not nice," he growls at her and she growls back at him just as patronizingly.

    He holds his hand out again and this time she presses her snout against his palm. can pet her now. I inform him.

    wake in there?" he asks.

    -It was a choice to let her out. I rarely do it because she can be kind of an a***.-

    "You''re very beautiful, Crystal," he tells her. She grunts agreeing with him and stands to parade herself to him. Heughs running his fingers through her fur and she''s living for it.

    -Enough I pull her away. He sighs but doesn''t say anything against my decision.

    Is there significance in the colors?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    No, my

    father''s w

    ''swolf was ck. My mother''s was white. I like to think that it''s abination of the two-

    "Pretty," he says quietly. Tve only seen solid-colored wolves,

    -Oh, that means they''re from the same pack Multi-colored wolvese from mates that didn''t grow up in the same areas. My mother is from Red Wood. My father was from Lockwood City. Those wolves are ck -

    "So, it matters who you''re aligned to?"

    -Yes.-

    You''re children would have been white?"

    you

    -No, Darren''s wolf was ck. So is Jake''s. We never swore alliance to the alphas. We always knew we were going to remove them before they named us their betas. We were just waiting on Nate to get his head out of his a***. He''s from Gorgon. Those alphas are rted to the Lockwoods. They''re also ck.-

    "That''s interesting," he says. Grystal growls when Jordanes back inside. He stops, putting his hands up as she steps to him. "You better not, the King growls at her. She nces back at him and grunts. She leans in to sniff Jordan and then sits to await further instructions. "This is where you get your insubordination from then,"

    -Feral wolves only follow the orders of those they deem stronger than them.- "She''s feral?"

    -Normal betas don''t bite like her. She hasn''t hit the danger zone, but she''s getting there.-

    "You

    could

    You cou I have told me sooner,"

    -You never asked.-

    Jordan?

    "We''re ready, my King, he answers without taking his eyes off my wolf.

    "I''ll wait for you in the car, Little Wolf. We can go for a run when we get home," he pats her head. She leans into him letting out an excited little yip and wags her tail. "That''s it. Good girl," 08:25 Fri, Oct 18

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    68

    The King disappears and we''re left alone with Jordan. I picture what we have to do for her and she stands kicking her legs. out. She stares back at him and as soon as he and one of the attendees open the ss doors she dives into the crowd of waiting Lycans, A shot is fired as we crawl through his people. The back of the G-Wagon is opened and I jump in. The door is mmed shut and the guard that had been waiting for me to get in hits the gliss with blooding out of his mouth. The King hits the gas and the crowd of Lycans disperse. Two shots hit the side windows before we could get on the road again

    "Are you hit?" the King shouts.

    -No-1 answer immediately scanning the other Lycans. There are several bodies on the ground. He did that. He killed

    them.-

    Yeah." he growls.

    -And people still want him to be king?-

    "Yeah, he sighs heavily.

    s me control. I shift back and stay like this until we''re in the darkness of the garage. He Crystal lets out a low whine and gives parks away from all the other cars and sits there for a while. His need to protect me makes more and more sense every we leave the castle. time

    V

    Every time something happens when he takes his eyes off me. Fear and grief run hand in hand like that and I get it. That''s one of the reasons why I am the way I am. Being a monumental s***t keeps anyone from getting too close. This fear doesn''t nip, it consumes. "What are you doing?" he asks when I crawl onto hisp over the center console. I just need a minute,"

    I

    "If I need to feel better after that, so do you," I say unbuttoning his shirt to reveal my mark on his chest. "This is thest time I will ever trust you with her. Break her again and I''ll let her do it. I will open up everything to you and let her kill me while we''re fully connected. Do you understand?" "Yes," he nods.

    -Focus on this.- I say in his head. -Zero in on how it feels when I touch it. How it feels when I invade your head.

    "F***K,"

    he groans when I let go of the barriers I put up. I lean into him licking my mark on his chest and I feel his bady tremble. -Try t to show me how you feel through the bond. Say what you want to me this way. Connect with me. Let me see allof you This feels very personal.- he hesitates,

    he

    -Because it is - 1 kiss my way up his neck and press my lips to his His hands grip onto my bare a**-All of it, Jonas.- flinches when I call him by his name. I deepen the kiss and feel when he lets go. That''s it. I reach for cks and pull his c****k out. It''s not hard yet so I tuck him between my legs and rock my hips. -Focus on me. Just me.-

    He gives in and goes straight for his mark. I let him touch me how he pleases and he doesn''t disappoint. Elis internal anguish is more than mine. But it has nothing to do with his mate and everything to do with his brother.

    Guilt, betrayal, and pain. The grief of losing his father and his daughter. He loved his mate, but if she had wanted to leave him for James he would have let her go. That''s how much James had meant to him. The same as Andromeda

    1/3

    08.2

    All those emotions are suppressed by his duty to his people. Loyalty like this is rare. 68%

    68%

    His beliefs run deep in the very essence of the monster he is. I didn''t want to let him in like this, but I need him to see the reason why I can''t stay. I want him to know that I''ll never be able to love him the way he wants because my heart never belonged to me. The person who took it never had any intention of giving it back.

    When he lowers me onto his d***k I feel how good it feels through our connection. He groans feeling how much I enjoy him f***g me and how wrong it feels that he''s not my mate. It''s thrilling and while it''s happening I almost feel liberated. It''s why I never say no. F***g overwhelms everything else. Just like killing. It''s probably why they''re both considered sins.

    There''s no better feeling than this or the hot blood of an enemy drenching my skin as I take their life as my own. It''s the only way to find peace anymore. I build us both up ying the sounds of that rifle taking out his guards one by one. The

    my neck. look the

    thest guard gave me just before he hit the ss. We both explode in sync and he bites into the mark on Get in the back.- he growls pushing me away. I crawl back the way I came from and he''s on me removing his clothes before I can even turn around. this. Iugh.

    -I take it, you like this. I

    He growls in in my ear pushing back inside of me from behind. He lifts my hips enough for me to bend my knees. I press my body to the folded seats as he slowly f**ks me from behind. One hand pulling my hair back the other pressing down on my Tower back. 1 jump when the seat next to o me clicks into ce. He pulls me up and turns me around to push me into the chair before pushing the other side up. He kneels on the floor and pulls me to him, pushing my legs up to my shoulders before entering me again. 1 shut my eyes not wanting to see him like this, but the a**le wraps his hand around my throat tightly.

    -Look at me.- he demands.

    The voices in the back of his head scare me. The sound of his brother screaming you did this. Ites in different echoes. His father. His mother. His little sister. His mate. I open my eyes to see that they''re ck, the pretty purple shade is glowing He''s watching himself me. Marveling over the marks he''s forcing me to o bear.

    My eyes fill with tears because James wasn''t wrong. In a different life, we would have been perfect together. We would have burned the world to nothing simply because we could. I see myself reflected in his eyes and nothing else because there is nothing else inside of me, but him. His emptiness is mangled with mine. Both suffer for what we lost. Not just our mates, but the people we had been before them.

    I don''t know how long we''ve been in here. Long enough to make a gross f***g mess. The ss is foggy. I''m sitting on top of him with his d****k inside of me to the hilt while I rest my head on his shoulder and he traces the marks on my left side.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "I should get you fed, Little Wolf. Get you to bed. It''s veryte," he whispers.

    "I don''t want to move," my voicees out cracked from all the screaming.

    "I''ll carry you," he kisses his mark.

    We both groan when he lifts me off him andys me next to him. He gets dressed and puts his shirt on me before putting me over his shoulder. His hand is over my a***so no one sees me He leaves the doors open and just takes me up to his room. Without setting me down he runs a bath and puts a bunch of stuff in it. When it''s filled enough he sets me down in the hot water and turns on the jets. "Stay. I''ll be back with your food in a bit," he pushes my hair away from my face.

    "Sure."

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    Chapter

    65

    The tension in my body is gone. My wolf is lurking somewhere in me satiated after being denied physical contact for years. I''m very sore between my legs. Almost as bad as the first time this happened and he triggered my heat and his rut. As s I sit here watching the bath bombs bubble and turn the water ck, Iugh at myself for sympathizing with this thing. For disrespecting him, my wolf, my mate, and myself all because I felt bad for him. Because I recognized a piece of my former self in today''s disaster. For the first time since we started f****g, it was just the two of us. There wasn''t a single thing between us. "You''re addicted to my emotions because you''ve blocked yours from yourself and everyone around you," I say when he walks in with our food. "I just feel numb without yours."

    "Yours are there too, I ce my hand on my chest as I move to the other side to be closer to him. "You''ve only been feeding your fear. It''s probably all you want to feel so you can protect the things you care about better. That''s not how it works," "It''s been working out for me just fine," he removes his clothes and gets into the tub with me as I reach for a slice of fresh honeydew melon. I turn around and hold out the other half. He akes it out of my hand with his mouth, I''m not dead because your brother knows I''m affecting you. He''s not wrong. He wants us closer so it hurts more when the connection is broken. Today he used a Ruger. His shots were perfect. Had he had more than one shooter, he would have hit me. Was there more than one shooter thest time?"

    "Yes, four of them. Two long-range and the two who came into the building and killed everyone but Jordan, Ss, and me,"

    "Something is shifting in your favor. His friends are bailing. He came here to shake you after trying to take me. That was always his n. To remove the cor. Make you doubt me when I tried to run. He''s good at this but not good enough. At least not where I''m concerned. You need to pull in any of the women you slept with and moved away." "Why?"

    "He''s going to start killing them," "How do you figure?*

    "When I first started messing with Morgan and Calvin. I killed his ex. Put her head on a pike in front of the packhouse along with the rogues that killed Darren. Crystal had just started going feral and I gave in to her. It''s a pattern.

    I

    "I tried to negotiate with Morgan at first. I was still recovering. Crystal had gone dormant in me for months after I was released from the hospital. Tried to warn her that even if she stood in my way, I''d go through her. She thought I was kidding.

    "When Crystal woke up again. I felt powerful. Like nothing could stand in my way. I rejoined the academy and I started hunting right away. Those who were our friends followed and they saw that I didn''t want them with me when I let some of them die. I started burning bridges. That''s at''s the state he''s in now. What''s changed since I came here?"

    "The board stopped threatening to sell their shares. More are in support of Lycan Tech and the projects you''re funding."

    "We''re, I correct him.

    We''re funding. The stock has increased even with the amount he''s taking. We''re profiting." "And the council?" outside or hold

    "We have an official date for our wedding. There are pictures of us all over the media. Every time we argue hands. Every time we leave the castle together. Someone snaps a picture. There are pictures of movie night. Reviews on your cor. Your car. All of it. The people see the difference between you and the other she-wolves,"

    14

    08.25 Fri, Oct 18

    08.4

    "He''s losing ground. That''s why he''s attacking us directly now. Weak," "Weak?"

    868%

    "He''s weak. There are plenty of things he can use against you politically to turn the people in his favor. To turn the other Kings against you. S***ry and everything thates with it. How you let those other she wolves die. You being a f****k boy even after meeting your mate. Your disregard for several traditions. The way you handled your mating. All these things can be used to make you seem lesser. He''s weak because he has all this ammunition and he doesn''t know what to do with it," "Maybe he doesn''t want to,"

    Ir he

    he loved her as much as you think he did. He does want to. Hising here to speak his piece tells us he''s losing control of the situation. The council is using him. They have been all along but he''s catching on now. He has nowhere to go. Someone here is feeding him information," "I already knew that,"

    "The girl who attacked me the first time. Who are her parents?"

    "She''s

    ''s Octavio''s little sister. He''s one of S*****s personal guards. He''s been with us for a while,"

    "Does he

    have ess to your schedule?"

    "Yeah, he has ess to *****s and Jordan''s as well,"

    Watch him. Anyone else?"

    The twins are-"

    "The twins are what?"

    "TheyThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "That w

    dated James when they were younger,"

    I have been useful information before I told them about the f***g secret chip I''m building for you, Lycan King. How old is James?"

    "He''s twenty-six,"

    "And their father let him date them?"

    "Remember how I said some females are ready to go once they shift. They''re like that and since there are two of them. They share." "What?" Iugh. He smirks. "Okay. Gross but also d***n. Why did they break up?"

    "He got into Nova University. They were heartbroken. He was their first,"

    "Have they dated I anyone since then?"

    "Yes, they''re with Jordan. Jordan isn''t a big fan of James. He''s their mate,"

    "That makes me feel better. We also have to consider your sister,

    "What? No," he shakes his head.

    "She loves him just as much as you do. She''s

    Im not easy to manipte,"

    sy

    to manipte Kind of like you,"

    Chapter

    65

    "These pretty gold marks say otherwise, Lycan King. Have you been keeping track of him?"

    Yes, he

    Leesn''t stop in one ce,"

    "Let''s see."

    "Our phones are charging in my room, he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Why do I feel so calm?" "Because

    Dec we f***d all our frustrations out. That''s a perk of the bond. To keep us both grounded even when things are as hectic as they are now," 1 take a slice of meat off the tray. He reaches for me and makes me sit with my back to his chest, between his legs. "How far along were you when it happened?" he whispers in my ear and I stop chewing. You saw that, huh?"

    "I saw a lot," he says against his mark.

    "Four months. We were waiting until Jake''s birthday to tell him. Two days before Darren was killed," I toss the food back onto the tray. "Don''t tell him. Morgan and Mackenzie were the only other two people who knew,"

    "It''s the reason why your wolf went dormant and woke up feral,

    "I know that. I''ve known exactly what''s wrong with me from the start. I know why I can''t stop. Why I don''t allow myself to change my mind. You know it wasn''t your fault, Jonas. You were meant to stop that mating.

    For whatever reason. Her fate might have been more cruel at his side. Fate likes to y games like that. It might have been you who went feral watching your brother destroy what was meant for you. If you had been truly lost. Your people would be suffering now. Your family would be gone and the other Kings would be fighting over the scraps left behind. "You''re not dead inside just yet, sweet prince. You''re just heartbroken,"

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    66

    I nce away from my monitors when I hear giggling, Jordan has Bunny Girl pinned against the walkway shelf and is whispering Mother Moon knows what into her car. Her face is bright red. I shake my head and go back to the five monitors in front of me. I look down at the finishedponent in my hand and smile. At the very least, Jordan and I aren''t miserable this fine afternoon. -I''ve finished it.-

    -Don''t upload it without me.- the King sends back immediately

    -Where are you?-All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    -Headed back now. I had a private meeting with my mom and Nate.-

    -How is he doing?- there''s a long pause. You there?-

    -He''s fine. his tone makes meugh.

    "What are youughing at, Crazy?" I look back to see Bunny Girl leaning against the desk where Jordan watches videos of Lillies reviewing or rather s***t-talking famous PC setups.

    "The King''s possessiveness is wild," I shrug. "What do you want?"

    "Am I invited to your wedding?" she crosses her arms over her chest.

    "Do you want to be?

    "Yes," she nods. "Jordan is going."

    "I''ll try to get him out of it,"

    "No, why?" she immediately bes defensive. I re at him for telling her.

    "No, I don''t want you there or him. The fewer people the better say trying to wave her off.

    "Look.

    emo girl. I am tired of trying to be your friend. I hate that you-" I cover her mouth. Jordan stands with a warning vibrating in his throat. Not the button I wanted to press. He''s been a great bodyguard,

    I

    "A lot of people are going die there, Bunny. If this were my real wedding. You''d probably be my maid of honor. I don''t have a lot of friends. And I would have let you put little C**on Roll heads in the flowers. But this isn''t my wedding and the King forbade me from picking out any / other colors than the ones he chose, I might not evene back from that I let her go Jordan sits down but doesn''t take is eyes off us. She calms down and gives me a sympathetic look. "But you''re like Bionic Good Girl. There''s no way you get taken out by something thatme," her tone softens and her expression makes me want to kick myself. She''s so offputtingly sweet. "Bionic Good Girl?" Blonic Good

    "Yeah, like you pass all the rules of being bionic," she shrugs. "You''re hot, smart, a hunter, and like you got some kind of crazy hypnotic ***it going on. Everyone loves you. Not even the King is immune," "Move," a low growles from behind me.

    *Ronic Good Girl. That''s worse than the Local L***c," Iugh choosing to ignore the rapidly approaching King-

    "Local L***ic was fire. You''d think you wouldn''t ever recover from that. Like there was noing back, but here you are. Breaking the barriers. All B.G.G. and ****t. Laters, Perry. Please, let me be the first to y with that when it''s done," she points 08:25 Fri, Oct 18

    Chapter

    66

    at theputer and thenes in for a hug. I almost shove her when she says. "Air hugs. Bye. Your grace,

    2.08% 2.68%

    Bye

    ''he says ring at her. Jordan takes her hand and leads her out. The King and I both huff. "I almost killed her."

    "My soul left my body for a second. Just like when your sister made you p your face, I try to steady my heart because it''s hit full-on adrenaline with nowhere to go. I think I almost had a heart attack," "That''s what it feels like when you disobey me," he says and sits in my chair. "Let''s see it,"

    "If this doesn''t work, everything connected to my pirs will fry I point at the pirs holding the tform and hold up the little chip

    t you''ve been making with the cksmith?" he grins holding it up. "It''s a very elegant design, Pernicious,"

    This is what

    don''t hate them,"

    as a marker," I hold my arm up.

    "Thank you. I used this as

    "All I hear is that you don''t hate

    "I hate them, but it doesn''t change the fact that they''re pretty," I take it from him and slide the chip into the drive. "Ready!"

    "Should we evacuate the room?"

    "Nah, it''ll be funny to scare the f****k out of them if I fail. It''ll hurt less," I wave him off. Heughs as I set up the program. Ss clears his throat behind us. "I mean it''s not going to fail No need

    "F**k off,

    off, Little wolf, Ss rolls his eyes at me.

    "All right. Who wants to hit Y?" I ask.

    "You have to hit Y, the two of them say in unison.

    "That way if someone gets hurt, we can me you," Ss adds.

    "All right, you son of a b***h," I whisper to myself thinking of the day I told Darren and he told me I was dumb. "Here''s to that Wraith s**t is just a legend,"

    Thit Y

    and the screens all turn ck. I look back at the towers to see them all struggling to keep up. I look down at the table and activate the dry ice sequence I originally added to keep my drinks cold. The little downloading bares up and 1 squeak because it''s never done that before. Theputer usually goes up in smoke. But not this time.

    Si**s gasp scares me when the little digital blue liquid starts filling the bar.

    "What the f***k is that Perry?" the King stands up shaking his hands out.. "Anticipation," Ss whispers.

    dan says.

    "Anxiety," Jordan says.

    "Wrong. All of you. The void is calling. Iugh nervously and then it happens. "Downloadplete," I say turning the cooling system off. I hit the eject button and take the chip out. It''s smoking, but it''s not damaged. "Good Mother Moon. We did it,"

 Bait Novel 67

    Chapter

    67

    "You did it," the King repeats. I take it with me to get to the main motherboard. "Wait, you''re going to test it? Here? Right now?" Ss all but panies.

    "Duh.

    Dun,

    "What about theptops?"

    "This is myptop."

    This is our entire business setup and collective pack census. If this leaves us vulnerable we''re f***, he growls. "Nothing I''ve ever made left anything vulnerable. I control it from here. Who''s going to let anyone in?" I ask "You control it," he points at me usingly. "Not us. You. You can let the wolves in. My King

    He looks over at the King as if he were asking him to do something about me. I turn to the King and shrug. The decision is his to make. I''m not taking offense to his outburst. Ss isn''t wrong. I just don''t care to do what he''s implying. Old me wouldn''t have hesitated. I also wouldn''t want to upset the big guy any more than I already have without provocation. He stares back at me without saying a word for a long while. "Put the chip in," he orders.

    My King, Ss growls. "It was bad enough that we let her build here,"

    "That was an order, Pernicious," he keeps his eyes on me.

    "Are you sure? I don''t want to turn this into a headacheter. We''ve been chill this past couple of days and I am in a great mood, right now. This isn''t hurting my feelings or anything. He has a point," we stare at one another for an ufortable amount of time. "Perry," he growls standing straighter. I almost jumped out of my skin.

    "Yeah?" I step back with my hands up.

    "Shut the f****k up and plug that in," he demands threateningly.

    "Yes, sir," I spin around to do as he asks. Ss lets out a heavy sigh as I swap the chips. I close my eyes and pustrit into ce.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    The entire thing flickers and I turn back to my desk. I go over to it to find the bar is asking for a system reboot I look over at the King and he gives me a nod. I hit enter and everything starts to shut down. The lights all turn off and thene back on. I quickly write what to say to the King so he can set it up. That way Ss stops being a **b*h. "System updateplete. Hello, my name is the 1. Squared. I am your personal Al, assistant. Would you like to begin your primary user profile?" the voice echoes in the room from every speaker.

    the King answers.

    "Excellent. Before we begin, repeat some phrases so I can store your voice recognition profile," she begins to say words and phrases for him to repeat. He goes back to my desk to set it up. Once she locates where he is, all the other speakers turn off. "Is that your voice?" Ss asks.

    "Yeah, Darren said 1 already did everything for him. Might as well. I shrug.

    1/3 Chapter

    67

    I''m sorry, but I stand by what I said, he tucks his arms behind his back with his chin held high. Ss wouldn''t have been a terrible friend growing up. In fact, he might have kept me out of trouble. I love that he saw something that didn''t seem right and didn''t hold back to make himself heard. "It''s cool. I still think you''re the traitor, I say loud enough for everyone to hear. His nose res but one person flinches. **** head tilts and his smile falters. "Oh, s***t. That actually worked," I whisper trying not tough. "Who is that?" That''s my girlfriend''s brother," he whispers.

    Oh,

    I take a step back. Tm sorry,"

    "That wasn''t t on you, Little Wolf. That was all me, he cranks his neck popping it loudly.

    "I could be wrong," but just as I say that the guy tries to run for the door. I mean it wasn''t exactly a subtle flinch. The guy almost leaped out of his skin. Amateur move. Seriously, the prince is sl***y.

    I kick my foot out hitting his ankle. It makes a squishy pop as he belly flops onto the floor with a bounce. His legs rock forward hard enough to tap the back of his head. The King and both startughing when he cries out and the guards surround him. I didn''t mean to kick him that hard. I guess I don''t know my strength as well as I thought I did now that I share some of the King''s power.

    T

    "That was clean," he says and continues to work on theputer "No one should be running in here in the first ce."

    Ss shakes his head and goes over to the guards. That was clean I''m not even going to unpack that. I don''t think he knows what''s going on

    Was she involved?" Ss asks the guy on the floor.

    The f***** just smiles at him as he''s taken away. Ss groans and storms out after them. I didn''t even realize he had a girlfriend. I wonder what she looks like? He looks like he''s into some very high-maintenance girls.

    -That''s your best friend and youughed at him. I tell the King

    -Iughed at the guy. What are you talking about?- his tone is dismissive and I understand. I want to y with my newputer system as well, but that was rude on his behalf.

    -I think that was your mole.- I inform him. He immediately turns around to look at me.

    "Ah, ah. Finish so I can see where your brother is taking the money. I''ve alreadye across some of his trails and they''re very well protected,"

    "Not only will

    Can you stop him?"

    will I stop him. I''m taking it back. See how he likes it when the board and his friends turn on him," I growl,

    "I am going to find out what''s going on with Ss. You better be in my room when I get back," he says and finishes answering the questions on the screen. "Do you need me to do this?"

    No.

    I can get into this system. I created it and I handed user rights to you. I''ll teach Ss how to create Employee User LD.S for those who are going to keep working your dome," You think I''m keeping this ce?" he asks.

    "I would. You might also want to expand it. You''re going to need a more nationwide economic system if you''re keeping up with the other races. Your can''t just disappear off the face of the world. The world already knows you''re still up and running. This," I point at theputer. "Is going to put you on the map. Making history. Even your cksmith will be a legend. He''s the only other person besides me that knows how to make these I made it fancy so those who have the money to pay them try to make it nicer." for Chapter 67

    "Is that why you used this design?"

    That''s your trademark. Own it. It''s both traditional and new. You''re wee,"

 Bait Novel 68

    Chapter

    68

    The King ruins my good mood by patting my head. I pull away and the** smirks at me knowingly. He leaves and I override his profile so that I can use it. All I need is the code for the voiceover. I bring the entire system online I should probably send the others home until we can get them an 11. Just as I am about to say something. Ss barges in and does it for me.

    "He needs you," he points at the door.

    "Where am I going?" that was fast.

    "Hold on let me get some stuff, he raises his hand before running up the walkway

    This blows, I really wanted to use theputer. I don''t think leaving it alone is a very good idea, right now. What if he has aplices "Should we leave someone here?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Yeah, the King set up a group of guards outside when you told me you were going to start building it. He had a team on you at the cksmith''s as well,"

    That was the sense of calm I was feeling. He told me he was going to do that. I don''t know what to think about my wolf not picking up on that or just simply refusing to acknowledge it. She''s usually on her toes. She''s becent. Letting me take the lead. I think we can both admit that I''m not very good at this whole being in charge thing and she doesn''t seem to care in the slightest

    I expect Ss to lead us back to the castle, but we go in apletely new direction. Between the vige and the steps up to the courtyard, there is a wall of stone that looks as if they couldn''t drill through.

    I follow him around the stone to be greeted by two massive wooden doors. Two huge iron knockers are hanging in the middle. They''re shaped to look like Lycan faces. There''s an iron strip of metal decorating the bottom of the doors with a design simr to the ones tattooed on me,

    Ss reaches for one and knocks on the giant door as if the knocker didn''t weigh anything. His hand looked so small against the bottom of the k***b where he ced it to knock. The door is pulled open by Jordan who motions us inside.

    "Mysterious double doors behind the stone," I whisper to myself "That is way cool,"

    "This is where the hunters work. Nothing mysterious about this ce, Jordanughs.

    "Way to keep me out of my delusion, Jordan," I roll my eyes. He grins. "Is Jacob here!"

    My voice annoyingly bounces in the high vacant ceilings of the reinforced stone. Steel frames make sure the ce doesn''t cave in. I ce my hand on the smooth stone where it was drilled to make the tunnels of the hunting headquarters. Not living in the city has its perks. This looks like something the League of Evil Viins would build so Lex Luthor can organize organized crime to his liking.

    "I am actually," Jacob is standing at the end of the hall holding a big brown file. "I was wondering when you were going to find your way down here."

    "King''s orders," I say rushing over to him. Heughs patting my head with the file. L''an sure the king has told him about the rules. Especially in front of this many people. This feels so wrong. I''ve missed him so much. "How have you been?

    "Good. It''s not as quiet as you might think," he holds up his big fic

    "Cool. Keeping busy."

    "I hear you''ve been hanging out with the local cksmith. What are you making?

    "Pernicious," the King''s voice raises the hair on the back of my neck.

    1/2

    67%2

    "I''ll try to catch up with youter," I wave at him.

    I see the anger in his eyes, but he says nothing as I follow behind Ss and Jordan. I can''t even have a normal conversation when he''s around and it''s so annoying. Maybe I cane here when I''m testing to see how good Jordan is at guarding me. I''ve only been able to lose him twice. He yelled at me, it was great. The open

    floor is beautiful and very modern. The hunters are all watching me as if I were a criminal and maybe they''re right too. I''ve certainly crossed that boundary several times and it''s not a secret here anymore. I''ve seen the papers and the way some of the people stare at me. It kind of follows me everywhere.

    The king''s eyes stay on me until I''m standing in front of him. He takes my hand and begins to lead me further away from the exit. I don''t see any windows or any other exits as we move forward.

    Suddenly, doors surround us. Not like the pretty one we walked through to get in here. These are definitely cells. Re-enforced steel- thick bulletproof ss. My wolf is now very much awake as the silver used in the steel amplifies my senses urging me to get away. "So, this is where you keep your prisoners," I say lowly. The echo in here still carries my voice loudly for everyone to hear. "Yes," the King answers.

    The doors begin to change as we round a corner. There are ss windows between these. Heavily tinted, but I can still see the tables and chairs inside. For the most part, they''re all empty. That is until we get to the end of this tunnel The light is on and a woman is sitting alone in the room. This is an interrogation suite. I guess my question now is, what the f***k am I doing here?

 Bait Novel 69

    If self-destruction were a job, I''d be the CEO of that entire industry. I can''t even look up at the King even after those amazing four hours of whatever the f****k that was in my study. I will never be able to sit on those pillows again and not think about what happened. Now, I have to confess something I swore to secrecy long before I knew the kind of person I wanted to be. Long before I understood what it meant. "Were youpelled not to say anything?" he asks as I try to piece everything in my head together.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "No, I spin around in my chair. I guess justing right out with it is the only way to go. "I took an oath when I was thirteen. I was addicted to smoking a strain of wolfsbane that kept me awake without any insomniac side effects," "Lc''s Bane," he says pausing his pacing.

    Of course, he''s familiar with it. It was his Lycans who gave it to wolves to keep themcent before there was an Alpha King. Back when the two superior races were Vampires and Lycans.

    "Yes. It''s how I jumped rank and studied. How I got so much done on top of my training. Because it is wolfshane and we''re constantly treated with other forms of it. It doesn''t show up on drug tests,"

    "I am very familiar with it, Perry," he sighs.

    "Right. Remember when I told you Darren and I would get high and browse the dark web? About the puzzle?"

    Tes.

    "He didn''t want to ess the servers we unlocked with the puzzle. At the time, we didn''t know we were mates. He just wasn''t interested in what our tech could open up for us. The puzzlees with a warning and he told me not to y with it anymore. I didn''t listen and I got in. I got into many things someone like me shouldn''t have. Especially at that age. The more I unlocked, the deeper I fell into this hole.

    Then a couple of weeks after unlocking the puzzle and solving some cool coding maps, a woman showed up at the academy. She gave me money, she gave me these specialputerponents to build a new PC, and she tagged me," I show him the tiny mark on my ankle. "I am code io-0004. The Terabyte. I have a particr set of hacking skills that are bound to six others. The seven of us together can take down entire systems like the one I''m building for you with ease," "You''re a cyber-terrorist?"

    "I took an oath to the Falcon. To be part of his pack and his family and also remain part of societal norms. When Darren found out, he took the oath to protect me. I made a deal with Falcon. The deal was that if I let Darren into the KNAVE, he would never be harmed. Should something happen to him, my contract with the KNAVE would be void. That is what it is now, I still have ess to all of it, but I no longer belong to the old man the way the others do.

    "I never brought it up before because I have nothing else going for me. The old man made me who I am. He granted me the life that I''d willingly throw away now. He has your brother. This man isn''t like you or any other king. He doesn''t want power or money. He has it. He is dangerous and not a lot of people know what he looks like. Even without the oath, it''s not easy to say no to him. He could destroy me. He''d force me back. Bite me. Turn me into what he is and then I''d never be able to die. He wouldn''t allow it," "You sound genuinely terrified, Perry. I can feel it," he leans over the desk and stops me from spinning. "How do I help you?"

    "You don''t. I don''t need help with this. It''s not a prominent thing anymore. It''s an alliance. That''s how it works. You get what. you want our of the oath and once it''s broken, you''re free. But, should either party need assistance. We are required to answer the call. I need him to get your brother under control and he needs Ss''s DNA,"

    "What would he need Ss''s DNA for he asks. I lick my lips and sigh.

    "Since I''ve been part of this. I''ve heard rumors from the other codes. He''s looking for Wraith King potentials" Chapter 69

    1/2

    "What does that mean, potentials?"

    "Wraiths are hidden away, right? No one knows who they are. I could be one and you wouldn''t be able to tell. You''d think I was a wolf or a Lycan. A hybrid like the alpha of Nova. That''s how they blend in with everyone else. And they have bred outside of their species. There are bloodlines linked to theirs. Ss might be one of them,"

    "He wants to see if he can breed him with a pure Wraith bloodline to create a King for their race?"

    "Most likely," I nod. That''s probably the biggest reason why he''s here,"

    "What other reason would he have?"

    "Your pack census,"

    "What would he need that for?"

    Red W

    "For the same reason he has the census to Red Wood To overthrow the alpha and establish a hierarchy he can control,"

    "What?" he straightens up without taking his eyes off me.

    Your brother probably made a deal with him to give him your kingdom in exchange for your head. What he didn''t expect was for you to get ess to someone like me. I''ve been doing this since I was a kid. It was easy to counter him because your brother is an amateur. But he had great headway. The Falcon probably saw potential in him until he ran into me and Nate," "How do I know he didn''t set this up?" he asks pointing between us

    didn''t think it would bother me as much as it does. I mean he''s not wrong. Nothing is stopping him from thinking that. But to hear him say it out loud hurt my feelings and I find myself wanting to throw something at him, wanting to ask what I''ve done to deserve him not trusting me. He''s the one who has been unworthy of my trust this whole time.

    "I would have taken all of it by now. The day you gave me ess to your very outdated system. It would have been a couple of clicks away from being irradicated. I wouldn''t have let you in the way I did. I know you see my dreams. I know you like digging around my head. If I wanted to hurt you, you''d know it

 Bait Novel 70

    "You''ve been a wolf your entire life, Perry, How do I know you''re not just showing me what you want?" he growl.

    "If that is what you want to believe, then I''m in no position to stop you, my King. We both know how to solve the problem.

    He moves around the desk and spins me around until I''m in front of him. His fingers dig into my cheeks as he takes me in. I have nothing to hide from him. I''ve told him the truth from the start. The wraiths were none of his business until now. He didn''t have to know, but the Beires let the monster out of the bag and here we are. "Are you with me, Perry?"

    Until myst t breath, Jonas, 1 answer without hesitation. "You promised me it would be yours and that''s how I want to keep things. This has nothing to do with you. It will have nothing to do with you after I''m gone. I''ll make sure of it," "Except IContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    I already know. He knows I already know,"

    "He doesn''t. He wants something and I am going to give it to him. I will tell him that Wilson was discovered and that Marie is in danger here. I will deliver her to him and he will take care of her as he sees fit," "She''s a Lycan

    "How much can you care for a girl who isn''t allowed to have children anymore because her parents were criminals who chose death rather than to stand trial, my King? A girl you all sent away with her brother. Sure, you took care of them financially. But what your people did to them was far worse. That is how the Falcon came into your home. Through those who seek familiarity. The embrace of a family, To be loved and needed. To be a part of something more.

    "You say Lycans aren''t like wolves. You are. You''re beasts, just like us. Pack animals. You can take care of someone and make them feel excluded. I know that because you''re doing it to me. I am with you, but that''s it. There is nothing else. I can''t even embrace my father. I can''t have real friends. I can''t even try the food your people make without you handing it to me.

    "You never have to feel that because you''re the King. This broken system and outdated traditions are what kill packs and kingdoms. Not theck of leadership or scandals. You''re failing because you''re walking in ce. Never moving forward," "These things are not easy to break, Little Wolf," he kneels in front of me burying his face in my shoulder. I hear you. I''ve grown up here. I see the same things you see. There''s just nothing I can do about any of it with the way things are at the moment,"

    "I know," I slip my fingers through his hair. "I''m not the one asking for you to make these changes, my King. I don''t matter. It''s the people who demand change. The people who need you to stand up for them when no one else will.

    "The wolves under your patronage are your people as well and they are being treated like pets. Just because you are stronger, doesn''t mean you are superior. You can be so much more. So much better. Your hold on the traditions of your people is going to get you all killed if you don''t change things, You''re watching it happen to Red Wood City and they''re not going to be the first to be overthrown,"

    "I can ask Ss for a vile of his blood," he pulls away enough to look at me. "How much more can you tell me?"

    "I didn''t want to tell you at all, my King. This man is dangerous. You are a King. This man will turn you into an essory. You are powerful enough to remove him if you take the proper precautions. If you get close to him now, when the other Kings find out about his existence, you will look like a traitor to the alliance you need to form for your people''s survival. I know it''s asking for a lot, but I need you to trust me or this,"

    "I do. I doubt I will ever inast someone

    one as much as I trust you," he pulls away. I take his hand and stand with him. I still want to p him for saying what he d**d. ***k.

    This is the way the world works, Jonas. Everyone is looking out for theirs. As packs, as kingdoms, as families. You can''t afford to mistreat those who look to you for guidance. I am the perfect example of what happens when you f***k up 08:26

    1/2

    someone you should have kept close from the beginning. Red Wood could have been great. It could have been saved if it weren''t run by a bunch of f***g idiots,"

    press

    "I understand," he ces his hand on the top of my head. Slowly it ends up on my neck and he pulls me to him so he can his lips to my forehead. He lets out a heavy sigh and pulls away. "I''m sorry things have to be this way, Perry. But I need you to focus on me. Everyone else is still going to be here when you''re gone. Maybe they will miss you more, but keeping you away from them, it''s best. For you and for them," "I might have days left before I leave him," I sigh.

    "It changes nothing, Little Wolf. You''re mine. Body and soul. It''s best you disappear without saying goodbye. I saw it when he found out what our deal was. Unless you change your mind you will remain separated from the others. I will not share the pain you will cause me with anyone else. That is for me and me alone. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, sir," I nod.

    "I will get you what you require. You will have an hour to go and return tomorrow. If you are not here when the timer runs out. I will go for you myself. You don''t want that, Perry. Get out. It''s almost time for dinner. You''re not allowed in here seven."

    past

    "I can''t make the run from here to Southwest Redwood in an hour. You can drive me and it''ll be a quick exchange. i.o. 2 is his negociator. She''s not a woman of many words," "Then I''ll drive you,"

    "And Marie. I can give her something to put her to sleep,"

    Without another word, he steps out of the room and waits for me. I gather my things and leave the room. I stop in front of

    my

    door and watch as he continues to the elevator. He doesn''t look up at me as the doors shut.

 Bait Novel 71

    I keep retirranging the guns and the furniture to keep myself entertained after hours. Mostly, I stand on the balcony and watch as everyone elsees and goes freely. He opened the doors up a couple of days ago and gave me my guns back. 1

    didn''t ask.

    I want to be mad at him. I want to kick and scream the way I''ve always done. But the truth is that he''s right. I made this deal with him. I handed my life over to him the moment I agreed to help and told him that all I wanted in return was for him to be the one to kill me. I''m done fighting. It''s never gotten me anywhere. None of it has changed. The future he''s trying to offer me is not as ficked as the one I was living in, but my mind hasn''t changed. My wolf still cries out for relief. Now more than ever. I''ve been sober for a while now and everything I tried to drown out is as loud as ever The only escape is his emptiness. The way we mindlessly f*****e fact that I am disgusted with myself. That Lam ashamed of the way things have turned out for me. I didn''t picture my life like this. Even if I changed my mind, even if I epted him as my second chance. I''d be nothing but his ve. Maybe not in his eyes, but they would all see me as nothing more than this thing he picked up on the road to his Kingship.

    I ept that this is the way things are now. I''m already dead to the world. A martyr. The face of a revolution those who needed my help will use until there''s a real change in the pds. The King is right. Jacob doesn''t need to be worried about me when we all know there is only one path for me and it''s inching closer and closer to the cliff I''ve been running towards for the past five years. Will youThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "No, thank you,

    down to have dinner with me?'' the King asks. He has a tray in his hand.

    "Per" he stops himself and sets the tray on the breakfast table. "You''ve been here a while and the cooks still don''t know your preferences. Do you have any?" "Everything they make is delicious," I shake my head, "You don''t have to go out of your way for this. I''ve never been picky. Just d to have food in my belly" "Perry," he sighs

    "You can have dinner here if you like," I don''t want him to scold me for punishing him or myself. It''s wasted breath. Nothing is going to change.

    "I''ll see youter," he says and excuses himself.

    It wasn''t a lie. There has not been a single thing these people have fed me that I could easily call my favorite. I eat tonight without really tasting anything and I clean myself up. When I get out of the shower, the tray is gone.

    I sit in this empty room feeling sleepy. Iy in the bed and turned my body to see the urn with the scowl I drew on it thest time I held his ashes to me. I reach for it and tuck it into the pillow next to me.

    For the first time in my life, I have nothing to say to him. Or rather, I have nothing I want to share with him. I used to share it all with him. Even before I knew he was my mate. Whenever I was upset and he knew he wasn''t the reason behind it, he would corner me. He would demand I tell him what was wrong. If he didn''t think I could take care of it myself, things magically took care of themselves.

    But this is different, isn''t it? I''d never be able to tell him that I let someone else in That I let another man touch me in ways he never got to. I can''t tell him that I care about what might happen to Jonas after I''m gone. How much I already regret it. I might not even get to see Darren again because what I''m doing is damning. I''m ruining someone''s life knowingly and I''m not going to stop even when it feels this heavy.

    Unable to keep looking at the scowl on the jar I rub the chalk off set the urn back on the nightstand, and turn away from it. 1 might be all out of tears for Darren. My rage is taking a new focus and its increase in demand is always sneaking up on me, 08.26 Fri,

    1/2

    always demanding I give hing my attention instead. Until our deal is settled, I''m going to have to put my needs aside.

    "Perry?" the door opens. I look up to see said demander in question staring back at me. "With me. Now,"

    "I''m not dressed to go anywhere. I already took my bra off, I shake my head. Hees over and pulls theforter off me. He scoops me up into his arms. "We''re not going anywhere. I need you with me," he growls, "Where I want you,"

 Bait Novel 72

    Chapter 72 BK 67%

    I set the small ck box on the trunk and sit down next to it, I shift back into my skin and slip into the robe the King gave me before I ran off. I haven''t gone on a run like this in a while and it served to clear my head. I don''t feel stiff and ufortable anymore. "You look good." Violetta, the Falcon''s second steps out of the darkness. "Better," "This is what he wanted, I take the box and toss it at her. She catches it with ease. Her eyes spark bright red. The light of a passing car makes them reflective.

    "You did well. The City will soon be ours," she is tiny and a wolf, but I know enough about her to know better than to addres her as anything other than a threat. Violetta Wilde looks harmless but she''s a vicious animal. "Small talk, Violetta?"

    "Not our thing," she nods a smile tugging at her lips. I just wanted to tell you that I''ve seen Kenzie,"

    Where?"

    "She''s-"I hear the sound in her throat. Something between a whine and a growl. "She should be on her way Wood. Perhaps she''s putting herself back together,

    "If you see her again, tell her we don''t live in the city anymore,"

    here. To Red

    doubt I''ll see her again," she turns to leave and pauses. You got out. She''s out now. Don''te back, Pernicious. Find her and don''t ever look back,"All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "What t do you mean she''s out?"

    Without an answer, she melts into the shadows and disappears. Scent, presence, and all. I stand here for a bit just staring at the ground where she had stood. I slip out of my robe and shift. Crystal takes the robe in her mouth and runs back in the direction we came from. I didn''t tell her where the girl is.

    It takes me a moment to realize that we''re just outside of Red Wood. The spot where I first shifted. The ce where I lost my virginity that same night. The King opens up the robe when Crystal drops it. I change into my skin again and let him help me into it. "Did something happen?" "Mackenzie is on her way here. Will you ask Nate to keep an eye out for her? Let her get to Jacob

    ??

    "Yes," he opens the passenger door for me. He puts my seatbelt on and stays still for a moment. "Why does it feel like that?" he asks. When I don''t answer, he tilts my head up. "What is this ce?"

    "This is where I shifted for the first time. Where Darren imed me." I whisper. I turn enough to be able to look past his shoulder. The top of the oak tree where it happened peaks just over the hill we''re on. "We should go,

    "Yeah,"

    Last

    "he goes to move and stops. He cups my cheek and gives me a sad smile. It takes him a moment before he pulls away and shuts the door. t night''s guiltes flooding in again, louder and more demanding. I know the King feels it because he doesn''t say a word on the ride back. It only feels that much worse because not only am I dragging myself across the mud but I''m also hurting him. Forcing him to feel this hell with me. I couldn''t be more pathetic if I tried. My phone pings and I lift it d to be rid of the tension for a moment. The f****ng **le paid me for the blood. Six hundred and fifty thousand. My phone rings in my hand and I lift it to my ear. Oct 18 Chapter 72 "Guess

    08:26 Fri,

    that means you''re staying on the path you''re on," I answer. "It was the Lycans who turned me into what I am," the old man sighs. "I can take you out of there if you want me to. I''ve known you for ten years now, Pernicious Phurry. I know the world hasn''t been kind to you. I broke my promise once-" Then you know I''m not the forgiving type. I don''t want this Falcon. I''ve had enough. There is nothing wrong with this system. Leave him be,"

    "Is this our final farewell, Miss Nelson?" I haven''t been called that since Darren marked me. I couldn''t wait to shed that f****g disgustingst name. My father f**** it to hell and back. If his enemies found me it wouldn''t be pleasant. He knows that. "I''ve given you a lot. I dare argue too much. You can turn around and drop this or I will give you my full attention. I will never stop hunting you. I will dedicate my life to it. No drugs. No liquor. No restraints. You are one man. Even if they kill me, I will give everything to the kings and it''ll be the entire wor world after you. Emiliano Cordova,"

    There is a long pause. A very long pause. This is the one thing that Darren never stopped me from doing. Digging my grave deeper than most. The old man had us and we knew that one day, we''d want out. Even after Darren''s death, I never stopped snooping. It''s the only thing that''s me. No one taught me or gave me that ability. I always considered it something that was just built into me and it''s the one thing that''s kept me alive all this time. "I can''t drop this and you''d be taking the fall with me." You think I nk give a f***k &

    about spending the rest of my life in prison? I''m in prison now. Drop this. I am still an ally. Move against me and we cross the line drawn between us. I''m not asking you to stop what you''re doing. I''m not asking you for a single thing. You don''t even have to lift a finger. I''ll I clean this all up. Go on my way like it never happened," "How do you know who I am?"

    You

    "I know a lot of things I shouldn''t. Kill me and they all go viral. Keep helping the prince and it bes a political issue.

    I shouldn''t be arguing with him. It doesn''t matter, but the rage I feel for standing in the ce where I consummated my mating while mated and marked by another man is suffocating me and I have no other ce to put it. I want him toe after me. I need him to. "How do I do I remedy the situation?" he asks after a while and to say I''m disappointed is an understatement.

    "Cut him off. By morning, he''s going to be nothing but a spoiled little a***ole who tried something way in over his head."

    "You promised to bring me the girl,"

    "She''s on the bench not far from where we met. She won''t wake up until morning,"

    "And this ends our transaction? Will you delete the information?

    "No, I won''t. It''ll remain with me and my King. Until ourst breath,"

 Bait Novel 73

    The old man hangs up. I know he''s upset. I know I rocked a boat should never have even set eyes on, but it looks like I''ve gotten out of this unscathed. Mostly. I let out a heavy sigh as the King pulls into the underground garage. "Was that the truth?" he asks long after he parks and cuts the engine. "Most of f it," I nod still unable to look at him. "Perry," he says my name like it''s a burden and I know exactly what that feels like. my waist to stoAll content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    stop me. Before I can tell him to stop 1 slip out of the car and start heading for the door. His armes around he pins me to the car in front of me covering my body with his own. It''s only then that I hear it. The zip of a gun with a silencer in the distance. Three shots go through the back windshield of the car I''m pressed up against. The King''s g''s body presses me against the car hard. His hands are on either side of me and they begin to shift. My heartbeat speeds up as the rumble in his chest turns monstrous. The sound of his adjustment is practically pressed up against my ear and it sounds like grinding raw meat. I rx my body allowing him to shift. I give into his demanding aura. I submit trying to rx as best I can so I''m not attacked. A huge tongue licks up the side of my neck. Before I can look, the car rocks back and forth and he''s gone. I slide down to the floor where his shredded clothes calm," I whisper to my with

    are.

    Crystal is fully aware of her surroundings. I untie the robe andy on the ground slowly letting the shift take over. I let her take in the scents and the sounds. A lot of theme from the King himself. He''s trying to find them. Whoever is a

    is attacking us, the as***e is using electric pulses to mimic a heartbeat. It''s a trick we learn in the academy. A trick I taught Violetta to teach the others. While the intruder is focused on the King. I slowly move around following the fresh scent, Wolves have to be beta and higher in rank to be able to hide their scent. This is most definitely a wolf. An overzealous delta or an omega with no other choice. As soon as I see her crouching down between two cars with her little gun aimed in the direction of the King. I pounce on her. She lets out a scream that catches the King''s attention. I growl into her ear and she releases the gun. Crystal wants to run when she feels his eyes on us. Fear is not something that''s ever gued my wolf, the strange little spirit that she is. But she feels it now as the massive Lycan beast makes his way over to us cautiously. -Don''t run.-1 order her.

    She whines and lowers her head when he''s standing in front of us. She can''t even look up at him. I can see his legs and massive Lycan paws. His fur is a shiny gray shade, much like his regr hair. I force her to look up at him needing to see more. His massive Lycan teeth are on full disy. My eyes meet his and he holds us there for a moment before he reaches for the girl under me. I step back letting him take her as she cries out, thrashing against the monster''s hand wrapped around her throat. "Who sent you?" he growls at her. "B**h king" she groans and spits at him.

    My wolf pushes me back and takes full control. Her mouth closes around the girl''s head. The sickening crack of her skull echoes in the darkness of the garage. Her body spasms uncontrobly. The King releases her and my wolf doesn''t hesitate to finish her off. Crystal releases a howl that makes the King take a step back. To be fair, it was her kill. Was making a point at the moment important! Not with the giant monster standing in front of us. J8.20  0 67%

    "It''s okay," he holds his huge hands up cautiously. Guards rush in from all sides aiming their weapons at us. No not us, me "She''s fine. We had an intruder. Search the garage for more," he waves them off. Some of the guards move, spreading out to make sure the room is cleared. Tm not going to hurt you, Little Wolf,"

    Crystal growls at him when hees closer. She hasn''t forgiven him for what he did to us, I doubt she ever will. She submits, but she doesn''t trust him. She hasn''t tried to nest. She hasn''t made me bite him. I haven''t left a single mark on him since then. I haven''t tried physical pain as stimtion through the bond because if he finds out it gets me going, it''s never going to stop

    "Sir, we have two more, someone calls out. Two other wolves are brought out. Crystal lets out a low whine when she sees the alpha in handcuffs.

    "You should want them all dead." Calypso growls. "Look at what he''s done to you,"

    I

    You

    I watch the guards take the two of them away. The King shifts back without a single thought for his modesty. The man starts giving orders to all the soldiers just like that. Everything hanging out. We sit here watching him and those around him. None of them seem to care that he''s naked. When he''s done he turns his attention to me. If I were in my skin, I''d be giggling with no hope of looking at him straight-faced for a second.

    "Are you okay?" he asks stopping i front of me. Crystal tilts her head and pulls her lips back to show him her teeth. The rumble thates out of her is a clear warning. She doesn''t in''t trust you.- I inform him.

    "Well.

    dn p...

    guess the three of us have that inmon," he says. "Let''s go. Don''t you dare shift back here," Crystal shakes her fur out. Not wanting to get me into trouble she follows behind him growling at anyone who gets too close. Shit. That was it, wasn''t it? And with everything else going on, I didn''t catch it. I figured she was letting me take the lead because it was me who up and I got t us into this mess -I need to tell you something.-

    "Can it

    It wait

    until you''re in your skin?" he asks. Crystal walks into the elevator and fills most of it. She moves around his body and presses her snout to his back urging him to hurry. I''ll take that as a yes," The doors shut and she lets out a huff. He growls at her when she nips at his ear.

    "What?" he demands. She growls at him only this time it''s yful. "You''re not like her, are you?" he growls again when she wags her big a*** tail hitting him over the head with it. I''m sorry if you feel jilted, Little Wolf. Not exactly the ideal situation for either of us to put emotions between us," she bumps his face and he reaches up to scratch her chin. "I can smell it you know," he says

    gently. That sweet scent is you going feral, huh? You should know that I''ll never forgive myself either. You should mistrust me. I do," Crystal lets out a low whine and licks his face.

    "You''re an a***ole," he says and wipes his face. He grins when he wipes it on her fur. She grunts disapprovingly. "Yeah. My point exactly."

 Bait Novel 74

    and forth challengingly.

    As soon as the doors ping she presses herself to the doors and is but the moment they open enough for her to squeeze out Her ass knocks him forward hard enough to make him fall to his knees. She spins around and crouches forward excitedly wagging her tail back -What are you doing?- I ask her, rmed.

    "Oh, I see," he grins. He cranks his head to the left before shifting again. "You want to y."

    -Run. Run, Crys-1 shout in my head.

    Stupid wolf takes it as a challenge and charges forward to nip at his ankles. When he reaches for her she jumps over him taking off in a sprint. She takes the turn off the corridor at full speed and then pushes off the wall just as the beast ms into in. She stops and I scream at her to move, but she rolls down on the floor just as the King jumps over us. She jumps up and takes off the way we came with him still hot on our tail.

    -Dead end. Dead end!- I shout as she sprints with everything she got. It takes me a single moment to figure out what she''s about to do. -No. No. No. Don''t you fucking dare! She''s going to attack. Get out of the way!-

    Her four paws hit the wall and she kicks off with all her strength, mouth open, and ws spread for a full attack. The Kingughs as he snatches us up. His armse around her body tightly. Suddenly we''re on our back. Crystal recovers faster than I do and starts growling and thrashing around trying to hurt him.

    -Enough!-

    I scream until she cries out and tries to shuffle away from him. He releases us and she immediately scrambles to get on her feet. As soon as we''re right again I push her to shift back and the feral bitch makes it as painful as possible. My muscles ache as I sit up trying to catch my breath.

    I didn''t know she was this far along, I choke out. Im sorry. That won''t happen again,"

    "What do you mean? Far along with what?"

    "She''s going feral," I remind him as I push my hair back. "She''s been quiet these past few weeks. I thought she was giving me room to adjust, but she was just biding her time,

    "How long do we have before she fully gives in?"

    "I don''t know," I shake my head. Tll wear the cor. It should keep her at bay until I can get her under control, when he reaches for me she pushes against my chest. I growl at her. "That''s enough. Stop, Crys,"

    The King lifts me. She finally listens and stops. He takes me to my room and sets me on the bed. I stand and go to the bathroom. I wash up and change into some pajamas. He''s sitting on the bed when I emerge clean and a little more clear-minded.

    "How have you been able to hide what you are this long?" he asks "Does Jacob know?"

    "Jake knows not to ask where thingse from," I shrug.

    home, "I''m not a beta-rank wolf, Pernicious," he growls. When he looks up at me his eyes are pitch ck. "For however long this is going tost, you are bound to me. I think I deserve to know what it is I''ve taken into my

    "That didn''t seem to matter when you bought me,"

    "I purchased you with fucking pocket change," he shouts.

    "I''m still very upset about that I climb onto the bed and get

    under the covers. Chapter 74

    "Perry-" he goes around and sits next to the nightstand with my urn on it. He takes a piece of chalk and then the urn. I tense up wanting to snatch it back but I just watch him draw. "The first wolf I mated was young. A rogue. No one really missed her. She did what she was told.

    "Why are you telling me that?"

    *All of them have been that way and then there''s you," he sighs. From the start. The way you were sent for. How you were brought in kicking and screaming. You submitted so willingly. Without a single tear. Without any regard for your own well-being. All you asked for was a name for the only person who gives a fuck about you to be protected,"

    "Is there a point to this?"

    "You painted this perfect image for us," he scoffs. "Everything seemed to be going great and now suddenly there''s a real threat and you''re the fucking middle man,"

    1y back and work over his words in my head.

    "I made you a promise."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "I don''t fucking care," he tosses the chalk piece on the nightstand and ces the urn back before he stands to pull the bedspread back and climbs into the bed next to me. "It doesn''t look good for you, Little Wolf. I trusted you with a whole lot more than this mark," he ces his hand over his chest. My body lights up for him as he gently massages his fingers over it "Everything in my body is screaming at me. I should kill you,"

    Close toing. The bond between us is "Fuck," I shiver as he presses down on his mark. Without even touching me I''m so in full effect. I reach for my neck needing relief but he stops me. My eyes snap to his

    Tell me you belong to me. Lie to me some more," he growls.

    "You''re the only person I''ve never lied to, I say, truthfully. "I''m going to keep telling you the truth. I will never belong to you, Jonas. I will always belong to him. What you own is what''s left. The body and life that was built for him. That''s what belongs to you,

    He stares at me for a moment and then pulls away. That was a terrible thing to say to him. It''s just as bad as him saying he doesn''t trust me. It''s as bad as me not giving a fuck about the wolves that are probably going to be executed publicly. As soon as he''s out the do I reach for my urn and turn to see what he did to it. Staring back at me are the eyes that have haunted me for the past five years. He drew Darren''s face on it with chalk as if from a memory.

    Regret floods through me. How very little have I thought about anything other than the task at hand? Things have been moving so smoothly that I''ve forgotten what it is to be a wolf. Jonas and I have been mated for months now. The bond is the strongest in that first year after being marked. Not only is he feeling me the way I feel him, but he''s probably seeing some of my dreams.

    It''s a different kind of trust, but I know enough about him to recognize that his allowing me into everything that he has is his way of trusting me as best as he can. I stare at the image he drew on the urn and growl at myself.

    "I hate when you look at me like that," I growl at the drawing. I rip the nkets away and stand. The King is brushing his teeth when I finally break into his room.

    "Locked usually means fuck off, Perry," he growls when he steps out of the bathroom and finds me lying in his bed.

    "I don''t understand why me saying it out loud makes a difference. You know already. You see it in your dreams,"

    "What do you know of my dreams?" he scoffs and gets in the bed

    Lycan King, thest thing I need is for you to start getting possessive," I turn to face him. "Yeah, I''m a cyber-terrorist who has done some fucked up shit. I burn every bridge I build because of my fear of abandonment. Not just the mate thing, but my parents. I gave my soul to a man that died before he could give it back. I will never be more than that. But I swear on Jacob''s life that I will never lie to you. I promised to give you what you need to be king, at any cost. Even my life. That

 Bait Novel 75

    C Chapter 75

    I''m back in my room getting ready for today. All ck is custorn for the end of an a***le who deserves to be rotting just as much as 1 do. I''m ready way before the King knocks, shocked.

    "You''re ready," he says

    "I am. I''m in a hurry, I guess," I admit. I feel a wave of anxiety floods my body and it''s not mine. "You still have to cat," he grumbles,

    "Can I have breakfast with you downstairs?" I ask. He nods and steps aside to let me out.

    Nothing happenedst night. We just slept. I don''t know why but that feels a whole lot filthier than if we would have f***d. Our dynamic is shifting and I need it to stop. I eat breakfast and then I have to wait for Jordan toe get me. He''s surprised to find me with the King. "Everything okay?" he whispers when the King follows us to the dome.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "No, but hopefully I can fix that, I clear my throat. Ignoring the already working lycans. I go up the tform. "Ss, clear the tform- "Right now?" he asks.

    I

    "Now I nod going over to the main monitors. "Maybe it would be better if we can clear the entire dome?" I nce back at the King. "For security purposes," "Everyone get the f***k out," hemands. "You''re off for the rest of the day,"

    It almost makes meugh when everyone looks at me as if asking for permission. He growls and they all start to pack up. I clear my throat and take a couple of calming breaths. I sync my phone to the speaker and hit my study ylist. Sullivan King res for the speaker as I start setting up

    "Sit back," I tell the three of them. Sit bac

    I open up my private login and stare at theputer for a moment as the music thumps all around me overwhelming all of my wolf''s natural instincts. She hates when I do this because I push down everything that makes me a wolf. I focus on what''s in front of me and forget who we are. It leaves me exposed. "Perry-"

    "No one talks. I need to focus. No matter what you do, don''t interrupt me, I warn them. "Crystal will be prepared to attack,"

    "You guys should go home, the King tells Jordan and Ss.

    "There''s no way I''m missing this," Ss shakes his head.

    "I''d like to stay as well," Jordan nods.

    "Go ahead, Perry," the King encourages me. I set up sixputers and link them.

    "On a scale of one to eight how mad would you get if I smoke?"

    "What?" he asks.

    §±§Ö

    "Eight? Why eight?" Jordan asks.

    "Ten

    would be death for you guys, right? Smoking wolf''s bane hardly merits the death penalty,"

    "Do you need it?" the King-asks.

    "No, but how funny would it be to see your brother get robbed of his ***it by a high beta b**h?" I smile. The three of themugh.

    Tll allow it this once. What do you have?"

    I hold up my wax pen. "I''ve been saving this for a special asion,"

    He s**hes it from me to inspect it. We all stare at him when he puts it to his lips and takes a huge hit. He tucks his hand in my hair and pulls me close kissing me. I just inhale and keep my eyes on his unsure what to do or say. "If it''s poisoned then we both get sick, he whispers. made

    "I clear my throat already feeling the instant head change.

    that," I clea

    "Hmm," he smiles and steps back. "Show me what you can do, you ** little terrorist a***le,"

    "Final request. Can I get some Nos energy drinks in here!"

    "What vor?" Jordan asks.

    "All of them. As long as they''re not sugar-free. The zeros are gross,"

    "Do we have that here?" Ss asks.

    No, but those are Bunny''s favorite. She orders them in bulk. My King. Permission to bring your pet a pack of drinks?"

    "Are they sealed?"

    "Yes, sir. Still in the manufacturing package."

    in

    ""Fine," he nous

    he nods.

    Sad Girlz Love Money starts to y and I start logging in the information I''m going to be searching for.

    "Okay, L Squared. Let''s locate the origins of these ounts, I order.

    "Objective received. Scanning for origin points," her voice echoes, I look up at the big screen as she divides the search engines on the six monitors.

    Origin pointse up on all six screens across thirty-six banking sights. She pulls them up on the screen in front of me.

    "Bring up the numbers,"

    "ess denied. Would you like me to force entry?"

    "Yes."

    Yes,

    "Stand by,"

    The ck and green windows pop up with the new codes. It tries a few patterns only toe up red. I stare at it for a few minutes wondering if I''m going to have to do this manually. Then the windows start to turn green and the private ount information startsing up. That would have taken me hours if not days. "Get me

 Bait Novel 76

    "Would you also like their origin profiles?"

    Yes, I nod and nce back at the king. "These are all your traitors, my King. Come take a look,"

    "Holy s***t, said the Little Wolf," Ss says looking at all the namesing up. "Jo, are you seeing this?"

    "Looks like we''re going hunting after our wedding, Little Wolf, We can''te back for the coronation with all these f***ks surrounding us," he breathes out almost relieved as his eyes scan all of the names popping up.

    "There are so many," Ss shakes his head disappointedly.

    "Perry, send these files to my tablet. Let me take a closer look. You made me a promise. I want all of it back and ready to be used immediately."

    "You got it." I nod. I jump when his hand grips my jaw.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Thank you," he whispers and leans in to press his lips to mine.

    I watch hint step away to start making calls. Ss stays at my side until he''s sure that the King is distracted enough

    "I''d be the first to bend the knee in your name," he whispers. "You deserve everything he''d be willing to offer and so much

    more,

    My head swims and I shake it off. I turn away not knowing what to say, I transfer the locations on the monitor to the electronic table screen in the center of the room and open up a map. This guy seems worldly because he deals with people all over the globe, but there''s no way in hell he''s letting his brother out of his sight.

    So far, he''s shown up every time the King has baited him. There has to be a pattern or something tracing back to one location. I bring up the tracker we put on him. He''s somewhere near Nova''s rogue vis on the other side of the country at the moment.

    "Bring up locations this tracker has stopped for longer than a couple of hours," I call out. The locationse up on the screen. There are four locations near us. "Ss,"

    "Yeah," hees over to me.

    "What''s here?" I ask. He taps on the surface of the table to bring up the satellite footage.

    "That''s the cemetery," he waves me over to him to the other side of the tform where there''s a view of the cemetery. "That''s gotta be where he stays," I say going back to the table. "See? That''s where the tracker stops every night," "That''s kind of sick," he whispers.

    "He could be in his Lycan form. That''s probably where his feral instincts take him," I cross my arms over my chest. "When I first woke up from myma, Crystal would take us to the oak tree where we first shifted: 15 she buried there?" "Yes," he nods. 1.Squared, bring up vitals of the trace,"

    His vitalse up. He sleeps there. Four to six hours a night. Instead of asking theputer, I bring up the other four locations. On the first two, his vitals are elevated. That means he was doing something that upset him or got him excited. Killing or f**g would be my guess they sometimese up the same. Depending on the person. When Violetta kills, her heart doesn''t dance the way mine does. It remains calm. That doesn''t sound like something a Lycan can do in general, much less a feral one. 08:07 Sat, Chapter 76

    The third location is near here and by his vitals, I know he''s just around to watch. His vitals are neutral. Not always elevated. Not always calm.

    This is one of the things Elena, Darren''s mother, taught me. How to read people. There aren''t very many who can control their body to hide their reactions. I was always sensitive to everything around me. Exepcially after my mom passed. When I started living with Morgan and her family, I was terrified. Any little movement in the darkness had me up.

    My time with the Red Wood CPS really f***d with my head and it remained that way for years. It was Elena who taught me to turn it into a weapon. I couldn''t help my instincts, but I could use them to my advantage. Everyone has a tell. A tick. Something that sets them off. Mine is sudden movement.

    "All locations and ounts confirmouldy

    How like to proceed?"

    "Make a list of each profile and send it to King Mouth Breather on my contacts," I instruct.

    "Confirmed,"

    Ss takes a deep breath and tries to hide hisugh with a cough A momentter the king is standing beside me.

    "You said you wanted me to send you everything so you could get a better look," I remind him. He bares his teeth at me and goes over to the sofas.

    "I got them," Jordanes in shortly after. "And they''re cold,"

    "This time for real. No interruptions," I say ripping the stic off one of the bottles shaped like a nos tank. The king watches me carefully as I turn the lid to release all the pressure. When he''s satisfied, he goes back to his phone. "What now?" Ss asks.

 Bait Novel 77

    parties I wasn''t invited to, and all of the dances I was never asked to

    I don''t answer. I take a hit of my wax pen and sit in front of the main monitor. A jolt of excitementes over me. One of the perks of doing something not very many others can do is the rush of doing it and getting away with it. It wasn''t easy to learn this. It started when the school gave me my firstptop. I was eight or nine. I picked up coding easily. Designed some of my social media pages, and moved on to games and the school''s student database. It was where I would go when I was hungry. I''d run away into the codes to forget the ache, to forget all the mean shit people would say to me because I''d wear the same clothes repeatedly. Saring behind aputer filled in for all the missed field trips, all of the birthday The only person who ever noticed I was gone was Morgan. She would sneak in through the bathroom window because my mom nailed mine shut after I got caught sneaking out. I stopped fitting through the little one in my bathroom when I was six. I would help her with her homework mework and she would bring all her cute stuff to share with me. We could sit for hours while she braided my hair and pressed sticky jewels on them. She would go on and on about things the popr kids talked about and we wouldugh at them. I''d been the pathetic one then. She was always protecting me. Then Darren came along and he provided a challenge I never had. Not only was he as good as I was atputers, but he was strong. I was jealous of him and Morgan stood with me. The other girls stopped talking to her for a while.

    The two of us would wake up at four in the morning every day to go on runs and get in early morning workouts. We would deliver the morning newspapers and then get home to clean up and make breakfast for everyone else. By the time we got to school, we had been more than prepared to take on anyone who tried to get in our way. Learning to get into the ATMs put us in a position where we couldn''t be friends with other kids. We were stealing and getting away with it. But it helped both our families more than I could have ever thought. She was there for everything that came with my mother leaving me behind. At the time, it made sense to me. She was my best friend. I didn''t know that her parents just jumped at the opportunity to get the money I gave them for rent. They would always make my favorite foods when the month was almost over. I would have remained oblivious if I hadn''t overheard her dad telling one of his buddies how much he hated having me around. How he enjoyed the look on my face when they would tell me they would be gone for the weekend and it would be my responsibility to take care of everything here. In the following weeks, I needed an escape from her after listening to her father praise how c***ng she was for tricking the freak of the city. I wanted to find a way to get out of that apartment. I felt restricted. Darren f** shook me until I told him why I was a little extra angry at him a after I broke his middle finger with a baseball on purpose He told Elena. She was livid and I was out of there that weekend when his mother beat the c**p out of Monica for allowing her mate to take my money. I ended up sharing a room with Mackenzie. It always smelled like hot metal and gasoline in our room

    Morgan apologized for what she did. She said it was the only way to help me avoid being taken away again. I forgave her. I wasn''t mad at her. I was upset with her Dad for saying all those f***d up things about me. I loved him as the wolf protecting me because as the man of the house, it was only his word that kept me there.

    I was there when she found out Calvin was her mate. Heughed at her. He humiliated her in front of the entire school. Without so much as a second thought, that piece of s**t rejected her while Tyler and Darren held me back. They helped me take her home. I didn''t know what to say or what to do to make her feel better. Things only got worse when he started dating the visiting alpha. She would taunt her and he would stand there and watch with a f***g smile on his face.

    When I woke up, she ced herself between Calvin and me. Why did she do that? After everything he did to her. The beatings, the cheating, the torture he put her through. She chose him.

    This is the first time in a while that Morgan''s popped into my head. I think I miss her. This is definitely the longest we''ve gone without seeing one another. Even when we were mad at each other, we''d still be around one another. I foundfort in the fact that she was at least okay. I hate thinking about Elena hate thinking about Morgan. It never stops and my unanswered questions only make me more and more restless. Chapter 77

    -It''s time to stop.- Illinch at the King''s voice in my head.

    What?

    -It''s time to get cleaned up so you can go to bed. I gave you a couple of extra hours. Times up for today.-

    I look back at him wanting to protest.

    "My King, that''s not the way it works," Jordan says. "If she stops now, we could lose the trail. It''s like stopping mid-attack. You can''t. You either follow through or you lose it,"

    "It''s not okay for you to stay here all night like this," he shakes his head.

    "I''ll stay with her,"

    "He''s right," "I nod.

    he adds.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Then I''m staying too. I''ll go get you some food. You can at least eat," he says removing his jacket. "Stay here. Both of you. She''s not left alone,"

    "My King," they both bow.

    "What were you thinking about?" Ss asks.

    "What?"

    "He couldn''t stop looking up at you. He was making his worried face,"

    "You mean when his eyes squint?" Iugh. He smiles and nods. "Morgan,"

    "The Luna of Red Wood?" he scoffs. "Why?"

    "It''s just something I do when I''m in the zone. She''s thest piece of my old life that is still alive,"

    "What about Jacob?" Jordan a asks.

    "Jacob has done a lot of me, but Morgan was there since I was little. Our moms grew up together. They were nurses. Years of us fighting together meant nothing to her when she stood in front of the man who almost let our pack burn for some b**h that didn''t even belong to him him. The same that called her a street w**e and rejected her in front of the entire school," "Didn''t you say Darren was mean to you?"

    guy

    "Darren was mean to me, but he was never cruel. Not like that. Even before he knew he was my mate, he instantly regretted when I lost to him. It was rivalry for us. I don''t know why he hated her the way he did. She was ranked ss one above me. Her focus on the huntress program was scary. She didn''t take the same academic courses as me but she had a perfect record. She used to do so much for the pack and the city,"

    "A mate''s bond is hard to fight, I hear," we all turn to see Lillies and Tulipsing up. "We came to offer a hand,

    "Maybe we can finish this up faster so you can go to your king and Jordan cane home

    e with us?" Lillies adds.

    "I trust bunny," I smile at them. "I''ve seen her work,"

    I

    What are

    "From 29

    we doing?

    08.07 Sat, Oct 19

    "It looks like a bunch of councilmen and some super-rich a***o

    "All assets?"

    "Just what was given to them by the prince," I shake my head. "E

    stan you don''t understand Morgan because you don''t under

    "I understand getting even. It''s all I''ve ever understood, I start ti ounts that now belong to the king. "There isn''t any room for prizes,"

 Bait Novel 78

    Chapter

    78

    It was a little past two am. when we all left the dome. I told the king that I needed some alone time after that. I told him I pushed myself into a dark corner and that I wasn''t in the mood to be in hispany. It''s not necessarily a lie and he didn''t deny me after everything I got back tonight. My morbid curiosity is getting the better of me. There''s only one person who can scratch that itch.

    I''m suppressing my wolf to keep the King away as long as I can. Sitting here on top of a mausoleum with the King''s insignia gives me a view of the entire cemetery. The prince is lying again her tombstone not too far from me. He got here a couple of hours ago with flowers and a couple of vodka bottles. I know he knows I''m here, but neither of us has said anything. I''m not going to be the one to break the silence. You can at least join me for a drink," he says when he''s done setting up his flowers and teddy bears.

    "I''ve been sober a couple of months now and I''m actually very proud of that, I decline. He nods and sits with his back to the tombstone to look up at me.

    "How did you do that in one day?" he asks bemused. "You smart little monster you,"

    had help," his tone annoys me. I hate that he''s addressing me like we''re friends.

    "Ah, yes. The King''s little flowers," heughs. "Little incest wh***es Almost drove me crazy,"

    "You like the sound of your own voice," I smile.

    rarely talk to anyone," he confesses. Just to give orders. This is a special asion, Little One. You''re f**g up my ns in favor of the man who took everything from me. You know what that''s like, yes? What is that Luna''s name? Megan?" "Morgan," she may not be my friend anymore but him knowing who she is rubs me the wrong way.

    "Don''t you j just want t to go down to Red Wood and take everything from her?" he tosses back a ssful of vodka.

    "Every day,

    "Then you know that getting in my way is kind of rude," he tosses the empty ss and starts drinking straight out of the bottle. "You should be on my side. You and I could burn the world together,"

    "Im not interested in the world," I scoff. Tm not interested in anything. I''m just doing my master''s bidding. It''s just your bad luck that my master happens to be your brother,"

    "Very true," heughs. "How did you get out of your room? I was on the same floor. It''s the wing used to keep us in,"

    "I used to get down from my room in my father''s apartment since I was five. It was on the twenty-fourth floor. If I can get down from a concrete building, a stone-made castle is not keeping me in Lots more to hang on to,"

    "How does one be an 10 for the old man?" he asks after a long pause. "Violetta is two. Roman is three You''re four. Baby is five. Mackenzie is six. And your mate was the seventh. What did you do to earn your position "Have you ever heard of House Gani?"

    "I can''t say that I have,"

    "They were a vampire coven in Salem. I don''t know who they pi**d off, but there are no known survivors anymore. owned a chain of blood clubs all over the world," Are you talking about the Essence of Life clubs?"

    The

    Mhm," 98%

    Ste Vayrn owns those,

    e''s theirtest master. They were started by Redman Gant the head of House Gant,"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    "Fun fact, he huffs. Tell me more,"

    "Alpha Jamie Hernandez from Casa Del Rey?"

    Tve heard of him. The locals believe that Jamie el Fantasma casta curse on Monterey Pds. A curse that caused a war between all twelve lineages in their state." "That''s right. That guy was an a***ole. Never shut his f*** mouth. Died choking on hisst words," I smirk at the way he stares at me. "The grand prize came with Olympia Stark," "The missing subus princess. That''s a myth. There''s no proof of her existence," I want to know why?"

    you

    "Sure, heughs "I deleted them from existence for him. Records, family, friends, acquaintances, and anyone daring to question their whereabouts. You have to be willing to sacrifice your soul for this. Even your girl," I say pointing at the tombstone. "When you''re part of the KNAVE''S 10 knights, you have to forget you''re a prince, a brother, a son, a mate, a Lycan. What matters is the assignment. You can''t be any of those other things until it''spleted. I never understood that until it was toote. "You can''t be an 10 knight anymore, James. People think that going feral means sumbing to the beast inside. They think that we be mindless beasts. But you know that going feral happens because living with the knowledge that you failed the only thing that matters to you is a weight too heavy to carry You can''t:

    I

    t set aside your need to make your brother pay for what he took from you. Your focus is on him. You''re obsessed with him the same way I am with Calvin and Morgan. It''s toote for you. You''ve lost your advantage. Not to mention the that old man demands perfection. Your work was well intended. It''s kind of embarrassing, isn''t it? You''re supposed to be a prince and I''m just a silly little beta wolf imed by the beasts we''re supposed to fear,"

    just kill you," he he growls.

    "You can, but I''ve already f**d you over. It won''t change anything. Even if the councilmen you managed to get on your side were to aid you. It''s over. The King has won

    "When did you tag me?" he stuffs a piece of candy in his mouth and res up at me.

    "What makes you think it was me?"

    "Because Jonas isn''t smart enough toe after me like this. Hecks motivation. He''s always been kind-hearted. **ing golden boy never did anything wrong in his entire existence. He doesn''t have it in him. "I bet he told you that we had the perfect lives before Evie came along. I bet they all spun her story to benefit their cause. I met Evie in Nova. My father sent me there to negotiate with the Alpha Prince Regent Ace. Has Jonas told you how we Princes make our money? How we built Obsidian Corp! "Wolf trade, Little One. SI**s. From ages twelve to twenty-five. All women used to make more of us. Of course, not a lot of them make it. Those who do manage to survive having a Lycan pup continue to be bred until they can''t. Then they''re put downl

    "Evangeline was an offering to me. She wasn''t a Lycan. She was like you. Maybe better. Alpha ranked. She was perfect. Aggressive, intelligent, creative, and a whole lot of s***y. She hesitated to reject him. The way wolves are raised with the lies of absolution in the matews. She told him to give her space and he put that mark on her anyway!" he shouts and covers his face with his free hand. "I lost it when I saw her round with his f***g offspring. Everything was red and all I wanted was to take his scent off her, 08:07 Sat, Oct 19

 Bait Novel 79

    98%

    I remember my first rampage. Everything was red then too. I remember the panicked feeling. The desperation I felt when I tried to reach out to my mate to find nothing. The pain tore apart my soul when I reached for the small bump to find there was nothing left. It wasn''t the first time I had toe to terms with being left behind but it was the final straw. "Were you ever a good person?" I ask him.

    "No," he answers honestly. "I started cleaning up my father''s***t since I could shift. He wanted Jonas to be the King who took Lycans out of the hole we lived in. He gave him everything. To do that, he had to fix the mess he had created. Jonas doesn''t know, but my mother does. She knows everything. It''s why she won''t banish me. It''s the reason why we don''t speak of Queen Evangeline. You weren''t chosen by chance. That f**ing psychoed him right to you," A roar in the distance has him on his feet. The King appears out of the darkness. He runs into the cemetery in his lycan form. He stops a few feet away taking in the scene. I stand up and dust my bottom before jumping down to go over to him. "If she was an alpha and she hesitated to reject her mate for you, it wasn''t a hesitation over what she might have believed in. It was a hesitation on her feelings for you or the position she was to take at your side. Did you offer her the world too?" "She loved me," he growls.

    "When you love someone, you don''t hesitate. I didn''t. My mate didn''t. As a wolf, even after a mark is ced on us, we can still reject it. You killed your brother''s mate and your niece. You can spin it around any way you want, but the truth will always be the truth. Feral or not. You''re a killer and she didn''t want you the way you think she did. What you are doing is selfish.

    "You don''t have the capacity to lead. Your father knew that and he gave you a purpose. It was you who let it break you. You telling me that Lycans deal in wolf trade isn''t news to me. I can also care less. In this world, you either serve or you lead," "What do you do?" he scoffs.

    "I serve. I have always served and I will continue to serve until myst breath. Leading is boring. Superficial. There''s no fun in being a master. And the funny thing about leaders is that se***s don''t need them. They need us. Think about that as you make your next move. I decline your offer, James Prince, Mostly because I know you can''t deliver. Partially because I like you. It''s not every day two feral beasts can sit and talk like this. This is one for the history books," "You only have half the information," he growls when the King holds out his hand for me to take. I ce my hand on his giant wed finger.

    "Information only holds power over those who fear it,"

    "It is expected of the daughter of Malikai Nelson to fear no one, huh?" heughs. Hearing my father''s name fills me with a special kind of rage. "Guess the apple doesn''t fall far from the tree after all," "I guess not," I turn back to face him. "It would be in your best interest to remember that. I''ve been alone my entire life-and have been able to fend off his enemies just fine. You''re one Lycan. I''ve tasted the blood of many different monsters. Monsters a lot scarier than you. Knowing my name only makes this personal,

    "It got personal the moment you let him put that mark on you, he shouts usingly

    "You should know he''s done a lot more than that. A whole lot more. If it''s half of what he did to her. I can tell you now that in the two years that you were gone. She didn''t spare you a single f***ng thought, Little Prince. Selfish little wannabes like you only care about their own pleasure and by the looks of you. You can''t even get that right,"

    He growls releasing his ws. The King pulls me to him tucking me under him as he faces off with his brother. He looks at him and then scoffs.

    ****k you, Jonas, he shakes his head. "You always just get whatever the **** you want. You''re already in love with her. I see itThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    in the way you look at her when she''s turned away. I see it in the way it keeps you up at night. I saw it when those wolves dragged her into that packhouse and knelt her down before you

    "Gorgeous things, wolves. So small and agreeable. It''s why I didn''t kill her the night she arrived. You saw hope in her. You can kill me now, brother. I will die happy knowing that when she f***g gets herself killed the only person who will suffer is you think you.

    It will hurt so badly that everything in your life will lose its meaning. They call you the miracle king. What do they y will call you when she dies and you go feral?"

    "The Feral King has a nice ring to it," I say reaching up to loop ny arm around the King''s neck. He holds his hand out for me so that I can climb up onto his back. "A King is willing to make that sacrifice for his people. The only thing you have ever sacrificed was your life for the rock you sleep against every night. If you ever speak to him like that again, I''ll break your ***g teeth, a***le,"

 Bait Novel 80

    ChapterContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    80

    I wrap myself around the king''s body and brace myself as he runs into the darkness of the trees. When I came out here, I didn''t stop to think about the darkness. Now that I''ve gotten what I wanted, the threat is no longering from the prince. I feelpletely exposed. When we get back to the castle''s entrance he begins to turn back into his skin. I release him when his body gets super hot to the point where his transition feels like hot boiling rubber. When he''s back in his skin he snatches my wrist and pulls me with him to the elevator. My heart is hammering in my chest. The pings of each passing floor are so loud my cars ache. God, it feels like the elevator is taking its sweet ***s time to get to its destination. I''m so scared I can smell the burning scent of my fear seeping out of my

    pours.

    I scream at the top of my lungs when he suddenly turns around pushing me against the mirrors behind me with his forearm. His eyes are pitch ck and stare back at me challengingly. I immediately look down only for him to grab my to bring my gaze back up to his. "You knew I wouldn''t like that and you did it anyway," he rumbles lowly and it''s a gazillion times more frightening than do that?"

    when he yells. "Why would you E

    "So he can ambush us at the wedding. I answer honestly

    face

    His chest rumbles like the T-Rex in J**ic Park. My entire being screams out in terror. My wolf is nowhere to be heard of, right now. My body is trembling and I am regretting my choices at the moment.

    "Why do you want that?" he says leaning in to sniff my neck right over his mark.

    "So you can catch him. I couldn''t get my hands on another spaceship. So, that was my wedding gift to you," the truth spills out without my permission and it fear it may not be a good enough reason for him. It''s not to me. Not anymore.

    His eyes stay focused on me as tears stream down my face. The ck in his eyes starts to fade and his hold on me loosens.

    up at him. My feet hit the floor when he steps back. I pull my hoodie down and cross my arms over my chest unable to look My heart is still pounding in my chest but his hostility is fading and with it, the rms ring inside of me needing me to

    run.

    "You were going to give me a car?" he asks

    "I mean Kenzie is most likely going to keep the Buggy and Jake already called dibs on the blue Mustang, but the rest are yours. I included that in my will," "You have a will?"

    "Of course. Even before you came along. I named Jacob as the main proprietor and Kenzie as head of the Lycan Tech board should she ever want it. Under Nate''s watch actually,"

    "I thought the Wraith was the owner,"

    "He is and we honor that as his soldiers, but legally he doesn''t have a im on any of it. It was why I signed on. The seven of us were the only owners of thepany. In return, we''d work for him as his pack. After Darren died, the lines began to blur. None of us trust him anymore and I own most of the shares. One and seven left their shares to me. Kenz also signed hers to me when she left." "He didn''t kill Darren,

    "No, he didn''t. But Liam didn''t know where Alice was. I''ve never been able to prove it. Violetta would die before she gives him up. He swears he had nothing to do with it. The only person I truly ever trusted was my mate," 98%0 Chapter 80

    "You don''t trust me? Treasks, Iugh.

    "Of course not. I tried to on more than one asion and it cost me. You don''t strike me as someone who cares if they''re trusted, my King. You''ve never asked me to. You''ve only ever demanded I prove myself to be trustworthy."

    He opens his mouth as if to say something but then decides against it and releases me. He steps away from mepletely and then turns around to head to his room. I slide down the wall taking in deep breaths to calm the trembling in my limbs. It takes me a moment to stand and start making my way to my room despite how badly my legs are shaking.

    Fear and pain have never been something I sought after. Chasing after death is nasty work. Especially when death doesn''t seem to be interested. No matter how much I''ve tried to car it. No matter how despicable I am. It justughs at me. I sit on the edge of my bed as tears slide down my face. The Prince''s truth hurt more than I care to admit. I didn''t want to know it. I didn''t care to but I do now and it feels almost cathartic. The former king had faults. He isn''t everything his family has made him out to be. Not that I thought he might have been perfect. No one ever is. Sympathizing has always been my weakness.

    I nce back at my urn and crawl over to it. The King''s drawing is still there. Darren''s gentle eyes stare back at me.

    "I don''t want to be here anymore," I whisper to it. "I feel like I''m losing my mind. Nothing feels good. Every step forward is starting to feel like a punishment. All this information is just a burden now. It doesn''t feel like we''re getting any closer does it. Crispy!" I smooth my fingers over the chalk outlines to erase the drawing I prop the urn on the top of my knees and lean into it feeling its cold smooth surface on my face. It''s been a while since I''ve wanted to drink, but I know it''s just a side effect of smoking today. For the first time in a while, I sleep alone in my bed.

 Bait Novel 81

    Chapter 81 Jonas

    James stayed where he was until early morning. He walked away, he didn''t shift. He made no effort to leave after I brought Perry back inside. How the **k did she get out without setting off the motion sensors or using the elevator? The only reason I found out she was

    missing was because Jordan called to ask me why we were in the cemetery.

    F***g wolf has a mouth on her. Even as scared as she was she didn''t hold back and **k her for making me rethink about everything I''ve done. I''m not good with guilt and until Perry came into my life, I never had to deal with it. She carries so much of it. Listening to what she admitted to was hard. Even more to what my brother said to her. How could I not know that my mate was a wolf? I''ve been sitting here for four hours not knowing what to do with myself. "You''re up early, my mother walks into my study with a stack of files in her arms.

    t down, mother, I say. She pauses as she sets everything down at the study table she''s taking up residence in.

    "You sound upset," she saysing over to sit across from me. Did you and the little wolf fight again?"

    "She

    snuck outst night," I sigh.

    "Where did she go?" she asks concerned.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "To the cemetery,"

    What? Why?" she shakes her head.

    "Because t

    that''s where James sleeps," I answer and watch the way ber body tenses very briefly before she nods. "She spoke to him. He said some very rming things to her.abour Dad," "Such as?"

    "Such as sending me away so that Dad could use James to clear up his loose ends. He said Evie was a wolf. An offering to him when he met with the Alpha Prince Regent, "Jonas," she sighs.

    "I just want to know the truth, Mother, I growl a warning.

    "It''s true," she whispers. Her shoulders sag like she''s unburdened by something she''s been carrying for a long time.

    "How long did you know he was going feral before I came back?"

    "Who?"

    "James. What happened with Evie was just the push over the edge."

    "You don''t know that," I''m at her side with my hand around her throat the moment she finishes her sentence. Her hands grip onto my wrist as she panics. "Jonas," Tao. I do. I have a little wolf upstairs slowly rotting away and I''m linked to her, Mother. It doesn''t happen quickly. You and Dad did that to him and you used Evie''s death to cover it up. You let me carry the weight of losing my brother for the past eight years. For what?" 1 demand.

    Jonas," tears slip from her eyes but she doesn''t smell distraught or scared. I would know, I smell it on my wolf all day an night.

    "Tell me what he''s been hiding and I''ll bring James back. Lock him in the tower where you can see him just tell me what the

    Sat,

    ****k you and dad are hiding.

    "I can''t," she whispers.

    "You can''t? Why not?"

    B98%

    "All the doors are locked." Perry walks into my study and ces a device on the door behind her. She shuts the balcony doors and brings another device to ce on my desk. "These provent anyone from listening in. It''s a sonic wavelength. Disrupts any sound on this side of it. Ellie created to put in my room with Darren after we mated. Her hearing was sensitive. Whatever it is. You can tell him and it''ll stay between the three of us,"

    "I can''t," my mother shakes her head. Perry looks up at me and shrugs.

    "It''s up to you. You give the order and I have to follow it,"

    "Can you do it without hurting her?" I release my mother. She''s quick to move behind my desk as if it would somehow protect her.

    "I think she''ll tell you without me having to," Perry pulls a chair over to the door and sits down in front of it. "Either way, no onees in or out until she tells you the truth," "What are you afraid of, Mother?" I ask her. "Tarnishing my father''s memory? My opinion of you?" she looks down without saying anything. Tm going to give Perry the order, Mom. By any means. It''s up to you to decide how much you want this to hurt." "I''ll tell you," she chokes sout. Perry doesn''t move a muscle. She just sits back with her eyes closed. I know she''s only gotten a couple of hours of sleep. How she knew I''d corner my mother is a conversation we need to haveter. "Take a seat. There''s tea, I motion to my desk.

    She pulls out my chair making it clear she''s noting out from that corner. I take the remaining seat in front of it and have a seat. I don''t know why it feels disrespectful to give the little wolf my back like this. I don''t think I trust anyone to sit behind me this way. Not even Ss Ss Yet,

    I know she''d never hurt me.

    "Are you sure it''s safe?" she asks Perry,

    "Yes," Perry croaks sleepily. "You can''t use any of your electronics either,"

    "Your father wasn''t King," with a single sentence she shatters our entire world.

    "Excuse

    me? I try to to fit what she said in my head to no avail. "What the ****K is that supposed to mean?"

    "Oh, **s*t," Perryughs from behind me. For a second I thought that maybe James was a ba***rd. Your mate''s son or something scandalous like that,"

    "Care to borate?" I ask my mother ignoring her.

    I''ve held that information in for a little over eighty-seven years. Allow me some room to breathe," she growls.

    "You were targetting those who knew," Perry is suddenly at my side. I don''t move when she ces her hand on my shoulderfortingly.

    "Yes, my mother confirms and lets out a heavy sigh. "Your grandfather was the beta prince of the region at your age. We weren''t at war with the wraiths then, but there is always someone aiming at the target that you paint on the back of your head when you''re at the top. The former beta prince and the lycan king shared a mate. She gave them both heirs. No one Sal, QCIE

    knew which one was the beta prince and which one was the next king.

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    "It was obvious that it wasn''t your father and what more. The prince was an a***le. He f**d the wraith princess. Took her virginity and then rejected her before the entire throne. She was your father''s mate. He killed the prince and your grandmother and his real father covered it up. It''s why the former King had the Wraiths hunted down.

    "When your father ascended the throne there were those who questioned it. Demanded proof that he was the true blood heir. My father was the next in line to be the beta prince. He killed the former King for your father. I was nine at the time. His first son was supposed to be my husband so that we could take the throne after them, but he never found his mate or someonepatible to take his knot. We''re all built a certain way, Jo. Your father was a beta male. Regardless of race. Your mate was a wolf," 0 Chapter 82

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    Jonas

    me the perfect match. Perry concludes. "Ugh, why do I feel so vited?"

    "Making "I agree." I nce over at her to see her shy away from me. "Why did you use him?"

    "James was killing long before your father put him on the path he did, she looks down at her hands as she rubs them together. "Your brother was impulsive. He did ** that would run us. After he shifted, your father had to redirect that rage inside of him.

    "James is a rare breed. It runs in my mother''s bloodline. Wee from wolves and lycans. Wildes. It''s probably why you and Evie were mated. Why your brother was so attached to her. A percentage of us are born on the verge of going feral. "Depending on our upbringing, we can teeter either way. It s**ed us, but not your brother. I had a brother like him. I tried to help him as best I could. It''s why you were always with your father. I know your love James, Jo," she wipes her tears away. "I never meant for this to happen. I never meant for you to find out, she res at Perry. "We definitely have to kill her now,"

    "That is wild a** story," Perryughs. "I''m pretty sure that your husband became king when he killed his brother. Keep what you kill. That''s like your number one rule, isn''t it? I read it in yourw books. Your husband was scared for no reason," "Anyone could havee up to try and take it from him, I turn to look at her. She didn''t hesitate to ept what my mother said. She isn''t wrong, it just feels good to feel like I have someone on my side on this. "With the former king''s linage out of the way, it would be up for grabs, Why are you smiling like that would be a fun weekend?" sheughs. "Because it would," my mother and I say at the same time.

    "My dad wasn''t a fighter. He was chill. I mean he f***d s**it up, but it wasn''t his thing. Not like how it''s your thing."

    I

    "I have that inmon with your brother," she smirks. My stomach clenches hard. "I believe her. There''s more to the story though because it sounds well re**d. She''s not a very good liar. Not like your sister,"

    "My sister is not a

    is not a liar," I re at her.

    "Okay," she she says sarcastically.

    "Oh, honey. You are your father''s son," she shakes her head. "You have always just seen the best in people,"

    "It''s annoying, right?" Perryughs. My mother straightens up and smiles but doesn''t answer her.

    "How many are left?" I ask.

    "None. Your brother came home with Evangeline once he was done,"

    "Holy s***it. The old man was going to use him to rece Darren, Perry sits up suddenly,

    "What?"

    "He asked me. He asked me what it would take for him to rank 10. I gave him an answer," she looks around and jumps up to remove the puck she put on the door. "We have to go to the dome. I have to find the pattern. If what she said is true, the old man knows he would follow orders the same as the rest of us. He was already doing it for you father," "What pattern?" I ask rushing after her.

    She repeats a sequence of codes under her breath and is out of the elevator before it can fully open. It''s funny to see her like Chapter 82

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    this. Her little legs are moving with determination I''ve never seen before. She always just goes along with what I ask, but this is so offputting that it''s almost cute.

    What my brother said has been ying in the back of my head if it wasn''t enough that I have all this other s**t to think about. We make it to the dome in record time. I doubt she even notices how much faster she is now. She''s a lot more restless. It''s like watching a sick animaling back to life. She''s steadily gained weight since she''s got here. Her muscles are raut. Her skin glistens. But that look in her eyes, it stays the same.

    "What''s going on?" Ss joins us as the domees to life.

    I''m about to find out," she answers before I can. She nces back at me very briefly. "You''re going to let her get away with

    that?"

    "What do you suggest I do? She''s my mother,"

    "Right, it''s just us **es that get the royal treatment," she says silently just barely loud enough for me to hear.

    "What did she do?" Ss smirks.

    "She lied to

    me,"

    "What''s the punishment for that?" Perry asks.

    "Lashing." Ss answers. "If we''re going by the establishedws,"

    "How many?"

    "Four for each lie,"

    "It was one lie," Perryughs to herself. "Lashing. Elena was definitely one of you,"

    "She whipped you?"

    "No, but I can''t say the same for her children. Your brother is targeting the established Pament. The old man has always wanted to weaken the royal bloodlines the way the Wraiths were. The problem was that none of the IOS were ever strong enough to take on so many alone. Your brother is powerful and has the element of surprise,"

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    Chapter 83 Jonas

    Several profilese up on the screen. None of them are Lycan Perry takes a step back and lets a program rin. Four out of the and opens up her email ounts. "What are you doing?"

    Wolves. Wolves that follow up the current royal lineage. icen profilese up. She steps up to the keyboard again

    "Sending your brother''s information to them," she says. I pull her away from the keyboard. can get him killed." 1 growl.

    "Has the objective changed?" she challenges. I stare back at her. "Because if it has, I''ll stop,"

    "It wasn''t his fault,"

    "Right, but this is not just our deal anymore. If he finishes this he will be granted ess to an unlimited surplus of weaponry you''d never survive. If he proves himself, the old man will take him in. You''ve already made his position clear here in court. It''s being your prisoner or=" "Or?" Ss steps up.

    "Or he''s me with a master interested in a lot more than saving his people. He will not only take over your census, but your lycans will be-" she shakes her head. "Calypso. Your mother, your sister, the twins, your beta, All of you will be nothing more than essories, "What is she talking about, Jonas?" Ss asks.

    "If I let you send that, my brother is dead," I pull her closer. "I''d lose both of you,"

    Jonas, you lost your brother the moment his wife turned out to be your mate. Do you honestly believe he would have ever let it go even if he wasn''t feral?"

    "He''s my brother. My brother. There is no way he''d do this. He''s not like that. Even feral. There''s no way,"

    "Your brother or everyone else. I also don''t think any of these alphas would be able to kill him. They wouldn''t be able to kill me. He''s already taken four targets out. This bloodline is part of the Alpha King''s hierarchy. I send these on your behalf and the Alpha King wille here to thank you personally,"

    "I vote for you to send them," Ss says and turns away from us.

    "You don''t get a vote. No one does. This isn''t a f***g democracy, I release her. She stumbles away rubbing her wrist. "The p

    people are the only thing that have been keeping you together, she growls without looking up at me: I would have given anything to have what you do. The people I wanted to save turned a blind eye to everything that happened to me my entire life. I thought that if I saved them it would change who I was born somehow,

    "My father was a murderer. My mother had been a rogue before they were allowed to stay in Red Wood. The only reason my father was allowed into the pack was so that he could kill for the alpha. And I''m not better. You know that.

    "You have an opportunity to make a real change and you''re going to throw it all away for what? He''ll never stop tormenting you and not in a fleeting way. It won''t be like you feeling bad that you killed those three other wolves. Because that''s all h be when this is over. Let him do this and the destruction he will bring down on you will be hell. You won''t have a brother, me, or your people,"

    "1" Before I can say another word she turns around and hits something.

    08:00

    08:08 Chapter 83

    "Messages sent. Would you like to start a new message? theputer echoes around us. My hand hand is around her throat in an instant. Her eyes stay on me as I squeeze tightly. Her face starts to turn red, but she doesn''t make a sound. Her hands are on my wrist but she''s not trying to stop me. I feel the same fog I did when my mate was dying and everything bes very clear when she breathes out to allow me to do this.

    Her eyese to life just before they start to turn blood red. The Intoxicating scent of fear slowly starts to fade and her natural dark scent surrounds me. The resistance I''ve felt since iming her snaps and I feel the person under all that pain surround me. "Jonas Ss growls.

    The feeling explodes and I release her. She falls to the ground gasping for air. I step away from her trying to shake whatever the f***k that was. Ss is quick to kneel next to her as she couglu "Take her up to her room. Lock her in," I order. He looks up at me with disbelief. "Give me her phone. Anything she can use tomunicate,

    Ss helps her up. She tosses her phone and purse on the smart able and turns her re to me. -

    "You''re wee," she chokes out. "Use your ws next time. Act like you mean it,"

    She storms off without Ss.

    Ss.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "I''m not going to lie for you, my King. When they ask, and they will ask, I''m going to tell them everything she did for us. Even if you hate me for the rest of our lives," he says and runs after her. phone starts to ring before I can fully process what just happened.

    My

    "Yes?" I answer trying to calm myself.

    "What did she do?" my brother''s voice startles me. I hit the record call option and put it on speaker. "What did she f**ng do, Jonas?"

    "You''ve beenpromised, Jamie. Are you out of your f****g mind? You don''t hate me that much mother f**r, I shout. "You don''t know a single f***g thing about me," heughs. "You never have," "I don''t know what that thing has promised you, James but I can tell you right now that it''s never going to happen, little brother,"

    "It''s just like you to think the world revolves around you, a**e What did you think I was going to do? Hmm? Let that filthy. f***g beast take what belongs to me?" there''s a pause. It sounds like he''s pacing "Even with everything the little wolf has taken back, it''s not enough." "What are you talking about?" "The council has beenpromised for years. It was easier this way. They thought I was on their side," he mumbles to himself the same way Perry does.

    "Come home. Help me fix this. We can still fix this, Jamie,"

    "I can''t go home anymore, Jonas. There are other assignments. Others who remember the oldws. The old man knows the only reason I''m failing is because of sweet little Pernicious. She''s not going to be around for long. One of us is going to have to kill her, Jo. Which one of us is it going to be? I leave the choice up to you. A mate for a mate," Before I can ask him what he means by that he hangs up. I open up the emails she sent to see that she sent them signed with her name, but the warning informed the alphas that it was under my orders. They also politely ask if they could catch him alive if they were to spot him. Seeing as he''s made it clear that he wanted to crash our wedding. CEND GIFT

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    Chapter 84 Jonas

    By the time I get up to our floor, the news about James losing his s**t and going after this family is already hitting social media. The information along with the signed email from Perry has been publically released. A manhunt that is going to get people killed is going to follow. If the Alpha King is who Perry described, he''s not going to hesitate. "Perry" I tap on the door. "I''ming in

    "I''m not going to bite you,'' she clears her throat when I enter her room. She''s sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and an ice pack around her neck. "Figured we both be prepared. I don''t want a repeat of thest time we argued,"

    "I made the right choice," she res at me. "You don''t want the massacre thates with being the old man''s favorite new toy. There was no one to stop me. It feels good. To be needed, appreciated for your efforts, and a whole lot better to have the world at your fingertips. "It''s like hearing your father tell you he''s proud of you after years of him telling you you''re worthless. The rush of saving yourself is the kind of thing that justifies all the bad ***t you''re doing. I would have chased that for the rest of my life.

    "I know you''ve heard it. I know you''ve seen some of the things that keep me up at night. The memories turn into that urge to drink and smoke and die. Darren and our child would have died anyway. If not when they did, when it all finally caught up. Jdid this to them. There was no one there to stop me. I would have liked for someone to tell me to knock it off,

    "If you believe that then why f*** with Calvin and Morgan?" I hear lots of things buzzing in our bond. Some are more rming than the rest.

    "He had rejected her. He paraded Alice around as his chosen mate. Alice would push her to the point where Morgan would beshed for attempting to assault the next Luna of Red Wood. Some of the scars are still there," she wipes her face. "How does someone forgive that? Dar was an a**le, but he never hurt me like that. It was always the chase for the two of us. Nothing changed once we were mated. We were still always trying to one-up one another.

    "Calvin got Darren killed. We were the only ones that ever stood up for her. He would have let her bleed to death during any one of hershings. I thought she hated him just as much as we did. I wanted to add her to our security team at IT. I was going to need her. I was ****ng pregnant. We all deserved more. Except for f****g Calvin,"

    She growls frustratedly and throws the ice pack.

    "James said something interesting earlier," I whisper. She looks up at me. "He said that eventually one of us was going to have to kill you. That I had to choose if I wanted to make this a mate for a mate,"

    "What did he mean by that?" she asks.

    "He didn''t even try to kill you, little wolf,"

    "Don''t," she shakes her head. "Don''t do that. That''s insane. Besides, we''re feral. Feral wolves-don''t mate."

    ""You mated me."

    "Because that was our deal. I wanted to. I met him before you imed me. We made skin-to-skin contact. There''s no way. He''s trying to get under your skin. It looks like it''s working," she scoffs. "If you haven''t noticed, I''m still going feral," James isn''t the kind of person that hesitates. Just like you," I swallow hard. Just the thought of it is making me sick. The is a such thing as a second chance mate. He was so close to getting to you,"

    "That''s your guilt talking," she huffs. "You''re seeing patterns. Patterns between two feral beings. Feral wolves don''t have Chapter 84

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    mates, my King. Once it starts, it doesn''t stop. One day I would have shifted for thest time and I would be gone. Just an animal in need of being put down. I''d know if he were. He''s not What did he say?"

    "I recorded it," I hand her my phone. She pulls up the recording

    "Am I allowed into my study?" she asks. I nod and follow behind her. She sends the recording to herputer and starts taking it apart. She nces over at me as I stare out the window can see the dome from here. "It''s been a rough morning for those of us who haven''t gotten much sleep,"

    "Mornings have been like this for the past eight years, I agree,

    almost killed me," she says gently. You let me do it."

    You

    "I wanted you to," she says yfully. I turn around to face her.

    "How are you not f*** angry, right now? I''m so f***ng upset with you,"

    "Just upset?" her gaze falls to my pants and she smirks. I growl at her making herugh. "Come on, Lycan King. Why would I be mad? I knew you wouldn''t, but f**," she sits back with a big smile on her face. "You came so close. God, I almost believed it," she says breathlessly as her eyes fill with tears. "But that''s just you, isn''t it? ***ng tease," I''m in her space with her hair in my hand before I can think. For once, she doesn''t push me back. She just stares up at me with that same nk stare. I release her and back away. What she was feeling earlier just erased the anger. Everything really. For a very brief moment, it I was just the of us. I growl at her andugh rubbing the back of my neck as the little hairs stand up.

    twoContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "I don''t know what to do with you," I inhale feeling like I can''t breathe in properly.

    "I can think of something immediate," she murmurs as she ys the recording back after having removed my brother''s voice. There''s chatter in the background. She goes over the audio again and lowers the voices. There are a few sounds left. A ding like that of a doorbell. "Somewhere public,"

    "You can just bring up the tracker,"

    "F**er is blocking me. He doesn''t know where it is but he''s got something on him blocking the signal. That''s pretty smart. Never thought to do that,"

    "That''s because you don''t care if I know where you are or not. He''s at Odessa, "What is Odessa?"

    "The ce the dress girl got you your drink from. It''s an old-timey pub turned into a juice bar. That''s what the bell is. Not a lot of ces have those anymore and you said that he''s been around here not wanting to let me out of sight," "Why doesn''t anyone report him?"

    "They don''t care. Reporting him means they stop working for the day with an open investigation going on. Or worse, I show up and we f***k up a shop. Lycans know how to mind their own business,"

    0

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    Chapter 85 Jonas

    "Nice," she smiles. "You are spiraling. F***g hard. It''s kind of cute watching yoush out at everything that means anything to you. Questioning existence where you barely even exist," you. Perry."

    Would you like to go do something to burn off all that energy?" he asks cautiously.

    "The more you proposition me to f**k you, the less I want to do it, I growl at her. She bursts intoughter.

    "That''s not what I meant. I was propositioning you toe out and do some illegal s***t with me in Magique. We''d need some bullets and dark clothing. And some of this," she stands upto push me out of the way. In her closet space, she pulls a box and opens it to show me the duffle in there. She reaches inside and produces a stack of hundreds. "Money." "You just have money lying around in here?"

    "Yeah," she tosses the bag at me. I catch it and watch her move around the room. This box, that box, the huge trunk," she points around the room. "Oh and speaking of trunks. All the cars are packed. Just pull the rug." "Why?" "Darren," she shrugs. Just in case we needed to run,

    "Did you ever think of stopping?" I look down at the bag to see it filled.

    "There was no stopping. It was do as I was told or die. That''s how it is for us. Whether it''s the old man, the alpha, the alpha king, or you. Of course, I thought about stopping. I regretted it the first time I took the money.

    "Maybe I''ve always had a death wish. Maybe I''m just surviving. The lines always blur. At the end of the day, all of this s***t was on me. I made these choices," she smiles. "I don''t want to be mad at them anymore. I can feel it. How close I am. You''re all I have left and you''re kind of an idiot, she takes the bag, sets it on her desk, and cups my face. "I like the way this yed out. I didn''t know people like you still existed," "What does that mean? People like me,"

    "Would you like to go hang out with some vampires up with me or do I have to sneak out again?" she drops her hands to tuck them behind her back. Expecting my answer she rocks back and forth in her sneakers.

    Will it make me feel better?"

    "Oh, yeah," sheughs. "Or sick to your stomach. It''s really up to how much you can handle," Tile along

    "We''re meeting up with Violetta. You might be rted to her. Herst name is Wilde. She''s one of those wolves that teeter between feral and tame. Fair warning, she''s in love with her boss and she won''t shut the **k up about him," The old man?''

    The

    "No,

    she works for the Thornes. The big pharmpany. Thome Labs. 10s isn''t a full-time job. It gets boring waiting around for Charlie to call. Got to hide how we make our money somehow,"

    "A human?" I ask. ''Is that allowed? Especially in Magique,"

    "Yeah, there''s now against that. Have you ever been around humans? Little f**rs are

    mean. Mr Thorne likes to get his 08:08 Sat, Oct 19

    hands dirty."

    "If she''s as capable as you. I bet."

    "No, no, no," sheughs. "Mr. Thorne doesn''t know that Vy is a wolf. Thornes f***ng hate wolves. They have demon hunter blood. You know from the olden days. They''re f***ng Vikings. Tean I get why she''s smitten. Thorne males are beautiful. Not a lot of mortals left but the ones that survived were the real asty ones that refused to die. They''re respectable" I''ve seen humans out in the open before," "Right. But not like these mortals. Magique City is one of the worst posts in the pds. It''s owned by the Wolfes. You know Wolfe Enterprises? We''ve got Wolfe Tech, Wolle Entertainment, Wolfe Pharm, Wolfe Hotels, Wolfe Cafes, and my personal favorite Wolfe Cosmetics. They just lost more than half of Wolfe Tech to the Lockwoods. It was kind of heartbreaking. It''s why I put my money up for Obsidian Corp. I couldn''t watch that happen to your Mom," "Why are the Wolfes tant?" really don''t

    You

    You

    don''t know anything about wolves. Okay, Wolfes are native to the new world. When the colonists came here they couldn''t push the pack out. They never attacked, they just guarded their territory until they formed the first alliance between them, and since the wolves had f***ed them up pretty badly they helped them. Taught them medicine and wolf s***it. They even took human females as their brides. "Any half human half supernatural is born what vamps call sweet-blooded. They''re stronger and different and with the Colonizers came the f***ng leeches. They multiplied fast and they went to war over the sweet blood. The Wolfes had to step in to create what is known as the Triad Alliance. Between the established supernaturals and mortals," That didn''tst. Mortals were actively h**ed years into the alliance. That''s also part of my history."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "Right. And then a few centuries ago a Wolfe fell in love with a mortal and he was killed. In his honor, Valeria Wolfe helped mortals get their independence. Mortals were granted a seat a the table and Wolfes were gifted Magique City. They became known as the Blood Ridge Pack. The covens agreed to a new treaty when Blood Ridge Bridge was built across Blood Night River signifying the end of a war thatsted however old America was three hundred years ago. "This city is open to to any and all all supernaturals. These little mortals survived us and they''re not just out in the open. They''re trained and raised to be able to go up against wolves, vampires, and whatever else they might have to face. Thommes are nuts. They''re part of thest eight Demon Hunter bloodlines," "And they don''t know she''s a wolf? How?"

    the guy was raised to be a hunter, how would he if she hides it well she shimmies into her body suit. "I said he was part of their bloodline, not that he was a demon hunter. Those guys are sneaky. No way they''d be out in the open like that. Now Mrs. Thorne is another story. She was raised hunting. I think his parents were rted. Every new generation gets a hunter and schr.

    "Vy is sly and she''s not the kind of person who knows how to hold back. No Wolfe does,"

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    Jonas:

    "Wait, Violetta is also a Wolfe? I thought you said she was a Wilder

    "Yeah, thest Wilde Lama got herself killed in the Trenches, Alpia Wolfe started going feral. I''m not sure what happened. but he threw Vy out and disowned her. Wilde is her mother''s maiden name. It''s a verymon surname so it''s easy to conceal her identity. He stripped her from everything that is the name Wolfe and then he went extra crazy and started acting like an idiot," "Should you be telling me all this?" I ask watching as she pulls her cargo pants over her **She''s just putting on a show. B***h. I''ve been hard since the first time she propositioned me, but James''s words are still a little too loud for me to ignore. "You''re going to need to be on her good side. Vy is loyal to those who are loyal to her. We''re friends. As close as we can be without getting too close. When I''m gone, you''re going to own a big portion of Lycan Tech. Obsidian Corp has the best of everything involving luxury. Your diamonds especially.

    "Violetta Wilde is the best finance consultant in the f***ng world. I mean that. You have the marketing skills of a demi-god. Lycan King. You two can make one another a***k ton of money, And her brother is one of thest traditionalists left. He''s a little stubborn and can be very close-minded, but his strategies for war are impable,"

    "Too bad he''s a traditionalist. Wasted talent. Those guys don''t like going to war,"

    "Yeals, not unless they have no other choice. Anyway, you should change,

    "With what?" I scoff. She grins and turns around to open up one of the closets.

    "I asked Ss to bring you extra outfits too, shees back with a box. I bet you''re going to look amazing in this. I can already see it,"

    "I am going to change in my room, you little p***rt. If you wanted me to choke you like that, you should have asked me to squeeze harder a long time ago,"

    "It does more for you," she shrugs and starts to slip her belt on.

    It did this time. I''m not sure what it did, but something inside of me almost snapped and it scared me. I changed into the clothes she got for me. ck straight jeans, a T-shirt, and a button-up. The material is thick and warm. I want to say there''s metal stitched into it. When I go to reach for my shoes she appears in the doorway holding up a box. "What''s t that?"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Boots and warm socks. It''s cold where we''re going

    "It''s cold everywhere,"

    "No, West of Magique is different. There''s a vampire there that keeps the surrounding area of the coven''s property winter year-round. His name is Saegon. Don''t talk to him," she kneels in front of me and sets the box on the floor next to her. "What are you doing?" I reach for her. She leans back before I can get her to stand.

    "Your mate never helped with your shoes?" she asks as she spreads the boot she''s holding open. and goes for the second. She sits back and watches me put them on.

    "Did you

    do that for Darren?"

    She sets it down between us

    "I did. I took care of him when he got home and he did the same for me. There were times when we got home covered in blood. Unsure of what was up or down. Breaking through the surface of someone''s emotions is painful

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    "Before we were mated, I thought I knew everything about him was wrong. He hid so much. We both did. You get a glimpse of the person they were meant to be before circumstances ripped them apart. It''s pretty isn''t it?"

    "It''s peaceful." I nod. Sheces up my boots properly and ties them. She tucks theces and looks up at me. "You never got to be a child. You were deprived of everything that could have made you sweet and yet somehow you still manage to be-"

    "I didn''t want to be this. I wanted to be a beta for my pack. To help my alpha change the way things in the city were, but I was born in the wrong city, to the wrong bloodline, at the worst possible time. Maybe I didn''t get the ideal childhood, but it used to be worth it. For a little while, there was peace. Darren and I did s***it that merited an ugly death. How f***g s***d was it that he died for a coward like Calvin?"

    "I suppose it was st****id,"

    "Your mate''s death was no different. It may have been frowned upon, but Evangeline was getting shit done. She didn''t sit back and let being a sl*****e to the council get her down. Regardless of the circumstances, she died a queen. How she got there doesn''t matter. Most people see a long hard road in front of them and just give up without ever even trying." "You saw it too?" I ask.

    "I see her all the time. You think about me all the time because I''m always in your face, but it''s back there. You simply choose to ignore it. F**k, I wish I could do that," she stands and straightens herself up. She smiles as she takes me in. Her handsnd chest. I feel her all around me again as she leans in gently brushing her lips to mine. "But no matter how much I put

    on my

    in front of me. It all just keeps me feral,"

    0

 Bait Novel 87

    It''s been a long time since I''ve sat in one of Darren''s cars. This was his favorite. I can smell him in the leather, I can feel him in the vibrations of the engine he built from scratch. The seat is adjusted to his liking. So are the mirrors. I reach behind the passenger''s back seat to retrieve the custom steering wheel. "This is

    is amazing," the king says looking around as I push the steering wheel into ce. I hit the switches under the steering wheel to unlock the gears.

    "Seatbelts," "I tell him and lock mine in.

    "You''re showing off," he smirks.

    "Did you catch the sequence?"

    "Of course, I did, I

    "This is very beautiful," Jordan says from the back seat. "Your mate had good taste,"

    and yes, he did," I agree. "Why is he here again?"

    "He''s your guard." the King shrugs

    You brought a a paid c***er,"

    hank you a

    "Iugh. "You were shaken,"

    usugh a little more.

    was not shaken," he rolls his eyes. "You just make vampires sound like trouble,"

    "What happened?" Jordanughs.

    "Nothing," the King growls only

    Did you put your seatbelt on

    "Yes,

    my Queen. I I repeat t my previous statement, you shouldn''t be the one driving,"

    "You''re not driving my car. Over my dead body." I scoff and turn the lights on. The doors that lead out open up as I approach.

    "You heard her, your grace. I get to keep it when she''s gone," he says yfully. The King rolls his eyes for the third time since we got into the car.

    "Why are we even taking this one?" ''he asks looking over the carved leather decorating the dashboard.

    a biker first. He has something I need for the vampire girl. That''s who the bag of money is for

    "We''re going to see a biker first. He has

    "Tell me about this vampire girl, he demands.

    "She''s twenty-eight. Half vampire, half werewolf,"

    "Pardon me Jordan leans forward to look between us. "That''s possible?"

    "Yeah, certain bloodlines can. Lilithia Warren is third in line for the vampire throne. She''s the King''s first granddaughter,"

    "So why doesn''t she live at court?" Jordan asks.

    "Vampires are worse than the rest of us. They kill each other for fun. Now there''s this thing that''s only half vampire running around taking whatever she pleases. Lots of people want her dead on both sides. Magique provides a special circumstance lifestyle because they''re so entuned with humans. It''s a shit city but it has its perks," 1/3

    Chapter

    87

    "They ever have Lycanst Jordan asks excitedly.

    "Just James." I shake my head. Just

    "You know who would love it here?" he sits back. "Lillies and Tulips. They get bored so easily. Tulie is over the moon with your research. Lilly doesn''te out of herb. All she does is study your journals. Thank you for that. They''re usually trying to kill each other," She can ask me if she needs help with any of it. My writing sucks" Till run it by her," "How do you do it?" Iugh, "They both seem very difficult," "Twin Lycans are essentially one. They turn into one Lycan and they can''t shift without the other present. If one dies, the remaining one will never be able to shift again. Think of them as one person with twopletely different personalities," the King exins. "You''d never know they were two if you hadn''t seen them together,"

    "And they''re my mates," Jordan adds.

    You must have done something

    "I

    like to think so," I can see his light in your past life, buddy, can imagine the two of them messing with people pretending to be the other.

    "Until Lilly is

    his little grin through the rearview mirror.

    is pi**ed and holding you by your ankle from her tower window, the Kingughs.

    That was one time," Jordan clears his throat. "And that was your fault, your grace. That little rogue wolf was a ***t. She had her hands all over me. You''re lucky it was Lilly who found her. Goddess knows what Tullie would have done to that poor girl." "You''re an idiot," I shake my head. "How the hell did you not think to run a background check on what you were buying?" "What for? They were never intended for anything else," he shrugs. "You''re the only one that''s made it this far," "What if you would have gotten one who would have killed one of you?" "Improbable,"

    I''ve killed two of you," I remind him. "The first one in a fit of rage. You let that happen when you linked me to you and expected me to never use the power you gave me against you. I probably could have done it without your strength and you wouldn''t have known because you didn''t bother to check. That is such a novice move, Lycan King," "In his defense, the other wolves weren''t much of a threat, Jordan tries to divert the mood.

    me without knowing what I was going to do to the scoffs like he solid argument.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    "Right, because the deal was you kill me after you were finished taking your kingdom. Whatever attiount of time it took and the deal was by any means. You''re a man. You''re a Lycan. It wasn''t too hard to guess what you would do. The question was how far I''d allow you to go until you revealed how barbaric you truly are.

    "I knew what I was getting into. You didn''t. You assumed I was just some **pid little heartbroken beta wolf. Your arrogance is driving you to Magique City to kill some people and deliver their heads to the vampire girl so she can provide us backup at your wedding. "That doesn''t sound particrly bad. It sounds like a win to me, Jordan huffs.

    "Not if they kill us first, I grin. "It''s always a coin toss with vampires," 08:08 Sat, Oct 19

    ''re an a****ole," The King shifts to look out the window.

    told you I am on more than one asion. Thank you for listening to my evil Ted Talks,"

    Jordanughs quietly in the back seat. I can''t believe he brought him with us. The fact that he doesn''t want to be alone with me speaks volumes. I''m very irritated with the entire situation already, but it could be the itch of needing to hit something other than the Lycans. I''m gonna need you to let me do all the talking. Jordan, you''re not allowed to say a word. You''re the King''s little brother tonight." "I''m your guard," he insists.

    "I know, but they don''t know that. These things pride themselves in their ability to hold their own and conquer. It''s why I have a problem with you being here. I didn''t invite you so we could be alone," I re at the King.

    "I know what you invited me for," he growls. "If you like we can have Jordan patrol around?"

    "No, if they catch him outside on his own it would reflect badly on me. I''d lose her trust. Just stay behind me. Let me make the introduction. We''ll be fine,"

 Bait Novel 88

    Chapter 88 "What about the alphas?" he asks.

    "The city is broken up into sectors. They have this alliance. Magique City is one of the biggest cities in the world and only the biker f**ks with the vampires. The twins are his little cousins, "What twins?" he asks.

    "So, the Blood Night River running through the center doesn''t separate the city?" Jordan asks.

    "No, and yes. The city belongs to the Blood Ridge Pack. All of it. At the moment, Vincent Wolfe is the Alpha Major. I want to say there are sixteen active alphas in the city that don''t belong to him. Should something immediate happen to one, it''s up to Vincent to take care of it. Wolfes are very traditional and they a***e by Royal mandates. Most of them anyway. Vince definitely does.

    "Blood Ridge headquarters is on the east side of the city. Right along the river bank, that entire side is made up of humans and wolves. If we get separated, go to the packhouse. It''s a huge mansion, you can''t miss it. Give Vince my name and he''ll grant you sanctuary until I can get to you.

    "In the west, over the river, the Wolfes granted former Coven master Leon Cross territory after they became inws. Now, the coven is run by the vampire girl we''re going to see. Her name is Lilithian Warren. Leon Cross and Bethany Wolfe''s daughter. The vampires dominate that side, but there is a mix of other supernaturals," "Leon Cross is the vampire king''s son?" Jordan asks.

    "No, the vampire King doesn''t have kids. Leon is his chosen heir

    "Why is Lilithian''sst name Warren?"

    "She is s mated to Jamerson and Dash Warren. Those guys are twins. The biker''s cousins. They were supposed to be like her, but fate said: wouldn''t it be funny if we made one a wolf and the other one a vampire?" "You''re kidding," Jordanughs.

    NO, I smile as 1 merge into the Blood Ridge Highway.

    "Wow, life outside the hills sounds exciting." he says.

    "You!

    have no idea, I agree.

    "The biker, what''s his name?" the King asks.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "Ar***al Barnes,"

    "Wait, the A***al Barnes?" Jordan asks excitedly.

    "What does that mean?" the King turns back to him. "Why did you say it like that?"

    "Ar***I Barnes is one of the best architects known in the world. He has an insane Real Estatepany. He was featured in Hot Destinationsst week. Lillies wants him to design our house on the property we bought in Scond,"

    "You guys want to move to Scond?" I ask.

    "We have a town there as well. Their mother was the D**** of that Lycan branch. They''re here for school," the King exins.

    "And A****I is going to design your house?"

    08:08

    98%

    "Yeah, he has something called a cottage core something that Lil likes. Tulle doesn''t care as long as she has her own space,

    "You don''t say." Iugh because there is no way the big bad biker designs cottage core homes for a living.

    "Don''t tease him, the King grins.

    "Stop reading my thoughts,"

    "I didn''t. It''s written all over your face," he smirks.

    "You''ll see what I mean when we get there," Iugh.

    "Can anyone challenge Vincent for the rights to the city?" Jordan asks.

    "Yeah," I smile. "It''s just not a very good idea to do that, Wolfes are f***ng nuts. You have to be prepared to lose everything. They''ll take everyone out. Traditionalists have some of the best strategists in the world and the Royalws for War state that the victor can do what please with with their conquest. If it doesn''t expand on either side of the city, they usually just kill everyone. They don''t take prisoners or s*****s," "And the Alpha King allows this?" the King asks.

    "Yes, the system the Wolfes created established territoryws all over the world. It''s how Lockwood City and Redwood came to be. Some alphas are just born to be greater. But none of them canpete with the Alpha King''s bloodline yet. I bet that monster wolf can swallow you whole," I tease. off," he he growls yfully.

    "If you were my history teacher I would have paid more attention in ss," Jordanughs. The King growls at him. "Not like that. I just mean she''s a really good teacher,"

    "You need to chill the hell out. Where the **k am I gonna go?" I roll my eyes.

    "It''s disrespectful to look at another man''s mate as well as ogling a woman without permission,"

    "Okay, shut the hell up. You just told me you were a f**k boy not that long ago,"

    "That is very true," Jordanughs.

    "Also, I''m not your mate. I''m your Queen or your f**g s**e. Whatever,

    "Queen is fine," he nods. "You address me by title. It seems fair,

    "Your grace would be cute. Queen''s been yed out. I rather be an omen,"

    "No one would dare argue that, he scoffs, but I know he thinks it''s funny. I feel his amusement like a little nervous twitch in

    my eye.

    At

    few minutes of silence pass and the sound ring from Jordan''s headphones fills the casual tension. I''m starting to think that there''s never not going to be any between us. The drive to Magique wasn''t as bad as I thought it would be. "Ugh, what is that smell?" Jordan asks once we''re in the city.

    "Southwest Magique," I answer.

    This p ce is a s***t hole, he sings to himself.

    I agree," the King adds.

    "Yeah, the vampires ate most of the humans here. Some parts of West Magique arepletely abandoned. Whole fully

    furnished homes are just up for grabs. You just gotta break bread with the vamps. You can do it," I nce over at the King as we approach the bridge. "You can set up real estate here and I''m sure the coven leader would love you for it. Your guy back there already has Barnes''s number," I have to like your little vampire friend, first," he smiles.

    "Good luck with that. Those things disgust me, I scoff.

 Bait Novel 89

    I pull up to the booth and reach for my license and registration. A guardes over and motions me to lower the windshield.

    "What are you doing here, Phurry?" she asks with a smirk.

    I

    "Do I know you?" I look her over. I don''t have friends that have jobs like this one. Do I?

    "Shelly," she says pulling her hat back.

    "Oh, shit. Shelly Dawson. What the f****k are you doing here?" I high recognizing her.

    "Mated. I have two kids so I''m going straight now," her face res up. "I''m sorry for your loss, Perry,"

    "I''m really proud of you, I find myself saying "That''s wild. You''re doing great. I always thought you were going to get yourself killed running for Roman," "A few of the others have. My

    Well, congrats. I love that for

    went through a lot to get me liere. I''m very grateful to him,"

    "Thanks," she rocks back and forth bashfully. She nces over to the other guard and then leans in. "Those arent vampires, right"

    No, Lycans, I smile. Her eyes widen.

    "What the f*****k?" she whisper shouts. "You''re still running?"

    "No, this is my King. We''re engaged and that''s his st***pid little brother in the back seat,"

    "Oh, my god. I am so sorry. Holy shit, Perry. You''re the Lycan Queen now? That''s insane," she squeaks. "I don''t know what to say. Congrats but also I''m sorry," "That sums it up well, Iugh. "It was so

    "I''ll do my Mhm,"

    best."

    I seeing you, Perry. Try not to burn something down," she grins and hands my paperwork back.

    she rolls her eyes and steps back. She waves us forward.

    "That was kind of cute, your grace," Jordan chuckles..

    "That girl was insane. She used to run with Roman Vivaldi and his crazy a** sister. They almost got me killed in Paris. Darren forbade me from ever taking a job that involved those two again. I''m d she''s not a rogue anymore. Those guys are being hunted now that the Rogue King is dead."

    "Who killed him?" Jordan asks. "I thought it was nearly impossible to kill kings,"

    The Hellion Triads and Roman Vivaldi,"

    "I hate those f***ks, the King shivers.

    "Nova is run by an Alpha Hellion," Jordan says.

    "Yeah, and that little pack is one of the most important packs in the nation." I nod. They have one of the sickest Beta Hunter programs out there. Alpha Redwood didn''t sign off on it or I would gotten a full ride,"

    "Why didn''t he sign off on it?" the King asks usingly,

    "Because he would have had to pay my dorm. Nova doesn''t allow their students to be work study. Training is brutal."

    "It builds character," Jordan scoffs.

    "Their wolves do it. The alpha

    you gotta be to send your kids are camera and pack-gathering-ready by the time they''re freshmen in high school. 1 heard that Luna Scofield is sending her eighteen-year-old daughter on a national tour to promote their new Luna program. You know how c***********

    out out like that alone? Those things are nuts,"

    "I''ve been on my own since I was sixteen," Jordan says. "I''m doing pretty well for myself,"

    "You have?" this isn''t apetition. If it were, the Lycans are in deadst.

    "Yeah, I''m our vige''s top seeker. I have two fine mates and we own both art stores. That was all me,"

    "I

    I meant the since you were sixteen part," I

    I smile.

    "Oh, yeah. My parents disowned me because I wouldn''t marry their friend''s daughter. I made them break some old-a*** promise. They''re the reason why the twins dated the prince. My parents forced me to reject them,"

    "I''m sorry they did that to you," I nce back at him through the rearview mirror.

    "It''s okay. Things worked out anyway," he shrugs. "That''s right

    and

    now

    "You got it," heughs.

    you''re the Queen''s guard. Just don''t say that in front of my friends. I have a reputation to uphold,"

    "How do we address your friend?" the King asks.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "You don''t. I''m going to go inside to get a package. I''ll be in and out. Then we take it back over the bridge to meet up with Violetta and deliver the package to the vampire girl. She''s def not going to like your st***id little brother being here,"

    "You don

    "I made a bad call. It''s toote to take it back," he growls.

    "Stay in the car," I say and pull into the biker''s garage. I pull the e-brake and take the duffle from between the King and I.

    "Sweet ride, the guy sitting in front of a fire pit near the entrance calls out.

    "Thanks. Barnes in?"

    "Who''s asking?"

    "Perry Phurry,"

    "Oh, yeah. Walk right in," he rxes back. With the fire lighting up his features, I can see he''spletely bald. There are tattoos over the top of his head thate back down the right side of his face. "Your''s is prettier,

    "Thanks. My master.

    pur

    them on me," I smile.

    ne your crazy a**." he chuckles.

    "Someone had to tame your craz

    ask him if we''re acquainted because I think I would remember, but the idea of them talking about me like I''m st kind of weirdo is awesome.

    The inside of the garage smells like burned oil, blood, and antiseptic. They''re not fooling anyone and I doubt they care to. Ar***al Barnes is a sa**st. At least, he seems like it as ofte. The idiot f***d with Vincent and it cost him his girl and their unborn baby. An ident. The explosion was meant for him. Chapter 89

    Debussy''s Reverie, L68 is ying from the little office in the far left corner of the room. I walk towards the sound of the music hoping this man is in the mood to be nice. Thest thing need is for us to fight again. The King and Jordan would rip this ce to shreds. "You''rete," he says when I tap on the open door.

    "Traffic on the bridge sucked, I toss the bag on his desk in front of him.

    "It always does. Youe earlier," he looks up at me with a re F***k. He''s in a mood.

    "Can I have the package, please?" I dismiss him,

    "You talk like that to your alphas?" he growls.

    "What the f***k do you care? You''re not my alpha," I turn my head so the light above his head reflects my marks. "He''s in the car. You might not want to get me worked up tonight, Barnes,"

    "Gio, give this b***h the package for the twins," he shouts.

    My wolf pushes against my throat. I ce my hand on my cor reminding her that if we shift, this thing would strangle me or worse. Rip my head clean off. She retreats and I have to shake off the sensation she left behind. "You''re feral," he whispers taking a step back. "You should be put down. You know exactly what happened to Alpha Wolfe,"

    Try it I smirk.

    Thope your lycan knows what he''s doing," he shakes his head. "You''re contagious now. Get the f***k off my territory,"

    *p***y," I sneer and turn away to get what I came for.

    The bald guy hauls out a body bag equipped with an oxygen tank

    "Gio, what the f***k?" I look up at him.

    "Beats me, kid. It''s been there all day. It moves sometimes. It cries a lot," he shrugs.

    "Ugh,

    "It''s all

    I shiver.

    all yours," he hands me the oxygen tank.

    inside. II tuck the tank under my arm, drag the bag over to my car, and pop the trunk. I secure the tank and lift the body up m the lid before I can talk myself out of it. I go back around and get into the driver''s seat. "Was that a body?" Jordanughs.

    "It was," I nod,

    scratching my forehead.

    I put in the sequence and start the car. A***ial Barnes steps out from inside the garage as I''m backing out of the driveway. He looks between me and the King and spits through his teeth. I raise my hand and flip him off. He grins. I must admit that ****I Barnes is a handsome man. Too bad he''s aplete f****ng ***o.

    That guy," I shake off the ugly feeling I get around him.

    "That was a big a*** werewolf, Jordanughs. "I should kill him for calling you a b***h,"

    "Not if I kill him first," the King growls. I''m sure the Alpha King would understand."

    08:09 Sat. Oct 19

 Bait Novel 90

    The package is awake and is kicking up a storm. It''s a good thing we don''t have to stop to leave this side of the city. I head towards the river bank to pick up Violetta. She''s going to be pi***d we''rete. I''ll just me Barnes for being a b***h if she asks. Violetta Wilde is sitting at the bus stop we agreed on, ying on her phone. She looks like a twelve-year-old who ran away after her parents told her she was grounded from watching cartoons for the rest of the week. "You want some candy, little girl?" I tease pulling the e-brake so I can let her into the back seat. "What''s up, short stack?"

    F**** you,

    Perry," sheughs. She pulls her hoodie off and makes her way over to us. Just as I''m pulling away from the curb, the package screams out. "What the hell is that, Perry? Kidnappe more than one kid tonight?" "That''s the package," I say looking back at her. "You didn''t know it was a person?"

    "I didn''t ask," she grins. "Neither did you,"

    "I don''t like asking. You

    ou know that," I turn the car around to head to the coven manor

    "Who are these guys?" she asks.

    "This i is

    and

    Jonas Prince his little brother Jordan,"

    "Wild, we''re

    I never forng in the car with Royalty," sheughs. "Do you remember spring break in Dubai?"

    t that. The Alpha King knows how to party," we bothugh. "Guys this is Violetta Wilde. We trained together,"

    "And hunt together," she adds. "Nice to meet you guys,"

    "Likewise, the two of them say.

    "You don''t look like siblings. I''ve seen the other one. What''s his name?"

    James?" I y dumb.

    Jim,

    sheughs. "I love getting under his skin. The guy takes himself so seriously,"

    "He''s feral," Jordan informs her.

    "Oh, that''s what that is," she snorts. "He''s an idiot,"

    "He would break you in half with just a flick of his wrist," Jordan says with disbelief. "Youe up to my hip and he is muchrger "This little flea? He''d have to be very fast," I shake my head. The King nces back at her.

    "She is very small," he smiles. "No offense,"

    "None taken. You''re big as f***k. No offense," she shoots back. The two of themugh

    "What are youing in for?" I ask her.

    "They set the meeting up with Falcon. Just here to put a face to our business calls and they''re family. What are you doing here?" "Delivery girl and I need backup from one of her coven branches in Europe. I''m getting married and some f***ks just won''t let s*** go." Chapter 90

    "You know, Lycan Kitig, she ancers, "It''s distasteful to purchase a wife on this side of the world. You gotta be a real weirdo to do something that f**** " "That''s ite. A real weirdo," the King shrugs. Violetta and Iugh.

    "Did you ask to pick up the package? I I wonder why he sent both of us," she says sitting back.

    "I didn''t. I just took the job to get me in. I was transferred over to you,"

    "You were sitting out there like this isn''t one of the most crime-dden cities in the world," Jordan points out.

    ????

    This is is my city.

    If I can''t sit at a bus stop ying Sims on my phone, I wouldn''t be much of an alpha now would I?" she scoffs.

    The King nces over at me and smiles.

    ask.

    "I guess if you''re going to have friends they''d be just as insane as you,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "We''re not friends," the two of us say at the same time.

    "Could have fooled me," Jordanughs.

    Then

    what are you?" the king instigates.

    Allies, we say

    at the same time.

    "If you can''t sit and have a drink with an ally, kill them," Violetta adds. "Before they stab you in the back,"

    "Don''t say that to him," Iugh. "He''s already f***g crazy,

    "He''s gotta be. The only man brave enough to be tied to a feral ***h. He and Lockwood''s mate," she squeezes my shoulder.

    "How is she?"

    "Good. I heard Techining about herck of maternal instincts with the twins, but they''re boys. So, they''ll be fine. Former Luna Lockwood was shot at during one of her galleries. They''re convinced it was Vince," "Vince?" Iugh. "Your brother? That Vince?" "Mhm,

    Minm,

    "Dumb ***." I scoff.

    "That''s what I said. Alpha Scofield called me into Nova to ask if I had anything to do with it. F**ng Eloise almost cost me those resources. You know the Triads Luna loves her and her de***ted feral b***it,"

    The old man would have killed you," I say gently.

    "Yeah, it''s why I''m moving closer to Mr. Thorne. I f***ed up and I''ve been running his security detail,"

    "They tried to hurt your human? Under what premise?"

    "Oh, you know. He''s human," she huffs. "I also got in a fight with him and I started f***ing around with Daniel Patterson,"

    "Are you out of your f***ng mind?" I re at her through the rearview mirror.

    "I had to put him down, He got all possessive,"

    96%

    96%

    "Did he hurt your humm

    "He didn''t have enough time to, but he got very close. Mr. Thorne has been hiding in his

    Mom''s house since,"

    She doesn''t have to tell me that any chance she had at actually being with this mortal was squashed with a st***id little mistake made on her part. Dating outside of mates sounds like the f***ng worst. I''m actually d I''ve never had to put up with that. I just feel bad for her. She''s thirty this year and she still hasn''t found her mate. I doubt there''s a ce on earth she hasn''t been to. How crazy would it be if he or she had been right under her nose after all this time? I''d be so mad at my dad for that.

    Tm sorry, Vy. That''s gotta be rough."

    "Why don''t you just turn him?" Jordan asks.

    "He doesn''t know I''m a wolf, she answers honestly. "If he were in ever find out. His family would try to kill me,"

    "Why are you smiling?" heughs.

    "Because it would mean the end of the Thorne''s Demon hunting bloodline and I kind of like them the way they are. All clueless and adorable,

    The King nces at me again and this time I don''t question it because if I ever did let anyone in again as a potential friend, it could have been Violetta Wilde. But after Morgan, having friends sounds like a pain in the a*** One I no longer care to deal with.

    with.

    The Coven mansiones into view when we reach the end of the empty street. Jordan mumbles something about there not being any kind of traffic here. Why would there be if the things that live here top the speed of the best engines in the world? Those who ride around i in cars are just the rich ***les showing off. Being immortal bloodsuckers is the biggest flex in our world. All bite and no regard to legal consequences. No king can catch one of these things and if they did, it would take a whole lot to keep it locked up. "On this side of the bridge, you never want to be caught outside at night. Always prepare for a fight and never let your guard down around the children who are out and about. Vampire kids are the f*ng w*orst kind of predators you can encounter in a dark alley. They prey on your parental instincts. It''s a hunting technique. Don''t fall victim to it," Violetta tells them. The King shifts ufortably in his seat.

    There isn''t a single light outside of the massive six-floor building, but there is movement. I drive up to the huge iron gate where there''s a small wee booth. A vampire steps out and I lift my phone with the barcode the old man sent me to press it against the ss. He scans it and motions me forward when he steps back to open the gate for me. The iron bars have have the massive Cross Dynasty emblem in the center. Two lions on either side of a cross topped with a regal crown. The crest splits down the middle as the gates open inward with a loud creek.

    "You''d think

    hink they''d know about WD-40 after all these centuries. Violetta says sitting up to lean against the back of my seat.

    "I think it adds to the fear they wish to instill," Jordan says. He''s also pressed up against the back of the King''s seat.

    "You tell I them to keep their traps shut or do I have to Violetta taps my shoulder.

    "We got it," I say and pull up to the front of the massive gothic mansion.

    "My castle is bigger, the King says and opens the door to step out

    Iugh and follow him out. The four of us gather at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the big ck double doors. There are two gargoyle statues to our sides. We wait a couple of minutes before the doors open and the little vampire princess steps out with her two mates behind her. "You should see the Vampire King''s castle, Violetta whispers. "I hate vampires,"

 Bait Novel 91

    "Vy, the vampire grins shing her fangs at us.

    ike Violetta, the girl can''t be taller than five feet. Her hair is long, past the curve of her a***, and dyed in various pastel colors to look iridescent. She''s wearing baby blue denim overalls with a white long sleeve decorated with little soft pink bats. No shoes. There are splotches of paint all over her outfit and some on her face. Vy asks her.

    d we catch you at a a bad time, Cuz? "Nah, I was waiting on your friend," she looks at me.

    I can

    Her eyes are very pretty pastel pink. She doesn''t look twenty-eight. She looks like a teen. Sixteen maybe. But her eyes tell a different tale. They look much much older than she ims to be. Her hair although pretty, it''s messy and frizzy. There''s a wild aura around her and feel the King''s s displeasure through our bond. She is most definitely a threat. "Lady Warren, its a a pleasure to o see you again," I bow formally.

    ??

    "Come now," she growls taking a step toward me. Just the sound of her flit swirls around me as she closes the distance in a split second. "We''re kind of on equal footing now. You''re the Lycan Queen. I like that. You''ve always been more than meets the eye, Perry Nelson," "Prince," the King corrects her. Those cotton candy eyes of hers snap to him and my entire body vibrates with rm. "Don''t, Puffball," one of her of her mates growls. She lets out a disappointed sigh and in a sh, she''s holding his hand and rubbing the side of her head against his bicep. "We brought you a gift," !: say.

    "I love gifts," she says with a menacing grin.

    Her

    I swallow back the bile threatening toe up and walk back without taking my eyes off the King. I pop the trunk and step aside. The two vampires take a deep breath and smile. I keep myself from jumping out of my skin when the two of them are at my side and reaching for the package before I can even blink. mate lifts the package and tears the oxygen tubes out, tossing the tank over his shoulder. He threw it so far that it disappeared into the darkness of what I''m guessing is a garden. With her ws, Lilithian cuts the front of the bag open to reveal a woman. The princess lets out a wicked little giggle and leans in taking in the smells. The inside smells like ***s and s***it. If that''s not enough to make everyone present gag, her fear and anger add a burned hair stench to the mix. That poor girl has been marinating in there all f**ng day. "Run," her mate growls taking a step back. The woman in the bag looks up at him with pure fear. She looks around and without a sound, she takes off running. Her mate ces his massive hand on her little head and kisses the top of it. "Let''s y, Puffball," "Bye, Perry," she grins at me and then the two of them disappear

    "I''m sorry about that," her wolf matees down normally. "They get carried away when they''re hungry. Wee to Cross Manor. Alpha Dash Warren," he introduces himself. "Come on in We have some things to discuss before I give you your assignments," I shut the trunk of my car and follow him inside. I leave the filthy bag on the floor. There''s no way I''m ever going to touch that again. The King is quick to take my hand and pull me closer to him as soon as I''m within reach. The inside of the mansion is as expected, creepy. Very goth, very vampire, and very abandoned museum-esque. There are cabs along the walls filled with trophies of 1/3

    14:35

    conquered enemies. Hearts, brains, wolf paws, and goddess knows what else.

    9

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    I wish to get a better look. I''ve never been one to collect souvenirs of my kills. Unless they scar me. Then I have plenty em, but not like this. This is a different level of sociopath. Vampires are scary and I don''t mean cute scary like the King and his people. I mean these things seriously don''t give a ***k about anything living. It must be liberating to live that way. I dabble, but the lost girl in me wouldn''t let me take things this far. There''s just a level of ***ion I refuse to rise to. That package, it''s taking everything in me not to try and stop what they''re out there doing to her. Dash Warren leads us into a huge study. I expected something out of a Dark Academia novel, but the furniture looks like the basic white stuff anyone can get at IKEA. Even the desks and wooden tables. The decor is all cute with powder pink shades and fuzzy misceneous **. There are toys all over the ce along with young adult novels,ics, and video game boxes. There are two seventy-tw panch TVs in the back wall with an enormous fuzzy pink bean bag bed in front of them. There is a baby pink controller on top and two more metal-shaded ones on the floor. A few feet away there is a massive canvas with a pink and purple Van Starry Night painted on it. I have to admit it''s impressive. "Sorry. There a mess. I didn''t know you wereing until a few minutes ago when Lily finished her painting. She''s going through a phase," Dash motions us to sit in the pink living room set up obviously designed for the little vampire princess herself. The frame and buttons are buttons are gold. The fabric looks and feels expensive. I run my hand over the armrest when I take a seat. The coffee table in front of me is an old gold-ted Victorian masterpiece. There are dozens of little ss unicorn figurines on top of it. It looks like someone was cleaning them.

    "Don''t,"

    "Sorry," she says and sits backhen she reaches for one. "My Puffball is very touchy about those sid things. I asked her to put them away but they''re still drying."

    "Bunny collects these," Jordan smiles. "She takes them out to clean them too,"

    "Is bunny your mate?" Violetta asks.

    "One of them," I answer when he doesn''t.

    "Good for you," sheughs.

    The King grins as Alpha Dashes over to us with two separate files.

    "Which one of you is Perry?" he asks the King and Jordan.

    "I''m Perry," I raise my hand.

    "Oh," he says surprised. Heughs and offers me the ck file in his hand. The paper is ck with a rose gold print. "I''m sorry. I thought you were a man. Youe with a very colorful background," "Sexist," Violetta scoffs.

    "I meant no offense," he holds his hands up in surrender.

    "It''s

    scool. Adds a little mystery to my whole thing," I say. "What do you have for me?"

    "I''ve been reviewing your request for backup. Your strategy is remarkable. I can provide the men you asked for. The timeline

    is perfect. I can prevent my guys from feeding for the next week and you''ll have what you need on the day of.

    "T

    wanted to talk to you about the subjects we requested in the aftermath. Do you know how many Lycans there will be?"

    "We don''t know. I p*** the man off and the seemed adamant about killing one of us," I answer going over the targets for

    <

    tonight. "I questioned his manhood and his royal status,"

    "Little brothers are the worst," he sighs.

    "You have little brothers?" the King asks him.

    3"

    54%

    "I have an older brother and four younger ones. Everyone wants to be the favorite," he says tiredly. "Would it be all right if we pick off how many we want?"

    "What are you going to do with them?" the King asks. Violetta and I look up at him disapprovingly.

    "Lycan blood is a delicacy to vampires. I''d like to keep some on standby for my mate. She''ll be entering fertility soon and their blood makes for stronger younglings. With us being so diverse, I want to be thoroughly prepared for our pups," he answers without offense in his

    tone.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    0

 Bait Novel 92

    Chapter

    92

    -Don''t- I stop him from saying anything else. The King turns to stare at me. His expression ispletely nk. These are my people we''re talking about-

    -Traitors- I remind him.

    -It doesn''t matter-

    -It doesn''t feel

    feel good, does it?- I smile and continue to read through my files. -Being the smaller fish sucks, doesn''t it?- -Perry-he sneers at me. You can take them

    take them all," I say. "Except for the Prince. I want him alive and with the least possible amount of damage," "That''s not going to be an easy task," Alpha Dash says almost annoyed.

    "There are four targets here," I hold the file up. "And we are providing the sustenance for your pups. Eriough tost a very very long time. These things might even be able to feed your grandchildren if you take care of them properly. I think it should be a fairly easy task for what you''re being paid for. If you''re not up for it, I can take my business elsewhere,"

    "Oh, please do not pi*** her off," Violetta growls at her cousin''s mate. "She''s bratty. She hides it better than Lily, but it can turn into a nightmare,"

    "If the package is anywhere near as strong as the kid," he points at Jordan. "It''s not going to be easy to subdue him," "Lucky for you, I brought you this," I reach into my pocket for the list I made and hold it out for him to take. "This is?" he asks.

    "That is a list of things you will need so that you don''t have to actually kill all of them. I mean, by all means, feed your guys. They''re going to deserve it. You''re going to be starving them all week. I just thought you could pick some off without damaging the goods. I know I hate when my bananas bruise up in the grocery bag,"

    "B**h," Violettaughs without looking up from her file.

    The King and Jordan both look at me with disbelief. Dash Warrenughs

    as

    he reads over the list and instructions.

    "Bananas?" Jordan scoffs.

    "That won''te up in a drug test, but it was made in myb. I''d know what to look for. If you try to use it outside of our deal, I''ll know. As great an ally as I may seem, I''m an even worse enemy, Alpha Dash Warren and I''ve got your scent," I warn him. "We have a deal," Dash grins. If he''s taken offense to my threat he doesn''t show it. "How long will it take for you to get rid of our problem?"

    "It will be done by morning," I answer. He sits back looking me over.

    "No shit? You''ll have their heads to me in the morning?" he asks. "Yes, sir," I confirm..

    "Is there a problem?" Violetta asks. "Did you want the targets to be eliminated on a schedule or in a pattern? That is actually going to cost more and we will be billing you for any money spent during stakeouts and gas mileage,"

    "Really?" he says intrigued. "No, I don''t have a preference. I''m just going to be very impressed for you to deliver by morning.

    212,

    14:3

    How much more?"

    "I''m sorry?" Violetta looks up at him.

    "How much more would it cost me for a pattern?"

    #349 54%

    "I have packages," I tell him. "This one is an exchange," I tap his file. "We''re getting acquainted with one another. You, my king, and his head of security. This way it''ll be easier for us to work together in the future. We know your effectiveness and you know ours. "The cost really depends on your strategy. I have several provided ones from previous jobs. For example. There are four targets tonight. If you want me to execute publically and one at a time we have to consider essentials. I have to get a feel of their day-to-day routines. It can take up to three weeks to really get a feel of their surroundings. We have to think of their security measures. Often a target is high rank and has guards. These guards might be obvious or they can be shadows. It would mean more bodies and a higher risk for me to simply approach. It all I depends on what you need,"

    "I didn''t think I had a say in your strategy," he says.

    I do. Here at Lycan Tech, you''re the priority. Your wish is ourmand," I stand and turn my attention to Violetta. "Am I leaving you here?" she nods. "Pick me up when you''re done. Leave the kid. You shouldn''t have brought him,"

    "Of course

    "We,

    "No,

    you

    head.

    "Perry," she turns around to look at me.

    me

    living room. I''ll be back in a few hours,"

    "You''re not my boss anymore, Wilde. I don''t take orders from you or the old man. I''m here because it''s beneficial for me. I''m number one now," "You know that''s not how it works,"

    "Let''s step outside. It''ll be the way it works," I growl.

    "If you leave me here, I''ll call him," she rolls her eyes and turns away to continue reading through the file Dash gave her. "I still need permission. I''d dly show you why you''re ranked number four when he gives me confirmation,"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

 Bait Novel 93

    Chapter

    93

    "Bitch, I growl shifting gears. YLI GLADY SHOW YOu Why you''RONIY rAnkeD NUMBER fOuR. F***k her," Wow," the Kingughs.

    "What?"

    "You would have tried to kill her if I hadn''t hauled you out of there," he scolds. "You''re supposed to be making allies not threatening to kill them.

    "She wanted to keep Jordan there. I am not leaving Bunny''s guy there to be fondled or fanged by f***king vampires. You saw the same thing I did. You heard what Dash said. I''d dly kill any of them to get him out and she questioned me.

    "Did you hear what she said to me? Do you really think I''m going to let that slide because we''re friends? F****k that. I used to let her get away with it when the old man owned me," I growl. "She can lick my whole **le now,"

    Jordan can barely contain himself in the back seat. The adrenaline in my system is making me jumpy and my wolf wants out. I grip the ne around my neck to remind her that if she were to shift we die before we can see this through. It works just barely enough for me to try and calm myself.

    "I just want to thank you," he says through hisughter. "I really thought you were going to leave me there. I was going to lock myself in a bathroom,"

    "Yeah, that wasn''t going to help,"

    The Kingughs. I head back to the bridge and I don''t see any unexpected acquaintances again.

    "No else wants to

    NO

    She

    one else

    to know who the human in the body bag was?" Jordan asks once we get past the checkpoint. was human?" I ask.

    u''re not a little bit curious about that?"

    "It''s better not to know," I shrug. "You''re not supposed to ask or see what''s in the package. It''s one of the biggest rules they enforce in basic training," "Is it one of your least favorite rules?"

    "No, it''s one of the rules I actually like. You deliver and they do what they would with their package, it has nothing to do with you. You walk away without knowing anything. My least favorite rule is the absolution of an order. There''s no I can''t do this. You can''t give back what you''ve taken. The only way out is death. Yours or-" I probably shouldn''t be admitting to this. "Or?" Jordan asks.

    ''Or the offering to rece the order you refuse,"

    "Have you ever refused?"

    "Never," "I shake my head. "But io one did. The former rogue king. He trained Violetta and me. Falcon called him his best asset. Until he refused to take out the Hellion Triads. Falcon almost killed his entire family aspensation and then he -made him do it anyway. Roman Vivaldi, the rogue king''s little brother killed him before he got to their pds. He and

    his sister are what''s left of the Vivaldis all because he choked,"

    *I thought he went crazy and killed his family," the King says staring at me with the horror I''ve felt since Falcon made Darren and me kill those people.

    "No, that''s the story Falcon made up to cover up the truth. It''s nothingpared to some of the s***t the old man had him

    doing. Nothingpared to what he has Violetta doing now. We''re not allowed to have a change of heart,"

    "Is that why you don''t want him close to me? You don''t think I have the stomach for it,"

    3

    "I know you have the stomach for it. I don''t want you to join the KNAVE because you have the opportunity to be more than cheap tricks and brute force. Don''t get me wrong. I believe in what the Falcon has done or made us do. It''s made a real change. "But the s***t about taking people out is that it leaves a gap waiting to be filled and there are others like the Falcon. Like Calvin and his father. People who don''t care about anyone other than themselves. I''ve been inside your head, my King.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "You''re worth a lot more than some a***le with a team of obedient s***es. Give your people what they need and you''ll have an army of soldiers. You''re willing to put your life on the line, they hide behind their sl**es. You''re a lot of things, but you''re not a coward," "You think too highly of me," he scoffs.

    "I thought you said you didn''t have insecurities. You''re supposed to be the King of the deadliest species in the world or was that just you boasting?" Iugh.

    "We are the deadliest species in the world. Except for the little hybrid thing we just visited. I am going to have nightmares about her. Her face when she went into hunting mode. Lillies is going to love it when I sketch it for her,"

    You

    I can draw?" I jump at the opportunity to change the subject.

    "He''s an artist. He did some of the murals at the academy. That big painting of the vige in the foyer was him," the King nods. "That''s pretty cool," I admit.

    "What are you good at? You know, outside of work," Jordan asks.

    "Coding, you idiot. Didn''t you see what she made?" the King rolls his eyes.

    "Th

    t work for you?"

    "No," I park a couple of blocks away from the first location and remove my jacket. "I need you guys to stay here. Not because I don''t trust you or anything. I have to be in and out of there without triggering any rms. Can you please not make this harder than it has to be?" I reach into the back seat to get the duffle bag I tossed back there before I knew Jordan wasing with us. Inside are some paralyzer darts, my mask, and my guns. I twist the silencers on and tuck the guns into my holsters. I take a couple of deep breaths and reach for my mask. "Scary," Jordan mumbles.

    As I adjust the straps around my head. I nce out the window at the suburban street we''re on. My target is two blocks away. I start thinking of ways to get around the houses should anything go wrong. There are three pups and a female in there with him. I take five darts from the bag and hope that none of them react too badly to the anesthetics in here. I slip my jacket on and nce over at the King. "Stay here, please," I tell him onest time.

    "I know I said by all means-"

    "It''s toote to take it back. We''re here and I''m finishing this," I look back at Jordan. "You

    guys have to stay here,"

    "I''m not too excited about seeing this side of you," he nods. I reach to open my door only to have the king stop me.

    213

    <

    14:36 Sat,

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    can''t bring myself to look up at him because, with our bind in full effect, I know he''ll convince me there''s another way.

    I already know there is, but it''ll take too long. I open the door and get out. I pull my hoodie over my head and make my way through the cars toward the house.

    I cross the street so I can get a feel of the house. This entire block is actually really nice. The kind of ce where what I''m about to do is going to be the biggest scandal for the next couple of years.

    The house is three stories. Alpha Dash had pictures and mappedyouts of the rooms. The high-arched window on the right is the dining room. The left window is a study. Down the center is a walkway that leads to the back of the house where metal spiral stairs go up to the second floor. To the right of the stairs is the family room and the kitchen to the left. There are four cameras inj in just the front. Two at the front door. One over the archway and the doorbell. There are two on both bedroom balconies on the second floor. Probably to make sure the kids don''t sneak out. I take a couple of pictures of the sides and zoom in to find that there is one in the center of the wall on the second floor and it''s motion-sensitive. The same on the other side. I don''t do backyards. They usually house big dogs, motion-sensitive lights that can be seen from space, and loud annoying kiddie toys that can ruin an entire operation. My best bet is the master bedroom on the third floor. I lightly tap the car I''m crouching in front of to see if it has an rm. The beeping sound flickers and I back away from it. Who am I kidding? All these cars have a f**ng rm.

    trigger the motion sensors and you can get up there from the left side. That house doesn''t have cameras. It''s empty," the King points at it. I look back at him to see him wearing Jordan''s hoodie. "What the f****k, Jonas?" I growl lowly at him.

    can

    "Very. Very, very weird," I sigh. "I know the house next to it is empty. I was going to use it to get to the rooftop. I can use the bathroom window on the right side once the shower is done," I hold up my phone to show him. "Why didn''t you stay in the car?" "asked

    "I don''t like it when you say my name," he res at me. "Is that weird?"

    you

    to do this. It''s only right that we''re both ountable,"

    coward, but definitely a f***g idiot," I groan.

    "I''m your King. Don''t talk about me like that," he huffs. "Your idea is slightly better,"

    "Oh, you''re giving me that? Have you been doing this for years? Or is it your first time?" I bite out sarcastically.

    "It''s my first time," he looks away.

    "Come on. Stay low. You want to be smaller than the gates. We don''t want any kind of movement. Follow right behind me. Got it?"

    "Yes,"

 Bait Novel 94

    I clear the street and stretch so I can move across the street staying as close to the floor as possible. I stop against the side gate and reach for the lock. I pull the lock to break it as quickly as I can. I open the door. "Against the gate behind these trees," I instruct the king to go first.

    He crawls the same way I did and stays along the gate as instructed. I follow and gently shut the gate. Where the f*** did he get gloves from? Did he bring those on his own or has he been wearing them the entire time? I take the lead again and crawl to the window with the shrubbery covering it. I release my ws to pull the screen out. The window is already open. "Go," I tell him. "Quietly,"

    He growls at me and climbs through the window. I go in after him. I hate new houses. They have no character and it takes the people who buy them forever to make them homey. I hated the house Darren had built for us. Not just after he died, but his whole n from the start. If I had ever had a say in where I would have liked to live, it would have been a loft. Somewhere that used to be something cool. Like a factory or a newspaper printing ce. ces that have a history of scents and a second chance at being more than what they were created for. New houses have this sense of resentment to me. They''re the ces that represent everything we had to endure to get it. It says, look, here is the thing I built with the blood of all those lives I took and ruined.

    From the master bedroom on the third floor of this house, I can see that it''s the target taking a shower. His mate is sitting on the bed in a silk nightie putting on lotion. I know her. Not personally, but she was a sorority girl for Orfilia Arianelle Luna at Redwood Tech. She tried to recruit Morgan and me because of our academics, but the older girlsughed and told her we were downtown trash.

    She''s done very well for herself. Her mate is in the King''s parliament. She''s in the Luna Queen''s inner circle. Her pups can''t be older than five. It doesn''t change anything but I probably would have hesitated if it were. It''s why the minor details can''t matter in jobs like this. The targetes out of the bathroom with a ck towel around his hips. He approaches her. She smiles

    y and they kiss. I look away giving them some privacy.

    ad

    ad

    You

    okay?" the King whispers.

    up at him

    "Yeah, are you?" I ask him. He looks down at his gloved hands and shrugs. "Since you took the liberty to bring Jordan with you, may I ask if he can be excluded from the wedding team?"

    "He won''t be there. No one you work with will. I gave the assignment to lycans I don''t mind losing," he shuts his eyes like he''s ashamed about what just came out of his mouth.

    "I''m sorry," I find myself saying.

    "It''s

    s not like I haven''t already been doing just that," he shrugs it off.

    "You don''t have to do that with me. Put on a brave face, I mean. I feel what you do, remember?"

    "I guess I''ve never thought of what my orders look like so as long as they get done," he lines up the tips of his fingers without looking away from his hands. "They''re just words to me. I never stopped to think of what doing them would do to the person delivering the order. I know what it feels like to do something f****d up. You''re just teaching me all kinds of ugly s****it, huh?" "More like exposing you to it. You know it could potentially be ugly to carry out any order given. That''s not a bad thing in my opinion. You''re the King. So far you''ve proven to be an all right one. Your soldiers should follow your orders. They''re meant to protect them and their families,"

    "What''s the difference between your orders from the Wraith and mine?"

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    "He''s not building anything. He doesn''t exactly have an objective He fancies himself a god. We''re not his family. We''re not his pack. We''re pawns to him. So as long as we''re useful cogs in his machine, he''ll keep us around. There is a lot of gray area around him, but the truth is simple. The Falcon is a bad man. Those of us who serve him are grateful for the lives he has given us, but we''ve had to stay because we''re scared of him. If he could do what he did to his best friend, what of the rest of us who don''t mean shit to him?" "You''ve given this a lot of thought,"

    "It''s all I had the past five years. A lot of thoughts," n''t you

    "Don''t I want to know what your life would be like without all this in it?" he asks when I peek over to see that the situation has escted and the towel is now on the floor where the target had been standing. "No, I''ve

    never considered it. My father was one of the greatest assassins for the crown in our history and he probably would have remained happy doing that if the Lockwoods hadn''t used him as a scapegoat. Sure, he was exonerated, but his cover was already blown and he had lot of enemies. ¨¤ not a good person. I''ve always known that. I''ve had countless opportunities to change that and I didn''t. You feel bad for me because you''re on the receiving end of my life. You want to repay me. I appreciate that, Lycan King. It''s more than I deserve," "I''d say that it''s cowardly of you to have given up so easily and early," he shrugs.

    "I''m

    Iugh and reach under my mask to scratch my nose.

    "You are the first person to make me genuinelyugh since Darren died," Iugh again at his st***id expression. What an a***ole. "How f***d up do you think it would be if I kill him while he''s f***ng his mate?"

    "Don''t do that," he shakes his head. "You''dpletely ruin her,"

    "Because waking up next t to his body tomorrow isn''t going to f****k her up?" I smirk.

    "You''re all kinds of f***d up, aren''t y you?" he scoffs.

    I just wanted to speed things up,"

    ine, but we''re going to be here a while phone and sits on the toilet. I make myselffortable in the tub. "Why do wear a mask?"

    "I''m going to tell Jordan," he "he pulls out his

    "So no one can see my face," Iugh again.

    It''s kind of self-exnatory.

    the f***k they like doing like thick missions like this have a lot of nk spaces. There''s no way for me to cover everything with such as small window. I check my watch to see it''s ten o'' two. It''s still very early. Hopefully, the two other targets get their final hour of whatever "You seem almost rxed," he says after going to fall asleep next to his mate blissfully and never wake up again.

    this guy. He''s

    a while.

    "You want me to be nervous? The fate of your people depends on this," I remind him.

    I lean back against the wall and turn my head to look at him. He''s nervous. He''s attempting to keep his breathing even, but it''s only serving to suffocate him. I sit up and crawl over to him.

    "What are you-" he starts to ask, but I cover his mouth and pull him into the tub before straddling him.

    "Rx," I whisper pushing him back. I lean in and lift my mask enough for me to be able to kiss him.

    213

    14:3

    54%1

    "I don''t-" he mumbles against my lips. I smile pulling his grip from the sides of the tub so he has something better to hold

    on to.

    A low grumbling soundes out of him when he gives in and finally kisses me back. Our bond sparks to life and he growls when he slides his hand down my pants.

    "You watched me put this on," Iugh pulling away.

    "It just makes it that much more annoying," he looks up at me. "Why do you do this?"

    "What?" I sit back and nce through the window next to the sink. There''s a better view from here and Iy down on top of him.

    "Try to make me feel better every time I''m about to lose my

    Shit

    shit

    "It''s going to be a long time before you can find any kind of peace. Work only gets you so far,"

    "I want more of you," he whispers after a while. "I admit that I now have an insecurity,"

    "Oh, yeah?" I grin. "Do tell,"

    "I have to live with the fact that I wasn''t enough to save Pernicious Phurry,"

 Bait Novel 95

    Jonas

    Perry groans rolling her eyes as dramatically as she possibly can. Before I can make an even bigger fool of myself, she gets out of the tub and leaves. I don''t follow, but I sit up and watch as she slips into the bedroom across.

    I watch her inject the woman and then check her watch. I''m guessing she''s waiting for it to take effect. The sh of her gun going off three timeses next and then she disappears. My phone vibrates in my pocket and she instructs me to jump over. I use the window I was watching her from and move through the house until I find her in the living room with something round tucked to her side. "Let''s go," she says as she disables the cameras.

    Neither of us says a word as she drives us to the next location. I stay in the car this time. I shut my eyes and lean back against the seat. That kisspletely calmed me. It''s never easy giving in. I don''t understand how it doesn''t affect her the way it does me. It not only feels one-sided, but it feels like she''s enjoying watching me struggle. It''s the one thing that makes me hate her.

    "That bad, huh?" Jordan says quietly. We both look up when we see hering back with another round thing tucked under her arm. "Are those the heads?" "She did say don''t think about it," I e out.

    breathe

    The trunk shuts and she gets into the driver''s seat again. She removes the mask, stares straight ahead, and takes a couple of deep breaths before she flicks the sequence on the switches under the steering wheel. The cares to life and we pull away from the curb. "I''m starving," she says and checks her watch. "That was fast," I say. She was gone less than forty-five minutes.

    "That''s what happens when you listen to me," she answers.

    My eves stay focused on hers as what she said fully settles. Would she have really killed the first target while he was in the mid f*******g his mate? When I''ve fully convinced myself that she would have, I turn away. The new location is about an he away.

    "Do you guys want anything?" she asks when we pull into a gas station.

    This is the first time I''ve ever been to one and by the way he''s looking around, it''s the same for Jordan. He snaps a couple of pictures as he takes snacks off the shelves and stops at the soda machine.

    "What''s that?" he points at tit.

    "A self-serve soda dispenser," Perryughs and takes a colorful foam cup from one of the slots.

    "What if I want a soda with all the vors in it?" he asks looking it over.

    "That''s called a suicide and it''s both the most disgusting and greatest thing you can ever drink,"

    "Are you serious? I''m going to do it," he takes a cup.

    "That''s forty-two ounces," I inform him.

    "Yeah, how great is that?" he grins.

    "Ice," Perry shows him how to use the machine.

    get a water bottle and walk around the store to if anything catches my attention. When we''re standing to pay, a key chain catches my eye. It''s a resin diamond with the Leo constetion inside of it. I pick it up and set it on the counter. Perry and Jordan argue over what vor Lays is the best. I pay with my phone and pump gas for her. She sits in the driver''s seat watching me with the straw between her lips.

    "This is gross," Jordan shakes his cup and then continues to drink from it. "I never want to stop drinking this,"

    My chest that she''s

    constricts when sheughs. She just killed two wolves. She didn''t know if they were guilty of anything. They''re just gone. Yet, she''s sitting thereughing enjoying her drink. A part of me is enjoying the fact that she''s not tucked away in her study or the dome. I like t she''s smiling and joking around, but then there''s the nagging part of me that believes her when she says she''s not good. I''ve never cared to think about things like this. They''ve never gued my dreams in the slightest. I''ve killed, but never like this. I''ve never had to resort to anything like this. I''ve always chosen my battles carefully and this fight with James has shown light on things I was sheltered from. I see where his resentment towards me stems from. I see the pieces of her that are simr to him.

    Last

    t one," she says and looks over at me. "Stay here, please,"

    "I will," I avert her gaze.

    I

    There''s a pause before she huffs and gets out of the car. "Finally,"

    "You know she''s doing this on purpose, right?"

    I turn around to see Jordan holding his phone out. The twins are staring back at me through the screen.

    "Yes,"

    answer.

    "Why are you letting it get to you?" Lillies asks.

    "Because no matter what I do, she''s not going to stay. I rather believe she''s this than let her ruin everything because she''s a f****g stubborn p***o,"

    "On that, we can call agree," Tullieughs.

    it that she''s got two heads in the trunk?" Lillies whispers. Jordan grins.

    "Is it f

    "Yes,

    "I want to be just like her when I grow up," Tullie sighs.

    "You can''t. Catching up with her trauma would take us centuries, Lillieughs.

    The three of them continue their call quietly in the back seat.

    It''s almost four in the morning when Perry stumbles out of the building across the street. She''s holding her side, but she''s still got two heads wrapped in a stic bag with her. Her bloodied gloved hand hits the ss. I''m out of the car and at her side immediately. "You drive," she pants and pops open the trunk. "How bad is it?" I ask helping her around the car. She tosses the bags in and begins to remove her jacket.

    She opens her mouth and a threatening growles out of her. She grips the ne I got her as she struggles to keep her wolf at bay. I take the first aid kit and help her around to the passenger''s seat. "Stop," she groans fighting the shift.

    "I cleared up the blood, sir, Jordan says staring at her in horror.

    "Crys," Perry cries out.

    "Get in," I order him. I shut the door and go around. I flip the switches and start the car.

    3

    54%

    "Ba-" I Perry growls and then tries to catch her breath. "To the coven. Third-" She writhes in her seat. "Address at the bottom,"

    "Is there any way for us to help her?" Jordan asks a little panicked.

    "Don''t reach for her. It bites," I warn him.

    It takes her a bit to get her wolf under control. She reaches for the first aid kit as she catches her breath. She rips her top to reveal the massive wolf bite on her side.

    "What happened?"

    "The kid shifted when he saw me cutting the head off his father''s body," she groans.

    "Did you kill him?" Jordan asks.

    Perry pours the bottle of alcohol over the wound and continues to clean herself up. She sits back holding the mess of gauze to her side. She''s calm enough to breathe out of her nose. Jordan. I killed a seventeen-year-old boy tonight. Now shut the f**k up," she growls.

    Yes,

    By the time we get to the coven mansion, she''s mostly healed. She jumps out as soon as wee to a stop. Violetta is sitting on the steps watching Perry change out of her bloodied shirt. I feel a sharp stab in my chest when she opens the hiddenpartment to find a stack of T-shirts. She stares at them for a moment. I m my hand on it. Her eyes snap to mine as I remove Jordan''s hoodie and hand it to her.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    She doesn''t hesitate to take it and slip it on. Then she reaches for the heads. It''s only then that Violetta Wilde stands up. Perry tosses her a head like one would do when passing a basketball and the girl smirks tucking it under her arm and reaches for a second. "was

    ng to think I was going to need to look for you,"

    "Eat s**it. Violetta," Perry growls only making her smile bigger. Violetta nces back at me.

    "No, did your pet monster put you in a s****ty mood, Per?" sheughs tossing her head back, mocking her. "I''d get rid of it if I were you. You don''t need that kind of negativity in your life-"

    We all pause when Perry suddenly turns around to get in her face. Perry''s eyes are white andpletely focused on Violetta. The grumbling sound thates out of her causes a cold shiver to go down my spine and I have to turn away to keep myself fromughing. "You''re feral," Violetta says quietly. "Violetta," the wolf growls. "Shut. The. F***k. Up,"

    "Full of surprises, Terabyte. You''re using him to keep your wolf from taking over," sheughs. "All right. Go present your treasures,"

 Bait Novel 96

    Chapter 96 Jonas

    Perry growls lowly again and shes her teeth before pulling away and marching up to the double doors. When we get inside, I catch Violetta staring at me. We lock eyes and I find that she almost looks impressed. She''s the first to break eye contact but not as a sign of submission. I have to admit that she was the first female who was able to hold my stare. Perry does it but with great difficulty and only because she''s afraid of what I may do if she looks away without my permission. "You must have had so much fun," the little hybrid girl ***ps up to Perry and takes the heads. "Come over here," she spins away and takes the two heads to the white table with a tall ss container on the floor next to it.

    At the bottom of the container, there is a pile of golden glitter flecks. Jordan turns away when she rips one of the bags open and holds the dripping head up. "Look at you," she coos at it. "You can''t sell little babies on the ck interweb anymore, can you?"

    She takes the head over to the container and gently lowers it. She does the same to the other three before taking a couple of jugs to fill it. Red and gold flutters at the bottom as she fills the container. Jamerson Warrenes over with the lid and covers the top. He stands back folding his arms over his chest while he watches his mate lift the container to shake the glitter trapped in the jar of heads with a smile on his face.

    "I was wounded. That''s an extra two fifty," Perry breaks the silence.

    "Oh, no. Are you okay?" the princess asks and waves one of her twin mates over. "Pay her,"

    Tine,

    "What happened? identally trigger an rm?" she smirks yfully.

    "Smythe''s son got homete from a party," she exins. "He''s very young and I didn''t feel hime in until he wasing up

    the stairs. I was hoping he didn''te back at all,"

    "You win me, you lose some," she shrugs. Dash ces five stacks on the table in front of Perry.

    "Want me to take a look at it?"

    "She''s bonded to me. She''s fine," I growl at him. He and the princess bothugh.

    "Told you," she sings.

    "Thank you. Your services are concluded. I look forward to working with you again, Jonas," he holds his hand out for me. it.-Perry urges me. I take his hand and nod.

    Shake it hold his

    "Likewise," hold his gaze. He smiles.

    "Are you done?" Perry asks Violetta.

    "Yeah, let''s go. Laters, Cuz,"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "Bye guys," the princess waves us off but it''s clear she''spletely absorbed in the jar of heads.

    "Where am I taking you?" Perry demands.

    "Back to the bus stop. I stashed my bike there," she answers. "I''m sorry about the kid. I know you have a thing about that,"

    "Whatever," Perry sighs and gets us out of here.

    23

    14:3

    Chapter 96 0053%

    "Here." Violetta tosses a pill-hox on myp when Perry gets out of the car to let her out. "Give her two every morning. It''ll help with the wolf''s t***ts and keep it from trying to rip out of her skin. My father has beenpletely feral for sixteen years now. Let me know when you need more. Crush it into her food. The wolf''ll spit em back out whole," "I''m not giving her something that could hurt her,"

    do her a favor and put her out of her misery once and for all already."

    "Suit yourself, Lycan King. Maybe do

    "Is that what you did with your father?"

    "Nah, f***k him. He deserves to suffer," she gets out and makes her way into the tree line behind the stop we picked her up from. We stay put until a sleek little speedster takes off before usi

    "Do you mind driving back home?" Perry asks before getting back in.

    I get out and

    I

    around. I stop her, but as always she averts her gaze. I guide her stare back to me. The same nk stare greets me. I lean in pressing my lips to hers. Anger res in her eyes when I pull away.

    "Good job today, Little wolf. A good girl always deserves a gift. You get an hour with your father once you get some rest. Use it to say goodbye. It''ll be thest time you see him,"

    I release her and get in the car. She stands there for a moment looking down at the ground. The rumble of the engine snaps her out of it and she gets in the car. The ride back home is quiet. Not even Jordan says a word. He even put his phone on vibrate. I send him home once we arrive. When we''re inside, I take her in. She''s covered in blood and dirty. Her ws are sticking out from the tips of her gloves. Her mask is sitting on her head and she''s got a nk expression. My mother stops when she sees us walking to the elevator. Thank goodness she doesn''t ask. I reach for the mask and pull it off tossing it aside. She lets me remove the hoodie. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps when my lipsnd on my mark. She reaches back to rub the back of my neck. She unbuttons her pants and lets me push them down as I reach around to touch her bare p***y. "Hurt me," she growls. "Please, Jonas,"

    I ha

    way

    way she says my name. It''s not the way I want her to say it and it dawns on me that the only person who said it in a made me crazy was Evangeline. The thought crosses my mind and rage bubbles in my chest.

    The elevator shakes from how hard I m her against the wall. I expect her to get angry, but the sound thates out of her has me hard as steel. She cries out the moment I force myself inside of her. Her armes up holding me to her as I m in and pull out almostpletely before doing it over and over again. It takes her a moment to get wet but she doesn''t tell me to stop.

    I step down on her pants and pull her out of them. I turn her around to face me. She cries out when I push her up the wall and m back into her. I pin her hands over her head with one hand and hold her against the wall so she''s not touching me. "More," she cries out.

    herself.

    Her legse up around my waist when I let her go. My teeth are deep in my mark before I can stop myself. Her p***y grips me tightly as her blood fills my mouth. We end up in my bathroom. Every bad thought I''ve had about her today flies out the window along with whatever dignity either of us imed we had. As she cries out for me, as I take what I want from her, my brother''s words mean nothing. So what if she had been his second-chance mate? She belongs to me now. Whatever is left of her is mine and I''ve never wanted something this much before. Not even Evangeline Everything that led up to me marking her, our mating, my guilt always sat with me in knowing that James had loved her first. He has been so happy with her and I took her away from him. But not Perry, I didn''t know who she was before me. I feel the phantom of it under all this rage she carries herself with, but there''s more now. Something new and bloodthirsty 14:36 Sat, Oct

    boiling inside the two of us and I can''t get enough of it.

    "Squeeze harder," she demands when I wrap my hand around her throat. "Like before,"

    3

    "Maybe we can try something a little better," I pull out of her and push her down to her knees in front of me. She looks up at me with a smirk.

    You really are an idiot," sheughs and looks down at my d**k still slick with her juices. "It would be so easy for me to just bite it off."

    "So as long as it''s all the way down your f** throat, I don''t care what you try to do to it,"

    I grip a handful of her hair and push her forward. She opens her mouth and looks up at me. I hesitate for a second because the girl staring back at me is very much alive. It''s a little glimpse of the girl struggling to breathe under the sea of despair pulling her under. Her hand wraps around me and she closes the distance taking me into her mouth. I groan when her tongue swirls around the tip. "Did you for a second think I would really do it?" she smirks. "This thing is the only reason I even like you,"

    3

 Bait Novel 97

    Chapter 00053%0

    97

    I''ve been sitting here watching Jacob flirt with Lillie''s mom for the past few days. That woman has a whole lot of self-respect. and Jake is loving her fi. She''s all smiles and giggles. I decided that I didn''t want to say goodbye. This is how I want to remember him. I head back to "my study" and sit at myputer to stalk Morgan through the packhouse feed. She''s along about the same I was just before Darren was killed. Her blonde hair is long almost down to her waist. Morgan always hated it long. She would say that keeping it short was best for training. She''s constantly being watched. There''s always someone at her side. A handmaid or the former Luna. It''s obvious she hates it all. She''s never been one to be able to hide what she''s feeling. Her expressions have always been louder than her words. "She''s hot," Jordan says from behind me. "Is that your ex-girlfriend?"

    "No," I close the feed. "She was just my friend,"

    "You never tried to be more?" he smirks and falls onto the big floor pillows. What would he say if I told him the king f***d me until I passed out on those things on more than one asion? "No, she was like my sister,"

    "Mm, I guess I''m the wrong person to tell that''s wrong," he smirks. Iugh, because he''s right. Little shit. "I thought you were going to say goodbye to your dad,"

    "I left him a letter in my will. Turns out I''m a coward after all," I shrug. He looks around until his eyesnd on me.

    could have told you that," he says gently. "I''ve never spoken to someone I know isn''t going to be in my life for very long. It feels like I''m already mourning."

    "Yeah," I nod rememberinging home to my mother as a kid.

    I''d always pause just before entering the apartment wondering if that would be thest time I ever saw her. I guess it''s just a generational trait and it''s finally going to end with me. A millennium of Nelsons finallyes to a bitter end. And boy were we f***g bitter through it all. We all got what we deserved. "Perr "the King''s voicees from the hallway.

    "In h

    I call out. He steps in front of the doorway and holds up my purse.

    "Time to go," he says. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly before shutting down myputer.

    Jordan excuses himself and doesn''t look back. I take the purse and step out of the room shutting it behind me. He stares down at me with a nk expression while his hand digs something out of his pocket.

    My chest constricts when I see Darren''s ring box in his hand. He opens it to reveal the pretty ring inside. There is now an addition to it. A second piece with the King''s ve designs decorating my side of the ring. He takes them out and slips them onto my finger. I can''t even look at him and for once, he doesn''t force me to. He simply pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head.

    "I wouldn''t ask more of you," he whispers. "All I''d ever need to know is that you belong to me. Whatever you choose to do will always be up to you, Little Wolf. You''re absolutely perfect the way you are. I don''t need more, but I''d want it if you were willing," He pulls away taking my hand in his. No one is waiting for us when we get downstairs. It''s just the two of us. My weapons are in the backseat of the G-Wagon. I climb in and start looking through everything. To make sure everything is in order. I slip on my holsters and begin to equip my arsenal. I''m sitting quietly mentally preparing for whates next. There''s an odd sort offort as I sit here knowing that my fate no longer sits on my shoulders. From here on, my life no longer belongs to me and there''s a sort of freedom that''s fluttering 4.30 Sat, Chapter 97

    in my belly. I can''t help the smile tugging at my lips. 053%

    I finally allow myself to look down at the ring. I rub the gems and the pretty designs. It hurts more than it did when I first saw it. I didn''t think it could be any more perfect. The design of the addition blends effortlessly against the marks tattooed onto my skin. I tuck my hand under my thigh before I let

    anyN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    of it creep in.

    "We''re here. Prepare yourself," the King growls.

    "Thank you," I say and lean forward to ce a kiss on his cheek.

    I sit back as he pulls into the runway where there are four private nes. I look out the ss to see there are also three other cars identical to this one.

    "Put your hoodie on," he instructs. "Stay with me,"

    0

 Bait Novel 98

    As soon as his door is opened. Lycans start going down around us. The sound of guns popping off echoes around us, but the King doesn''t let me look around. He covers me with his body as we run toward the ne. What t makes you think he won''t shoot down the nes?" I ask as soon as I''m inside. I press my back against the wall behind me and remove my guns. "Clear the cabin. Two pilots and a stewardess, he dismisses me.

    I clear the back of the ne and wave him in as the door finally shuts. I move to the front to find a woman sitting on the floor crying. I put my finger to my lips and shush her. She nods as I open the cabin door to find the two pilots. I clear their room and step out to see the woman looking up at ine. You okay?"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    I

    "You

    "Yes," she nods. I tuck my gun away and help her up. "Thank you,"

    "Only two made it out," the King informs me when I get back to him. He pulls me to him and sits me in the chair next to him as the ne starts to move. He buckles me in and then himself.

    "You''re not hit are you?" I ask.

    "No, I wore one of your vests," he shakes his head. He pulls his T-shirt to the side to show me one of Darren''s vests. I''m surprised it fits him.

    "That was a cool n," I admit.

    "What would you have done?"

    "Driven to the next state and to catch amercial flight under a different name,"

    "Maybe I should have paid for the Teribyte''s services," he huffs.

    "WI

    re you going to do, pay me with my own money?" I smirk. "Besides, you want the publicity. It was a good n,"

    "You''re a lot heavier than you usually are. What do you have under all that?" he motions my outfit. "It''s basically painted on you,"

    "You''re the one controlling what I eat. If you think I''m fat, that''s on you," I growl at him.

    "I didn''t mean it like that," he turns all the way to face me. "You know that,"

    "I don''t know anything," I roll my eyes, but his reaction is hrious. He really thinks he hurt my feelings.

    "I didn''t-" he sighs. "That''s not what I meant. I meant what are you hiding under there?"

    "You already know. You were all over itst night and this morning,"

    His reaction doesn''t fail to please me. The tips of his ears turn bright red and it bleeds down over his cheekbones and nose. I decide to put him out of his misery and open up my leather jacket to show him the weapons underneath. "I''m nervous enough," he growls at me. "That''s a problem," I sit back.

    The inside of the ne is beautiful. It''s designed by Obsidian Corp. The interior is royal blue and gold. The seats are suede. The table in front of us is ck marble. I''m not sure if it''s actual marble or just the design, but it''s pretty. The edges have a 14:36 Sat, Oct 19

    14.3

    Chapter

    98

    gold trim. The carpet is ck and the ceiling is made of the same material the seats are. However, the ceiling is decorated with diamonds and I''m smart enough to know that they''re real

    I don''t hesitate to remove my seatbelt as soon as the lights turn on. This ne fits at least twenty people. When I get to the bathroom I want to take my boot off and throw it at him. This is wildly snobby and I know the other three were just as bad. "He doesn''t want to kill me," he says when I drop back into the seat next to him with the snacks the woman gave me. "He''s not going to shoot down the ne with both of us in here," "You don''t seem to want to ept that you''re not in a position to make a whole lot of mistakes," I sigh and stuff a handful of popcorn in my mouth.

    "Perry,"

    "They

    hegroved. She took them out of the stic wrap," I groan. "Kettle corn is my favorite,"

    were closed.

    "What was that about making mistakes?" he sn***es the bag out of my hand and leans in to smell it. He gives it back when he''s satisfied.

    "Would it really be a mistake though?" I shrug. "You give him too much credit. I don''t believe a single word he said about him going undercover to reveal the councilmen who knew. Your mother said that those who knew were taken out before he came back here with her?" he asks.

    Would youHe wants you to hesitate. He''s your brother is not a good argument,"

    "Yes,

    and she would kill me. That''s not a good argument either. Our upbringings are different," there''s a long pause. "I''m not trying to turn you against him. He did that. I''m just trying to save you from something that could end very badly for you Lycan King. I''m telling you this from personal experience. I know firsthand what it''s like to not want to ept someone who means so much to me has turned their back on everything we survived," "James isn''t Morgan," he res at me.

    His words sting and he knew the moment he gave them life that I would say something much worse. Yet, he still went ahead with it. We stare at one another and for once I don''t feel the urge to turn away from his challenge. I lean in so he sees how true the words that are about toe out of my mouth are.

    "N sn''t," I agree. "Morgan turned her back to me the same way you did your brother," he stiffens. "You betrayed him the moment you put your mark on his wife. You let your father drag him back so he could see you unt what you took from him. And when he turned on you, you victimized yourself to your own consequences.

    "You made him out to be the viin of your story because of your so-called responsibility to your people. So, no. James is not Morgan. He didn''t hide behind anything and came at you with everything he had to fight for what he believed was his right. As James Prince. No fine print or blurred lines. Without me, you''re just an entitled boy grasping to keep something that was never really yours to begin with. F**k you, Jonas,"

 Bait Novel 99

    Chapter

    99

    couple of days.

    I stand up and walk to the back of the ne to get away from him and he doesn''t follow. With three little words, he destroyed the sentiment behind what may be thest gift he would have ever given me. Derailed the little peace we had established between us these past None of it matters anymore anyway. In a couple of days, he will be the king and I''ll finally go home. I won''t have to worry about him making naive decisions. It won''t be my problem anymore. I lift the shutter so I can look out the window. The pretty baby blue shades and clouds keep my mind at ease. But not even the pretty view takes away from everything boiling inside of me. Regret for the past few months spins around with the anger I feel about what just happened. No matter how hard I try, I can''t stop being so f***g weak. This was a business exchange and despite my efforts not

    feel anything for that f****g idiot, 1 let him in, I may not be in love with him, but I have grown to ept him for who he is and what he''s pretending to be. He might be a good king and an amazing son, but under all of that, he''s never going to trust anyone ever again. It might be the one thing we actually have inmon. He''s going to win this, but eventually, he''s going to get himself killed.

    "Don''t," I growl at him when hees to sit across from me.

    "Is that really thest thing you want to say to me?" he asks. "Why would you say what you did and expect me not to react?" "I can''t kill him,"

    can."

    "Perry-"

    "Jonas," I huff. His eyes zero in on me. "I''m trying to help you. That''s all I''ve been trying to do since we met. You have been giving me orders and then fighting me about the way I execute them. Is the objective still to remove him and everyone who betrayed you so that you may properly ascend the throne?" "Yes,"

    there''s nothing else to discuss," I groan when he pushes himself out of his seat and kneels in front of me. He forces me to look at him when I try to move away.

    "You let me in," he says quietly. "You bonded us the way you did and you expect me to just let you go?"

    "That was the deal. You''ve seen me be a nightmare. I don''t want to do that to you," I gasp when his hands grip my thighs and he pulls me down to sit on hisp with my legs around his waist.

    "I could lock you up," he growls along my throat. "I''d keep you for as long as I live,"

    "I''d release her. You wouldn''t have either of us," I remind him of the feral b**h wing away inside of me. "There would be nothing left,"

    He growls ripping at my shirt. As much as I hate to admit it, it''s at his worst that he connects with the wolf inside of me. Like the two be equally feral and needy. He can''t tear my ck cargos off so he just pulls them down to my ankles and turns me enough to get inside. I expect him to get carried away but he doesn''t. I push at him hating how gentle he''s being.

    "Stop," he growls and lifts me up. He pins my hands behind my back and props me up on hisp. "Don''t act like you hate this. Your body never fails to sing for me," with my arms trapped in one of his hands and my legs tangled in my pants, I can''t move. I lean against his chest as he slowly rocks his hips up and down. "Stay with me," he pushes me down his length and then lifts me again, over and over. "Say you''ll stay with me,"

    Chapter 99 53%

    "I don''t want to," my eyes blu with tears.

    He growls and lifts me up and turns around so he can push me against the seat I had been in. I cry out when he ms into me again. His hand is around my throat as he presses his front to my back as he pumps in and out of me. "Why not?" he growls squeezing. He cuts off my air supply and bites at his mark until I explode. He releases me enough for me to try and catch my breath. "You''re a piece of **t," I pant.

    He grips my hips and lifts me up until my face is pressed against the backrest. He holds up my hips and continues to m into me. The o**m flutters into a second and I finally try to struggle to get out of his hold. My body is on fire. My ears are ringing and this de***ed *****k is working my c***t like he''s trying to give me a death by o**m.

    "No one will ever hurt you again," he turns me around again and picks me up as if I weigh nothing. He grips my pants and holds me up against his body and lowers nie onto his c***k. I grip his shoulders trying to snap out of the haze as he pushes into me deeper than I''ve ever had him before. "You can continue to f**k whatever system you want. You can keep working for the wraith. I''d never keep you from it. Just say yes," "No," I repeat.

    I scream when he pushes me back without letting go of my hips. I catch myself on the best rest of my seat and look down to growl at him only to see exactly what he''s doing to me. He continues to thrust in and out until he''s done. I feel his hot seed fill me. He pulls out toe all all over my legs and releases me. I barely manage to catch myself on all fours. I look up at him to see him tuck himself away. "Have it your f***g way then," he spits on the floor in front of me. I don''t get a word out before he''s going back to his seat.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    The stewardess slowly makes her way over to me and helps me up so I can clean myself up in the restroom. She even gives me clean clothes. She''s shaking and sniffling the entire time. When I sit my body flutters with the reminder of what he just did and I almostugh when my nipples harden and my body tingles wanting more.

    All the negative thoughts and the anxiety I felt earlier have subsided. I can feel how calm he is as well, but there''s this rage bubbling in him and it makes me snap. Iugh holding my stomach. The woman looks at me like I''ve lost my mind and maybe after all this time, I have.

    "Av **k," I breathe out. "That was amazing. I didn''t know a king could beg like that. My life really isplete,"

 Bait Novel 100

    6

    53%

    Thending strip is lit up brightly when wend. The king waits for me to get to him. My body is still trembling from what we did. There are guards and armed lycans all over the ce. My knees give out when we get to the bottom and he lifts me up to throw me over his shoulder in front of everyone. It''s obvious he doesn''t care that they know what we''ve been up to. He gets a few smirks as the King takes us to the armored H**er. I groan when he sits me directly on my a** I can feel him all the way up into my stomach. I scoot over so he can get in. I retrieve my wax pen from one of my many pockets and take a hit. I pull my legs up and curl into a position that doesn''t involve me sitting on my sensitive bits. "Perry," he growls when I release the vapor.

    I flip him off without looking back, but I can see his angry expression on the tinted ss. I growl at him and snap my teeth at his hand when he tries to take it from me.

    "F***k off," I warn him and tuck the pen back where I had it. "You said your piece. You got your answer. Leave me alone,"

    to be focused,"

    You need to be

    I''ve never been more focused in my entire life, Lycan King," I say truthfully. "This is to take the disgusting feeling of you f**** me away,"

    The two lycans in the front shift ufortably, but say nothing,

    "I doubt there''s enough wax in there for that," he scoffs. The man breaks and tries to hide hisugh with a cough.

    "No, but there is enough to kill me," I smirk. He growls shutting everyone up effectively.

    The trip to the massive cliffside castle is a short one. The cathedral-style castle is far more unbelievable than his. As soon as the cares to a stop the king is out of his seat. He goes around and opens the door for me. He doesn''t let me stand on my

    own.

    Inst

    hear

    near

    e picks me up. I wrap my arms and legs around him and we go inside. They speak to him in anguage I''ve never ore. There are guards everywhere and they''re all armed. I rest my chin on his shoulder and wave at all of them as he takes us wherever the f***k we''re going. They all try to not tough and some of the women wave back awkwardly.

    "My King," I turn around at the sound of her voice.

    "Debbie." I greet her.

    Wolf. I see you''ve gotten worse since west met," she smirks.

    "Think you can stand now?" the King asks.

    "No," I lie. "Hey," I growl when he ps my a*** so hard the sound bounces off the high ceilings. "That''s only going to make it

    worse,"

    "Keep yourself alive while we get ready," he pulls at my hips. I let go of him as he sets me down. "By all means, Pernicious,"

    , sir," I bow my head. He rolls his eyes and is escorted away while I face off with Debora. "All right, let''s see what you''ve got for me,"

    This way," she smiles and turns away.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    This ce is cold. The walls are made of obsidian. They sparkle against the lights. My skin squeaks against the shiny surfaces

    14.30 Sat,

    as I follow behind Debbie.

    D

    53% 53%

    "Hands off the walls, Little Wolf," she smiles at me over her shoulder. "Hit a sharp surface and you''ll bleed. We don''t need the King to get upset here," "What''s with the obsidian?" I ask. "Does it get he hot in here in the summer?"

    "No, we have elementals to control it. Obsidian is the Lycan trademark. Kind of like wolves have moonstone,"

    "Oh," I nod. Wolves don''t have castles built out of moonstones. The weight of it during a full moon would probably make anyone inside feral overnight.

    We stop at a very creepy entranceway. The doors creek as they''re opened. Loud enough to shake the floor under our feet. The inside is just as shiny as the rest of this ce. Right in the center, there is a dark silver chandelier decorated with pre obsidian stones. The light bulbs are meant to look like mes. There are lights everywhere because of the way the obsidian eats it up.

    The furniture is carved out of ck marble. The sofas here are a strange ck suede. bothers me. A lot. This is weird. I choose to ignore the eerie feeling and focus on Debbie. The doors behind us shut us in. The two women who were with her when I first went in to look at dresses are here with us.

    "All right, Little Wolf. I cleared the coffee table for you so you can ce your weapons. Easy ess. The King asked in advance. Let''s get started,"

 Bait Novel 101

    "Was my duffle bag brought in?" I ask.

    "Right here," one of the girls sets it on the couch for me.

    I slip out of my jacket and ce it over the armrest. Debbie looks down at my torn shirt. I begin to unbuckle everything and set my things on the table. The girls all stare at my mini arsenal, "The bath is right over here," Debbie says when I''m standing here in my cargos and bra. "Are you going to bathe me too?" I ask.

    "Yes, it''s customary," she nods.

    I take one of my kunai and make my way over to the bathtub. It''s a metal tub. The kind used to bathe big dogs. It''s filled with milky water and flowers. I turn around to face Debbie to see her smirk. "Finish undressing me," I order her effectively wiping the smile off her face. She tries to wave the other two girls over. "No,

    hold my arms up waiting. She stares at me until she realizes I''m serious. Shees over and stands behind me to unhook my bra. I smile over at her friends to see them trying to hide their amusement. As soon as she leans in to undo my belt, she looks up at me her eyes are pitch ck. It really bothers her that I smell like him. Once I''m naked, she takes a step back.

    get into the tub to find it''s nice and warm. It smells like honeysuckle and blossoms. I lift one of the daisies from the water as the two other girlse over with tools for a mani-pedi and maybe a haircut.

    I let them do whatever. My focus remains on Debbie. Thest time I saw her she had long hair and it''s kind of funny that she''s cut it all off in a pixie cut simr to the one the King had me get when I arrived. "What?" she growls.

    "Didn''t peg you for a pick me girl," I shrug.

    "Didn''t peg you for a s****t," she shoots back.

    "M

    M

    er, but here I am hoping I get another ride before someone takes me out," Iugh. The

    immediately hides it with a single look from Debbie. "So, Debs,"

    "Don''t call me that," she growls.

    "Okay, Debs. How

    How long have you been f***** James?" I ask. Her eyes widen.

    "Excuse me?" she tries to recover.

    "Does your beloved King know?"

    girl to my left snickers but

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," the tremble in her voice and the way her heartbeat increased say otherwise.

    3

    eye

    mistake," I sit back and watch the way the girls move. They''re no longer trying to makeContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Like before, I feel like I was skinned when they''re done. The silk robe is cold and feels good when I slip into it. One of them starts styling my hair while the other polishes my ws. I haven''t been able to retract them since we got back from meeting with the vampire. When they start on my makeup, Debora brings over some undergarments. "I have my own," I wave her off.

    D

    @ 53%

    When they finally finish, they step away from me as I go over to my duffle. I pull my ck and gold set which is actually a lot nicer than the one she set out for me. I then continue with my leather straps to fit my weapons under my dress. I pause when she brings it out. Goddess I''ve been thinking about that thing since I first put it on She looks at me disapprovingly when I pull out my heeled Doc Martens. Bunny had Lillies decorate them with the markings on my body. I slip them on and tie them.. "Boots?"

    Boo

    "I''m going to be running and killing people out there. So, yeah. Boots," I say. "You''re lucky I found some for the asion or they would have been regr s***t kickers,"

    She helps me into the skirt made of tule that goes under the dress. It''s kind of heavy and it''s not going to be easy to move around in. I would have preferred the one with the metal thingies in it. The two girlse over with several jewelry cases. I open them and inhale to make sure they''re not poisoned. When I''m content with it all they start putting them on me.

    "Is there any way to take this off?" one of them asks about my cor.

    "You don''t want to do that. It keeps me from shifting,"

    Heron

    Her

    eyes meet mine for a moment and she nods before cing the ugliest golden neckpiece around my neck. It attaches to the cuffs or my wrists and sits over my shoulders. A second piece is wrapped around my waist. I hate that it takes so much from the dress, but I don''tin. They are after all the royal jewels.

    Here I am, a girl from the sh***st part of the s***est city wrapped in the Lycan Royal jewels about to be the wife of the Lycan King. Thestugh feels real f****ing good.

    "Would you like to see?" she asks me.

    "Sure," I agree. She guides me over to the tform set up in the middle of the room. It has three full mirrors.

    I step up to the tform and stare back at myself. Everything is wless. The golden marks glisten against the ck and beautifully blend into the jewels. My skin glistens the same way his does.

    I''ve changed so much sinceing here. The person in front of me is someone from a different life. She looks alive and healthy. The way it''s meant to be. Even with the pretty newvender shades in my eyes, there''s nothing in the glimmer of her eyes. I smooth my hands over the front of my dress and fix the st******d jewelry.

    "Yo

    it in

    in better," Deboraes over with the ck veil. It''s attached to a small tiara.

    My hair was curled and pinned so that the King''s mark is on full disy. My ears have pretty cuffs adorning them. The other girles around to help her ce the veil on my head. They pin it and spread it out around me.

    "Is the Queen prepared?" I look over at Debora to see her lift a small walkie-talkie to her mouth.

    "We''reing out now," she informs them.

    The door opens and I reach for my knives and tuck them into the sleeves of my dress. Debora watches me do it. I smile at her knowing that she''s not making it out of here. I just need this c*****y b***h toe a little closer. "This color is wasted on you," she says.

    "It was never going to happen, Debs. He''s never going to take another mate. When I die; all that will be left is all the bad s**t I''ve been slowly infecting him with since he marked me. You wouldn''t be able to enchant a single man even if you were a virgin. You''re going to die a quick meaningless death," "You think so?" sheughs.

    I shove my kunai into her chest. Her

    eyes

    widen.

    14:37 Sat,

    Chapter 101 53%

    "I know so," I assure her. She reaches for my arm but doesn''t quite make it and takes a speechless step back. "No ever tell you not to let your guard down in front of a feral b***h before?"

 Bait Novel 102

    "She''s dead," she confirms.

    I pull back and hit the end of the kunai with all my strength. She goes flying andnds in the tub knocking it over. Water drenches the carpet. The two other girls look at one another. I motion Debbie and one girl rushes to her side. "Help me lift t lift this thing so it doesn''t get wet," I wave them back.

    One of them picks up the walkie-talkie. Without hesitation, they run to my side and help me lift the dress.

    -Was it really necessary to kill her?- his voice startles me. It''s been a while since we''ve spoken through our bond.

    -Yes, she was f**g you brother.-

    -You know this how?-

    -you know

    it a hunch an

    Call it a

    and if she wasn''t, you''re wee. You never have to deal with her again.-

    I get nothing back and take it as a win. They drop my dress and fix it once more.

    "This way, my Queen,"

    "Nnd, it''s been a while," I greet him.

    He was the guard I had before Jordan. I made the mistake of telling the King that he was cool and he was immediately reced. The King''sment about him picking people he could live without makes meugh. What a d****k. "Has Jordan been able to keep up with you, Little Wolf?" he asks.

    "He tries. No one has been able to top you, sir,"

    "You are sneaky girl," he holds his arm out for me. I loop my arm around his and let him guide me. "You look much better Little Wolf. I was worried that Cliffside wasn''t going to be to your liking,"

    "C

    I have to be able to see it for me to make that decision. How are you?"

    I was promoted. Thank you for that,"

    "Me?" Iugh.

    "Yes, the King told me you praised my work ethic and thought I''d like it here,"

    §á§Ö

    did, huh?" Iugh. He grins. "Well, you deserve it," That was a terrible thing to say. I didn''t think the doorways could get more ridiculous until we stopped in front of the biggest archway I''ve ever seen in my life. The gothic design around it looks like the obsidian was used as hot wax. The melted stone sits over the doors almost as if it were keeping it sealed.

    them.

    Nnd steps away from me and bows. The two girlse over to nk my sides. One of them hands me a bouquet of ck orchids. They have the sl**e''s design on them as well, but what really makes my heart melt are the four golden Ci***n**n -Roll heads decorating I left her with all of my research and programs. Even the ones that I never got around to finishing. All of the designs I had wanted to make for all the homeless veterans in Red Wood who had lost limbs in the battles for the city. I hope she does right by them. The doors groan as they''re opened and it takes me a moment to realize that the song ying is Ascensionism by Sleep

    Tent

    53% 53%

    Token. I look up with disbelief only to bepletely blown away. There are hundreds of lycans on both sides of the aisle.

    Like the rest of this ce, everything is ck. The rows of church benches are decorated with ck and gold roses. The ck carpet in front of me is covered with golden rose petals. There is ss separating them from me. I look up to see the King standing at the altar. He dressed in all ck. His skin is covered in gold oils giving him a different aura. His gray hair has gold paint or wax in it. It looks like the crap my hair was sprayed with. I can''t take my eyes off him as I follow at the pace the girls set. I''m not sure how I''m supposed to feel right now, but as I step up to the altar he holds out his hand for me to take. I slip one of my knives out and ce it in his hand. He looks down at it as I step up to him and the serious expression he had been wearing turns into a smile. "I would have gone with Alkaline," I grin, but it''s a lie. This song is perfect. I really just enjoy teasing him.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "Maybe i

    in another life," he smirks. "I''ve said it before. I''m sure,"

    "What?" I ask confused.

    "You''re perfect," he says and turns his attention to the man between us.

    The girl to my right takes the bouquet back and moves away from me. Guards with shields immediately cover us as he begins to speak. The people all take a seat. He''s speaking thatnguage they were speaking before. After a few minutes, the girlse over and to wrap a golden chain around us.

    The King takes my hands and guides me to kneel as the man continues to speak holding his hand between us and then he binds the chains together. He ces his hand on the top of the king''s head.

    "I do," the King says and then turns to me when the man ces his hand on my head. I really wish I understood something, anything. I nce at the King when he''s done speaking. He gives me a nod. "I do," I say

    and the man pulls away content with my answer. He turns back to us and gives the King a nod.

    The King stands taking me with him. My heart finally catches up with my brain and starts racing when he ces his hand on my hip and pulls me to him. He tilts my head back and he leans in. "Stay with me," "he whispers, and then his lips are on mine.

    >plit second, it''s just the two of us. My entire focus zeros in on him as the music continues to y. My skin breaks out in goosebumps as my wolf surfaces. I grip his wrist pulling him closer and release the de in my left sleeve. The de hits the man standing a few feet away right between the eyes. Now," the the King growls.

    I

    I watch as the people behind those in the front rows stand and grab the people in front of them to slice open their throats. Screams erupt all around us. He pulls me close to him as he''s handed an SMG. He pushes it between us as the guards form a circle around us. Someone opens fire. I raise the SMG to make sure it''s loaded and the safety isn''t on.

    At the end of the aisle is James. He''s holding a rocketuncher aimed right at us, but while his focus is on us, he''s already been made. A vampire appears behind him. I smile at him giving him a little wave as the vamp sticks him in the neck.

    "Get down," I shout and pull the King with me when theuncher hits the floor and the rocket goes flying.

    "Perry," he shouts covering me with his body. I cover my ears as the explosion goes off where we had been standing. "Jonas," someone calls out.

    I manage to catch a glimpse of the guests to see they''re all fighting. The vampires swoop in from out of nowhere and start shooting down lycans with darts. The King lifts me up and starts pushing me out the archway.

    37

    Sat, Chapter 102 53%

    We both look back lifting our weapons, but he freezes. I myself don''t know what to do. In front of us is her. The woman who has been guing my dreams that cross over from the King''s nightmares. No, this one is much, much older. "Eve?" he chokes out.

    "This

    I

    is for my daughter," she growls and lifts her gun.

    I fire before she can. The AR in her hand goes off. I shove the King. Then, Nnd is standing in front of me. He wraps his arms around me. The two of us hit the floor. "Perry," the King''s growl echoes from somewhere but all I can see is this man staring back at me. "Why would you do t that?" I choke out.

    "You deserve more," he says as his blood drips from his mouth onto my face. I almost jump out of my skin when he''s ripped off of me. I sit up reaching under my dress to retrieve my guns.

    "Are you hit?" the King looks me over. I push him off me and go for the woman. She''s staring up at me still alive.

    "Tell your daughter, I''ll be meeting her in hell soon enough," I growl lifting my boot. She cries out when I stomp down on her ***id f**ng head. The second one kills her.

    Other wolves shift ande at me. I raise my guns and do the thing that I''ve been training to do since I was a little girl. Wolves and lycans drop all around me as I give in to the feral urges I''ve been fighting back for years. The only question is, is death among these people or are just racking up the tally again?

    0

 Bait Novel 103

    Chapter Jonas

    103

    I''m oddly calm for someone who''s about to get married to a woman who wants nothing to do with me. As my cousin Roy slicks my hair back with the gold-shaping wax I fight the urge to call out through this bond connecting us. What happened in the ne was f***d and a part of me wants to apologize to her. 1 feel like an idiot. I hand-picked everything for today. I''d been working on it since Debora showed me the design on the dress Perry liked. She didn''t let me see it and I''ve wanted nothing more than to see what made her feel the way that dress did.

    ery

    That wasn''t the way I wanted the ne ride to go but as always. It''s never about what I want. What either of us wants. Since meeting this wolf, I have no f***g idea what it is I really want anymore. She''s flipped everything right-side up. Fixed ver single one of my problems. She has given me more than anyone has ever before and I''m not sure it''s going to mean anything once she''s gone. "She killed Debora," one of the guards informs us.

    "Did she say why?" I was under the impression that they were friends.

    She doesn''t need to," he answers.

    "She''s the ****truth?

    Isn''t that the f

    We should go, Jo," Roy sighs.

    "What?" I ask as we get to the Lycan Sanctum.

    There are a lot of unhappy faces here tonight. More than we can afford who have turned against my family and me.

    lose, but there is no other way to weed out those

    "Can''t you just lock her up until she knocks her s**t off?" he huffs.

    "She''s feral. I lock her up and the wolf rips its way out of her one way or

    r another,"

    Yo

    the pills seem to be helping. She hasn''t had an incident since the vampires,"

    "She also can no longer retract her ws or fangs. Her eyes are amber more than they are their regr shades. Even if I could keep her, herst days would be hell,"

    "We keep her alive for the next forty-eight hours then," he nods,

    "Go get our special invite guests," I order when we get to the altar. He fixes my bow tie.

    "Your father would be proud of you. I know it wasn''t easy to get here. Although she ran circles around all of us from herputer," he smirks. "Good luck, Cousin," "Don''te in here once s**t pops off," I warn him. He bows his head and excuses himself.

    I take a deep breath and reach out for her. She''s just as calm as I feel. My guess is that we''re calm because the ceremony is the easy part. A role the two of us took at the start of this. My focus is on the doors waiting for her to arrive. My body winds up involuntarily as the music starts and the doors open.

    My blood runs cold when I see her standing there looking down at the flowers in her hands. Eve and I decided to get married after our daughter was born. She wanted gold and some cream color. Throughout her pregnancy, she pieced together the themes and colors on her own. I didn''t want to take part in the nning. All that mattered to me was that she was happy after everything I had put her through..

    Perry made it ve

    Clear from the start that she just wanted to show up and do what I had asked of her. It bothered me to bear her way she didn''t care. A part of me broke for her when she found her mate''s ring in the things she brought with her. I from here and it looks perfect on her hand

    aren''t traditional for Lycans. We''re bound by chain. A union like this is bound by all means and only death would separate us. Even if we hated each other. I''ve tried to convince myself to hate her. A means to an end.

    Pernicious Phurry is a f***ng sickness and she''s infected me. Standing there in ck and gold, her glowing amber eyes are locked in on me. I know it''s not going to take long for me to follow her into the grave. I''ve never cared about anyone, not even myself, the way I care for this self-destructive little a***e. The very idea of losing her is already killing me and I have forty-eight hours for our deal toe to an end.

    Too quickly, she''s standing in front of me. I offer her my hand and she ces a Chinese ring dagger on my palm. Quite casually I might add. It catches me off guard for a moment butugh because it''s such a Perry thing to do.

    I can fully appreciate her now that she''s inches away. The dress is perfect. The ck and goldce clings to her slender body as if someone drew the designs on her skin. To say I''m surprised to see the big puffy skirt is an understatement. There is a princess in her after

    all.

    dil.

    Her skin is glowing. I want to touch her. I want to tell her how beautiful she looks, but she hit my pride hard back on the ne and I''d rather not push that button right now. I don''t want her to ruin this memory. It''s absolutely perfect. This is what I want to remember no matter how badly it ends.

    Her eyes wander as the Reverand begins. I couldn''t find someone who could perform the ceremony in English for her. I can''t take my eyes off her lips. They''re painted ck and coated with flecks of gold. Her eyes look bigger than they usually do. She looks intimidating like this. Older even. I can''t bring myself to stop making an a*** of myself.

    The way she looks at me when I pull her to me after the IDos is heartwrenching. It feels like a lot like looking at a memory. The same memories I see when she''s sleeping. Fragments a girl who trusted everyone around her despite their betrayal. The girl who loved nothing more than to get under her best friend''s skin. Then the wolf who looked into his eyes to see the rest of their lives sh before her eyes and fell in love with him all over again.

    A spark floods through me when our lips meet. I try to pull her closer but she''s on top of it. I growl at her when she pulls me away. Her hand swipes over my head. I nce back to see the lycan that hade into my home with James the night we. tagged him. "Now, I call our to Nnd.

    My n is put into action. I pull Perry into me as the guards run up to arm us. As soon as we''re ready we''re surrounded by shields. I provide backup to the guards as traitors try toe at us. "Get down,

    Perry frie guards! another

    tackle me as a rocket flies past us and hits the altar where we had just been standing. The Reverand and the two hed to her are blown to s*****t. I lift her up needing to get her the hell out of here before anyone tries to take at her. Jonas" the two of us turn back and for a second my heart stops. A woman is standing in the middle of the hallway with an AR tucked under her arm. My head spins and I can''t move.

    "Eve?" as the namees out of me I know it can''t be her. This woman is a lot older.

    This is for my daughter, she cries out and goes to lift the rifle but Perry fires before she can take aim. It all happens so fast. The AR goes off and she uses all her strength to push me out of the way.

    No, I lose my footing and hit the floor.

    I''m on my feet again before I can let the pain register. Nnd is lying on top of her. I feel relieved for a moment, but I still need to get her the hell out of here. I pull him off her and feel a sting on my neck. I look back to see a woman standing overC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    <

    Sat

    me. My hand moves to the spot on my neck where she injected me and my vision swims.

    §à

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    Chapter

    104

    "Perry," I reach for her. She pushes me away and I feel the heat of her rage pulse through me.

    "The goal was never her," the woman says as I watch Perry lose it "We needed you alive, Your Grace,"

    I shake my head feeling the drug go through me. I growl at her and let my instincts kick in. I howl out to the wolf and she responds. Perry spins around to face us in a half-wolf/half-human state. She rips the veil off her head and runs in our direction. My knees hit the floor when she tackles the woman. My vision blurs and my stomach tightens up. "Throw up," Perry growls and drops on the floor beside me.

    "I can-" before I can finish she''s sticking her bloodied hand in my mouth. I gag around her fingers and throw up. I growl at her when she sticks me with a needle.

    "I thought I was going to need it," she says. "Come on, Lycan King. On your feet,"

    My head swims and as we start moving away from the sanctum more bilees up my throat. The edges of my vision start to darken and suddenly I''m sitting down. Whatever is left in my bellyes up and I feel much better. I look up unable to see clearly. A ck blur is moving like her life depends on it. Anything that gets too close falls in blotches of red and ck. Jonas!"

    Someone runs sup o to me cupping my face. "What''s wrong with him, Wolf?"

    "Get him out of here, Roy," ''she shouts..

    "Don''t leave her," I choke out and vomit again.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Roy lifts me up tossing my arm over his shoulder and we''re moving again. The sounds of a gun popping off startle me and then I''m stumbling down the stairs.

    "Get in the back with him, Wolf," Roy growls.

    "Where''s the backpack?" she shouts.

    My

    eyes finally focus on her. She''s covered in blood. Her features are sharper than usual as she fights her wolf for dominance. Her eyes are pitch ck. Just the center is glowing amber with avender rim around them. If I hadn''t had her as much as I have, I''d say she was one of us.

    "Are you hurt?" I find myself asking. Her eyese up to mine.

    she cups my face. "No, not badly," she shows me a syringe. "This is going to hurt, Jonas. Stay with me, yeah?"

    "Always," I agree without hesitation.

    I growl gripping her wrist when she stabs me with the needle. A hot sensation starts in my chest where she stabbed me. "Don''t f**** stop the car!" she shouts. "Keep your eyes on the road," "He''s going to shift!"

    "Keep your eyes on the f***g road, a***le!" she growls and then turns back to me. "Hey," she ces her hands on my chest. "Stay with me. Deep breath, big guy," she inhales through her nose and exhales through her mouth. I try to copy her, but whatever she hit me with has my every instinct on high alert and I can''t inhale properly. "You''re okay. Stay with me. Big breaths,"

    Her ws cut down my shirt. Her bare hand presses in the mark on my chest and goosebumps break out all over my body.

    "Perry!"

    09:53 Sun, UCI ZU Chapter 104 96%

    "Ram the f***g gates!" she shouts. "He''s going into shock!"

    0

    She reaches between us and rips at the fabric of her pretty dress enough to expose her legs. She straddles me andys me back. With her hands on my chest, her fangs extend further, and her face changes. I reach up for her but she ps my hand away and bites down on my mark. My body responds to the bite with both pleasure and pain. I reach under her dress gripping her hips and turn her over. She slips between the seats to the floor as I try not to hurt her as my shift takes over. "Open the door!" she calls out.

    The door in front of me is ripped open and I jump out to get away from her. Whatever she injected me is overpowering whatever I was drugged with and my senses are all heightened. I heave once more expelling the fatiguepletely. I can feel sharp pains from the bulletsing at me. My body shifts triggering my healing. I finally stand letting out a roar. A howles from behind me and I find that Perry wasn''t able to fight the wolf. Standing there in all her glory is Crystal. She takes a fighting stance and without warning she rushes forward going straight s blocking us from getting to the King''s vi. The guards with us follow her lead. I rush after her as she dives right into the crowd. Crystal fights with her entire body. Moves perfectly calcted to inflict the most damage with her teeth and all four of her ws. I rip anyone who tries to get on her off and tear through flesh as she creates a path for the guards to get through.

    None of them hesitate to provide her with assistance. We make it to the front of the vi. I push the doors open. I grip the extra skin on her back and pull her to me to get her inside. She fights me not done with her fit. She growls at me snapping her teeth at my neck. I throw her inside. She skids across the marble floors and struggles topose herself before turning her rage on me. Bring her back!" I growl. "Perry!"

    The wolf howls a battle cry andes at me the same way she did outside. I catch her mouth just before it mps down on me and I wrap my arm around her to keep her from attacking.

    "Perry! Get your a*** out here!" I shout. The wolf cries out trying to pull out of my hold.

    "Jonas!" Roy rushes in with a handful of guards.

    "Help me hold her down!" I order.

    Upon hearing the order, Crystal starts fighting back harder. She cries out with genuine fear. Her wails echo in the high ceilings like a wounded animal. The others are responding to her pleas. I growl at them when they try toe near us and if I were any other Lycan they would attack me. Perry, you have to switch back." I lean into her. "You can''t do this to me, Little Wolf. Not yet, Crystal howls out again and again until she tires herself out. "Don''t let her go. She''s known for ying possum,"

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    A rumblingughes from the wolf. Crystal stops struggling and I feel when her fur starts to get hot. I wave the others off as she shifts back to her skin. I immediately remove my jacket and cover her in it. Herughter bounces off the walls as she stares up at me. "I don''t y possum," she tucks my jacket around her and sits up "Sweet mother moon. What happened? Why am I covered in blood?" The others all nce around at one another as I pull her to me. I lift her up making sure she stays covered.

    "Don''t worry about it for now. Let''s get you cleaned up,"

    "Open up the King''s quarters," Roy calls out.

    is

    two wolvese over to us.

    way, Your Gra" Roy calls after me.

    clean things up,

    I clean

    They lead us to an elevator and take us up. Perry''s eyes are back to normal, but she''s exhausted. Once we''re alone I start up a warm bath for her.

    "You have to stay awake, Perry," I shake her a bit when she starts to fall asleep.

    "Everything hurts," she croaks.

    "Okay, let me get you cleaned up so you can go to bed,"

    I end up in the tub with her. As I''m cleaning her up, tears slide down her face as the wolf relentlessly shows her memories of her and Darren. Memories of two wolves ying together, mating, and they hurt her. Guilt floods through us. Once she''s clean I hold her against me epting everything she''s ever told me. Even if she wanted to stay, she wouldn''t be able to. The wolf wouldn''t allow it.

    "That feels a lot like resignation," she cups my face. The look on her face kills me. She''s at peace with everything and maybe even likes that I can see that now.

    "It does doesn''t it?" I smile back at her.

    "Remember what you said to me at the start of this?" sheughs,

    "Help me save my family?" I shrug and set her on the bed.

    "You said: you''ve been waking up every day for the past five years to do something ***d, little wolf. Come sit over here and do something s***id with me," she grins. "Now, I say to you: You''ve been waking up every day for the past eight years to do something***id, Lycan King. . Come sit over here and do something st***d with me," I sit beside her.

    "I''m

    in love with you, you tiny cyber-terrorist, sh assassin, now sh Lycan Queen, I trace her lips with my thum don''t care if that makes you feel any kind of way anymore. I need you to know that before you go for thest time,"

    Lexpect her to get upset with me or maybe shut me down the way she always does, but she just smiles and sits up.

    "Can you promise me something? My final request,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "Whatever you want, I agree.

    "Don''t let James win, she leans in pressing her lips against mine. "No matter how much you want it, don''t let the darkness 08:09  10.79%

    take you. It''l all be in vain. And I don''t know, maybe hide it better? In a few years, run the blood moon. Train your heir and let that little mother f***er run free. That''ll make me very happy

    "Ah, ah," she pokes my ribs yfully. "You already agreed,"

    "Will you be waiting for me on the other side?" "Yeah, I''ll Yean, introduce you to my son and your daughter," she whispers andys back. Her eyes flutter shut. Just when I think she''s finally fallen asleep she snorts. "How cute would it have been if they would have been fated? We would have still met and be best friends. Our lives would have been perfect,"

    Those words hit me hot and my ears ring. That would have been a perfect life, but neither of us was lucky enough to end up there. Our lives are bound by **it that should never have been able to reach us in the first ce. I, a false heir to the throne that never should have belonged to my family. Her, a little girl who paid for the sins of her father in kind. There

    I

    is beauty in her war. Innocence in the need to finally rest her head. search her onest time to make sure she''s not badly wounded and stop at my family crest on her thigh. Some of the gold is faded as if she''s had the marks for years not months. Even if she''s had them for years, it shouldn''t have faded this way. This ink is made specifically for wolves to carry until the skin rots back into the earth. "Lower," she lifts her a*** up. "Or f***k off," Think we''

    aup.

    "I think ''ve had enough today," I whisper leaning into kiss her head. She pushes me away using her entire hand.

    "Then go if you''re not going to f****k me to sleep. I can''t drift off with you touching me like that,"

    I watch her stretch and then rx as she buries herself underneath all the unnecessary pillows on this bed. I sit in the light of the afternoon not wanting to leave her side. I move around the room checking every inch of the ce to ensure nothing bothers her in any kind of way. The two guards outside greet me when I close her in the room.

    she wakes up before I return, get her whatever she wants. No food or drinks until I return. No one goes in there,"

    "Yes, my king," they both bow.

    Jordan cleared the two of them. I promise myself I won''t go too far when I step away from her. My body nearly protests, there''s a lot to do and it''s best I give her room to breathe. She''s not mine and she''s going to die soon one way or another. I repeat the words over and over in my head, but I''m afraid it''s only making things worse for me.

    but

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    106

    "How many casualties?" I ask Roy and sit next to him. He leans over his seat to get to the cooler next to him. He offers me a beer and sits back. "Eighty-six and we have twenty-two missing. The vamps took the bodies,"

    "One oh eight then," I correct him.

    "You f*****g didn''t, Jo," he res at me.

    "They''re traitors,". I repeat Perry''s words. "We were going to kill them anyway. They''re useful this way. Where''s James?"

    "On his way back to the tower with Ss and Jordan. Whatever you had them give him-" "She." I cut him off. Hmm?"

    "She had the vamps give them something so they wouldn''t damage the product. I saw her give that shit to the Beire girl. She was out for a while before she handed her over to their master. James isn''t going to wake up for a couple of days,"

    "Do you hear yourself?" he growls.

    "Yeah," Iugh remembering Perry asking me the same thing. Only then she was referring to the way we treat other wolves "We''vee full circle," "What does that t mean?"

    "It means we''re no longer at the top of the food chain, Royce. If we''re going to survive this new world, we''re going to have to make some changes. Once we get everything in order, we can address the civil issues. For now, we have to finish hunting down the remainder of those who helped James and rece their positions. I''m assuming your eagerness to help me means you expectpensation,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "I''m

    your cousin, A****le," he growls. "We grew up together,"

    "James is

    is my brother," I remind him. "And he''s currently on his way to live in the Hightower prison for the rest of his life. If you want nothing in return, tell me so I can thank you properly,"

    "I don''t want anything in return, b****h. I''ve earned my right to be in my position," he scoffs and s***hes the beer out of my hand. "Beers for celebrating,"

    "What are you celebrating?" Iugh.

    "Your marriage, for starters," he lifts both beers up and takes a drink. "And the rise of the Feral Queen. May herst breath be as glorious as the carnage she unleashed for you this fine afternoon, Cousin," he drinks from the beer he took back and downs the whole thing before tossing the empty bottle. "Where''d you get her anyway?" Red Wood

    "Oh, that f*****ng s***it hole. Makes sense. The only other ce that can spit out a monster like that is Magique,"

    "You have no idea," Iugh. "What do you have going on here?"

    "You

    know me, Lord of the Sanctum,"

    "How does Nobleman of Gliffside sound?"

    "Cliffside doesn''t have Noblemen. That''s your domain,"

    "I''m

    Why g of moving towards Gorgon,"

    "It''s

    to Nova and the Alpha King,"

    "Wait, seriously? You''re forming an alliance with the wolves?" "And the Hellion Triads. Perry just got us in with the vamps," I nod.

    "Yeah, man. I''m in," he grins. "Whatever you need,"

    "Thank you, Roy," I offer him my hand. He smiles and shakes it.

    "Who would have thought?" heughs and reaches for a couple of more beers.

    What

    "That the party boy from the academy would grow up to be an actual King," he smirks.

    "F***k you," I s*n*h the bottle and pop the top.

    "I''m sorry for your loss," he says after a while.

    "She''s not dead yet,"

    "I meant your mate and daughter. I didn''t get a chance to see you then. Mom got sick," he gets serious. "She''s-" "I know. Mom''s been keeping us updated. You know, Perry gave her research to the twins. Maybe they can help," "What kind of research?" @x77%

    "Artificial o****s. She gave us Lycan Tech," I inform him. He sits up and turns all the way in his seat to stare at me. "Did she?"

    "Yeah," I nod. Something close to sympathy crosses his features. I''d never make you pay, Roy. We''re family,"

    "So this girl walks to our lives to save us and we''re repaying her by ending her life?" he swallows hard. "That''s all she asked for," I confirm.

    "And you''re okay with that?"

    "Of course, not," I finish my beer. "But you''re looking at the same thing I am. Maybe next time, the wolf won''t give her back. I think it''ll be easier if she doesn''t. I''m okay with killing a rabid dog. Perry wouldn''t be in there anymore. She cked out," We''re called in just as the sun is rising. He''s a big help with everything. By the time I get back to Perry, she''s up and sitting in the nook overlooking the countryside. She''s wearing a ck sundress, no shoes, and her hair is up in two little buns on the top if her head just to keep it out of her face. I ce her breakfast in front of her.

    "I can taste whatever you''re putting in there," she says without looking up at me.

    "It''s keeping you, you," I exin.

    "Violetta?"

    For?"

    Confirm. you,"

    "Trusting her,"

    "I trust you," I disagree and watch her eat what I''ve prepared for her.

    "Did you bring your chef with you?" she finally looks at me with a smirk. "I used my status for something,"

    "You?" Iugh. "Finish eating and show me,"

    "Okay," she continues eating. "But only because this is so good,"

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    Chapter hands me one.

    When she''s done she goes to the bathroom to wash her hands. I notice some paper shopping bags on the bed, but I don''t say anything. She takes them and moves over to the coffee table. I get up to sit on the floor with her. She takes out a couple of sketch journals and ""What''s this?"

    "I promised you we''d make shark scrapbooking things," she empties one of the bags on the table. Booklets and crafting supplies pour out. She looks up at me with a grin. is what you want to do?" I ask her.

    "This

    is

    "Yeah, I''m sore and feeling a little agreeable. And this is the only request I haven''t fulfilled. Show me how to do this," she straightens up and starts separating everything.

    I join her. She names all the sharks she can think of and checks to see if stickers were provided. She starts by writing facts about the shark on the ck pages with a metallic blue marker. She then frames the page and adds teeth made of foam. She even adds pink for the gums and adds stickers and ocean designs in the center covering up some of the writing. "This is your first time? Liar," Iugh when she holds it up to show me. I''m barely halfway through my first page.

    "It''s like making a PowerPoint IRL," sheughs. "This is actually fun. Oh, look at this vinyl. This will be perfect for silkies," she flips through pages and starts a new one. I take it from her. "Hey,"

    "This will be perfect for you sitting in the bug you left for Mackenzie," I say showing her the drawing I''ve been working on. "You are crazy good at drawing," she takes it from me to get a better look. "Is that what you wanted to do?" ""What do

    you

    mean?"

    "Be an artist or what did you just pick this up with Evangeline?"

    "It was something I picked up from her. She preferred a paintbrush, but she loved it when I''d sketch things out for her. I actually wanted to be an architect,"

    "That''s cool," she smiles.

    "What did little Perry Nelson want to be as a little girl?"

    "My father," she answers honestly. "He seemed to be so important before Seiya Lockwood had him arrested. I remember always wanting to be that important to the pack. Crazy, huh?"

    "I think you fulfilled that for little Perry," I smile.

    "How do you mean?" she asks covering the page with glue.

    "You''re the Lycan Queen. You''re important to our people. Without you, I wouldn''t be King. We might not be a pack, but I think you''re pretty f***g close,"

    She stops unnecessarily applying glue to the page long enough for the edges to start drying. When I look up at her she''s staring at me.

    "Are you going to delete me the way she was?" she asks quietly.

    "I mean, I guess I can''t say I don''t deserve it given my line of work. That''s always been one of my biggest fears. The reason 08:05 Tue, Oct 22 O

    why I always did as I was told," she s***s the vinyl and ps it on the page. "I win,"

    "It''s a sticker, idiot," I s***h it from her.

    "Hey," sheughs.

    "All you get is wax paper, Little Wolf," I peel the vinyl and hand the journal back to her.

    "D****it," sheughs peeling the paper off the page.

    &

    "I will never delete you, Perry. You will forever go down in history as the tiny f******k you are," I reassure her. 377%

    "Thanks, Jo," she smirks and goes back to the page. My heart s***ips a beat. My ears ring and I find myself staring back at her. "You okay?" "You''ve never called me that before,"

    ""I didn''t think think we were friends before,"

    "And you do now?"

    "You''re my husband now," she raises her sticky hands to show me the ring. "And I guess as far as friends go, you''re not as bad as my former friends,"

    Would y

    haunt me if I killed them all?"

    "Nah. F****k them. If it provides some kind of catharsis for you, be my guest," she shrugs.

    "Nate included in that?" I ask. She grins and gives me a sly side-eye.

    "For conversation''s sake, why Nate?"

    "He''s in love with you. No one is allowed that anymore. You belong to me and it will forever remain that way,"

    "I have a list if you want it,"

    "I do," I meet her challenge.

    Sheughs and for the first time since we met, it seems genuine. It''s not sarcastic or augh at her dark humor. We spend the dayughing and ying around with the supplies. She fills in about half the pages and decides she no longer cares to keep going. "I''m hungry," she ys mming the book shut despite none of that being dry yet. "Have your chef bring us food,"

    L-

    I wrap my arm around her waist as she tries to get by me and pull her onto myp.

    "Come with me,"

    "To watch you give someone a hard time? No, thanks,"

    "You''re the only person I give a hard time," I stand with her in my arms.

    "Okay, but don''t be mean," she rolls her eyes. I set her down.

    shoes?"

    "No shoes," she confirms.

    She purposely stomps her feet causing a pping sound in the high ceilings. We walk down to the kitchen together. 3:05 N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    08:05

    77%

    "Everything has been inspected for your use, Your Grace," a woman greets us. "My Queen," she bows to us formally. "Make yourselves at home,"

    Perry watches her leave as I make my way to the fridge to prep our meal.

    "Wait," she grabs my hand. "You''ve been cooking for me this whole time?"

    "Yes," I smile at the shocked expression on her face. "How else would I ensure it was safe for you to eat?"

    "I feel like that''s something that could have been mentioned," she pulls away. "What else have you kept hidden from me, oh controlling one?"

    "That one''s a tad ttering. My favorite is my contact name," Iugh. "I''m not a mouth breather,"

    "You are when you''re f****g," she says so low I almost miss it. "Can I make something for you?"

    "You

    want to cook for me?"

    "I do, but maybe for

    dinner?"

    "What do youre having," she shrugs.

    want for lunch then?" I agree. She smiles.

    "Whatever

    you''re

    As I move around the kitchen, she watches me. I''ve never felt the pressure of anyone''s gaze before. I hesitate where I shouldn''t. I''ve been feeding her since day one and she''s liked it. So, why am I nervous?

    "Say

    something. Anything,"

    "I still watch Hello Kitty anime on WolfTube. My favorite episode is Alice in Wondend from the original show in neen ny-three,"

    "You''re a Hello Kitty girl?" Iugh. That is one hundred percent unexpected. "Where''s your collection?"

    "I think you should know this now. You will receive it in my will. I fully expect you to keep adding to it. It''s in a loft near Nova. You give me a secret. I give you one," sheughs.

    "A loft? Is it a ce you lived in where you kept your plushies?"

    "No," she snorts. "It''s a full-on Hello Kitty loft space. It''s all Hello Kitty. I''ve never told anyone about that. Not even Darren. He would have been f**** p***d to see me spend money like that. But I couldn''t stop once I started and you''ve seen money lying around everywhere. I only wish I could see it onest time,"

    "Hello Kitty," I shake my head. "I don''t know what to make of that,"

    "You''re turn. Deep dark secret,"

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    "You were right," I admit. "What you said about me showing James that Eve and I were happy. I didn''t mean for it to be as f*****d as it was. I thought it would help him get over it. I regret all of it,"

    up

    "I was upset," she says after a while. "You bring out the worst in me. I''m not used to anyone vibing on the same frequency as me. Darren kind of kept me on a leash. Not like this one," she pats her chest. "But a single look from him had me biting back the truth. I''m an a**le. I always have been and I''m sorry I said that to you," "I''m sor-"

    "Stop. It wouldn''t have happened if I didn''t want you to do it," she grins. "It''s probably the only way you can get me to shut the f***k up. Crystal scared us both, huh?"

    "Yeah," I ce the chicken sd in front of her. She smiles big and pulls the bowl to her.

    "Any left for me?" we both look up at my

    "Serve yourself," I point at the bowl.

    cousin.

    "This would go great with chips," Perry suggests.

    "Top cubby," Roy points behind her.

    "Your ent is ****

    "Lycerian," he a*swers. "Only the noblemen and high priests know it. And of course the royal family,"

    "Consider yourself lucky that you don''t have to study it after the corrination," I roll my eyes.

    "Yeah, that''s why I''m lucky," sheughs sarcastically. Roy smacks my back andughs with her before taking a handful of chips and excusing himself.

    "Cheap shot," I growl at her making herugh.

    started it,"

    it," she says and starts eating. She stares at the food for a while before looking up at me with a grin. "How do know how to cook?"

    "You have to offer up a secret first," I counter. Sheughs. "Okay,

    she

    nods. "I once considered killing Darren before I knew he was my mate because he made Morgan cry,"

    "What?" Iugh. "I feel like you''re leaving a big chunk of that story out,"

    "Morgan is older than me by a year so she found out that Calvin was her mate a whole year ahead of Darren and me. At the time, Dar and I were training for finals. And he told her that maybe if she acted like less of a victim and stood up for herself he wouldn''t have rejected her,"

    "That''s f****d," is all I can say. It hurts her even now. I can feel the ache in my chest.

    Yeah,

    Yean,

    "What stopped you?"

    *Mack. Mackenzie and I were close and she knew when Darren and I were in the same vicinity for too long that we were moments away from ripping each other apart. The tension between us was always buzzing. She told me that if I killed him, I''d have nothing left. She said that eventually, Morgan was going to forgive Cal. She said Darren would never betray me." 08:12 Wed, Chapter 108

    Did you believe her?"

    "No, but she calmed me down enough for me to realize that if I killed him I''d be everything the pack used me of," she takes a deep breath and points at the empty bowl. "Then Darren died and now we know i was true,"

    45

    45

    "My story pales inparison. I learned to cook because I was f*****g my girlfriend''s culinary professor my freshman year in training,"

    "You''re an a******le," she bursts into giggles.

    "We''ve established that," I grin.

    "That wasn''t an even exchange. I should get another one," she drinks the rest of her soda. "Something you''d never tell a single soul and lucky for you. I''ll take it to my grave soon,"

    "Fine," I

    "I go around to lift her off the stool and sit her on the counter so I can stand between her legs. "I don''t believe that Sofia was mine," "What?" she stares up at me. "You''d be able to tell,"

    "

    "If she were James''s daughter, I wouldn''t have been able to tell until we ran a DNA test on her after she was born,"

    "I feel like you''re leaving a big chunk of that story out," she mocks me.

    "It''s just that some things don''t add up for me. When we allegedly conceived her. I had been on a business trip with my Mom in Buenos Aires and I was dying to get back to her because I knew she would be going through her heat soon and it was my first rut. "It''s rare for a female to concieve during a males first rut. Then she was in heat for two days before I arrived. Dr. Alvarez called me. You''ve felt it, right? You know what it''s like if it''s not taken care of right away," "Yeah," she nods. Yea She nods.

    "Dr. Alvarez Alvarez has the proof but neither of us has dared to look at the results,"

    "You would have felt it if she had been unfaithful, right? Through your bond," she says quietly.

    I

    "My connection with Eve was nothing like this. I''m going to notice you gone. When Eve died, it shut down a part of me. I was angry and grieving for all of it. But being tied to you has made me realize that I didn''t know what I was in. I didn''t know what the f***** we were doing because it feels nothing like the grief you feel. "I''ve been trying to convince myself that it was because we never got that far. Now it feels like we never got that far because she didn''t want it po. Had you stayed in Red Wood and watched Morgan and Cal have their baby, I think you would have burned that ce down with all of them in it. Like James tried to do. Not now or any time soon, but I know I''ll forgive him. I''ll pardon him and eventually, I''ll be able to call him my brother again. I know you''d never forgive her," "There you are," she cups my face. "No, "No, I never will. I will never forgive her for abandoning me when I needed her the most. I will never forgive Calvin for what he did to her. I don''t know how to forgive. I know how to live with something I can''t change because I love that person. But it will always sit in the back of my head festering, feeding my rage," "You must think I''m a pushover," I s I smile. "I think under all that entitlement is kind of a decent person. You were raised to be a King. You didn''t understand what real cruelty was until you met me. You know you''ve been a s***y person, but you''ve been willing to fix that about yourself. You''ve opened your eyes to a whole lot of s***t you''ve been blind to and you''re handling it well. Better than I did.

    I''ve never thought of you as a pushover, I wouldn''t have done everything I did for you if I thought that. Jo, this isn''t love," she ces her hand on my chest. "I''m not denying that I love you. I mean you''re f****g brilliant. I would have liked to see more of you if we had time. What you''re feeling for the first time, is loyalty," her lower lip wobbles, "And that''s really f***g Chapter 108

    18%

    sad because you''re one of the few people I''ve met who deserves it," she wipes the tears running down her cheeks. "I''d kill him, Jonas. I''d kill your mother as well. Before she infects your sister. "The part of us that loves them is the part we don''t need. It destroys us because we''re afraid to be alone. Truly alone. And the ironic partN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    of that is that we''re alone anyway. We''re alone with the grief they''ve brought on us. They don''t f*g c****are about anything other than themselves. Onest secret before I let you* ***k me on this counter," "You''re insatiable," I roll my eyes. She pulls the front of her dress up to show me the scars the gorgon left on her and the fact that she''s got nothing underneath. detonate?"

    I

    When I went home after getting released. I ced a detonator on this artery," she takes my hand and ces it on the scar. There''s something solid right under the surface. "What does it

    "Well, Darren originally had it made for the renovations around the city. The patrol towers, the new packhouse, our house, and the alpha''s vis. In case of emergencies. When my heart stops," sheughs wholeheartedly and lifts her hands up. "Boom," she squeaks widening her hands for dramatic effect. "We all die together. My unofficial request-" she slides her hands up my shirt. "-is let me have that part of you. I''ll carry it with me for all eternity," "I wish it was that simple," I lean in. "You know a lot of people are going to die,"

    "What''s a couple hundred more to the count already," she shrugs. I look her over and reach between her legs to rub her bare p***y. She leans back spreading her legs and lifting them for me. "Let''s make that ne ride look like a f*****g quickie, Lycan King. I know you''re there''s something more disgusting than that hidden in there somewhere,"

 Bait Novel 109

    The corrination has to take ce in London. With James out of the way, the flight so far has gone smoothly. Royce, the King''s cousin provided me with a Steam Deck so I can y video games while they plot how to be better people. I mean-eh. That''s exactly what I mean. The Lycans are learningmon sense and I couldn''t be more proud. "What would the Alpha King have done in our ce?" Roy asks annoyed with my not so decreet snickers.

    Royce is a bit taller than the King. It''s obvious he''s ranked alpha because his tone doesn''t hold the same authority the King''s does. Where the King has more pastel-ish shades this man is very dark and broody. His pitch-ck hair is long. Just above. his shoulders. And just by looking at it, it''s obvious he''s obsessed with keeping it looking as good as it does. His brighter tone of purple. Something more indigo than the King''svender shades. The two look like brothers. eyes have a

    "The Alpha Kings have been setting the example in leadership for cons. You''re asking the wrong wolf," I set the gaming device down. This one is shit. Wolf Tech made it. "You should have all his things reced by Lycan Tech devices. He''ll be much happier," "We don''t have Lycan Tech towers on this side of the world. Too expensive," Roy scoffs,

    "There you go. Take Lycan Tech to Europe. Your mom and the twins have a job now," I smile. The King rolls his eyes but he thinks it''s funny.

    "Did you just wake up one day to decide you were going to save all Lycans?" he asks.

    "No, I woke up one day to find out that someone close to me was going to be a mom and I hated the idea so I caused a scene. Told her and her mate that their child was s***id as f****k and they were pathetic. So that **ole sold me to this guy who kindly asked me to help him save Lycans and then revealed he was a f****g tyrant with trust issues bigger than my a***

    "I wouldn''t say that big," the King smirks.

    "Some would argue bigger," I look out the window.

    "Much bigger," his cousin adds. "How much did she cost you, cousin?"

    Guess,

    "Five hundred million pawcoins?" he asks. "Give or take?"

    A lot "

    "Take. A

    "Give me a clue,"

    "American currency,"

    "What?" he asks appalled. "No way. All right. Five hundred million American,"

    "See, I wouldn''t have been upset about that," I point at him but keep my eyes on the King. "Five hundred million is still a reasonable-ish price for me,"

    ess?"

    Less

    "A lot less. He paid two hundred thousand dors cash," I inform him. His mouth falls open and he turns his attention to the King.

    "You''re joking,"

    "No," he shakes his head.

    "Did you at least kill the mum?" he asks annoyed.

    "Not yet. She dies when I die,"

    "Sweet Goddess Moon," he shakes his head disapprovingly. "How wasteful of them,"

    "I agree," I nod. "Where has he been? I actually like him,"

    "He''s the lord of the sanctum. He doesn''t leave much,"

    "Lord of the Sanctum? What Sanctum?"

    "The one where you were just married two days ago,"

    "Oh, that''s s what

    it''s called. Umm, have you ever considered a different type of decor? I hear there''s an alpha who specializes in cottage core decor in Magique. I bet he can add color to that big a***rock you call a sanctum," **** rock was built before the pyramids in Egypt were. It''s sacred. What does your species sanctum look like?"

    Wolves. Na Wor Nature is our sanctum. I have a question. Why do you guys like obsidian so much?"

    "That big We''re "Keeps our energy leveled," the King a

    "Wait," Iugh. "You have a th

    that

    answers.

    "Don''t wolves have moonstone het chopens your energy? Why the f*** would you want that? You''re sabotaging yourselves,"

    he shoots back.

    "Yeah, to make us stronger. If we had a

    If we had a crazy a** sanctum like yours we''d be feral as f****k. All of us. Lycans are weird,"

    "She says not only to two Lycans but two Lycans of royal status," Roy smiles.

    "Oh, my god. Why did say it like that? Stay-tus," I

    did you

    "You''re so American it''s distasteful," he huffs. I''m getting under his skin and he''s buying into it.

    "You''re so Lycan it''s enabling and not in the way Jonas''s mother raised him," I fire back hoping for a more chaotic reaction.

    "If you didn''t have a few more hours left in your expiration date I''d kill you now," he growls and stands to move to a different side of the ne. I take his seat next to the King. That was a serious letdown.

    "It''s fun to see that everyone in your family is as racist as you are," I smile at him.

    He grins shaking his head and continues to work on something in hisptop. I watch as he properly answers emails and reviews the stats for Lycan Tech and Obsidian Corp with ease.

    "Everything to your expectations, Lycan Queen?" he asks when he catches me staring hard.

    "Yes," I answer without hesitation. "Will you be renaming Lycan Tech or adding it to Obsidian Corp amenities?"

    "We never discussed that," he says gently.

    "Lycan Tech is severely smaller than Obsidian Corp. It makes sense for Obsidian Corp to take the lead. Rebranding it should. be easy for you,"

    Nike this," he says changing the tabs.

    O.C. logo is just a shiny stone, but he added the Leo constetion as a background. He holds up my Shelby''s car keys. A keychain with a small pyramid is attached to it. It''s an epoxy star night, and the Leo constetion is right in the center. "This i is cute, I admit. No one''s ever cared for my weird obsession with this stuff and I like that he did. "I like it,"

    96%

    "This is mine," he holds up a tiny golden scale.

    "You''re a Libra?" Iugh.

    "September twenty-eighth," he nods.

    "That makes sense to me," I admit.

    "Exin. I don''t know anything about this stuff,"

    00

    "Witches believe that the night we are born on sort of dictates who we might be as a person. Depending on the moon''s cycle. The date determines the sign you''re categorized in. Hence you being a Libra and I being a Leo," "Do you believe that?"

    "I am a werewolf. I answer the call of the full moon and turn into a big a*** animal. Yes, I believe that the position of the moon changes the chemical bnce in my body. I am categorized as an intensely passionate and loving characteristic. I can''t do things half-a**d. I can''t just care about someone passively. And while I''m easily p***ed off, I can also let things go just as fast," "You''re blowing the security measures to Redwood City to shit when your heart stops beating because your mate died doing his job. You don''t let go of shit," heughs. "You also became a terrorist because some people were mean to you as a kid,"

    "Yeah, but I didn''t kill you when you branded me a ve,"

    "You killed the tattoo artist and look at my face,"

    "Yeah, but you''re alive. We''re married and you''re still in love with me," Iugh. "I also rewarded you continuously,"

    "Thatst part doesn''t apply to you. Lycan Queen. Unforgiving is your whole thing. Stay that way," he smiles.

    "The way you two flirt is gagging,"

    "Gagging," I snort. "I knew he was into that the moment Iid eyes on his hair,"

    The two of usugh at his growl.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "It''s

    best to o ignore her. She loves getting a reaction," the King takes my hand.

    "I find it hrious that the scar on your face was done by a little Beta wolf and not your imbecile of a brother," Roy adds.

    "Me too. We''re frierids again," Iugh.

    The King squeezes my hand yfully and reaches to close hisptop. By the time we arrive at the airport, the sun is rising. There is paparazzi everywhere. Now I know why the King had me dress up the way I am. My hand stays in his. The sound of his shoes and mine thunder in my ears. Questions are fired off.

    "Does marrying a wolf mean an alliance between the Wolves and Lycans?"

    "Will the Queen be treated as ve or take a proper ce in the hierarchy"

    "Obsidian Corp and Lycan Tech have announced a cob. Does that mean Lycan Tech will be backed by Obsidian?"

 Bait Novel 110

    "Wow, they are lively today," Roy says once we''re in the car. "We''re making history. I''d be insulted if they weren''t," I agree.

    There are people outside with signs. Some of them like the diversity and some don''t. It never dawned on me that this would be the reaction he would get. I was kept in a small bubble and focused on one thing not understanding the extent of what he was trying to build. Seeing it now tells me I made the right choice regardless of how we got here. I didn''t expect to feel the way I do now. My entire existence was to serve and I''d always felt that I never served the right master. Before Falcon, I knew the kind of people the Redwoods were. I thought that as a beta, I''d be able to contribute to those of us who are left in the mud like my family, Morgan''s family, and Darren''s. Our leaders failed us and millions of others. When

    I was epted into the KNAVE as a knight I naively believed that the old man was right to be angry at the world. To take back what was rightfully his with the same wrath that took out his race. However, everything I did, every life I destroyed, and every life I took was random. I''ve been nothing but a weapon aimed by the wrong people and it caused me everything. Yet, here I am in what may very be thest moments of Pernicious Phurry. Serving a man who did right by me thesest few months. It''s funny that Jonas taught me that not everything has to be done through violence. This entitled, arrogant, brute of a man taught me something that no one had been able to teach me my entire existence.

    Madness crept into my soul long ago. It made me believe that our world was doomed. I convinced myself that I had to be this way. Each loss, each demented deed, and all the f***ed up things I did to those I loved were justified by the ugly shit I was forced to see my entire life. I''ve used others of ying the role of a victim not knowing that I had done the same.

    As the King waves back at his people who are crying out his name, I find myself smiling. None of it feels like it was in vain anymore. I did something and for once in my pitiful life, it inspired someone to be better than me. These people know that he''s here to help them. in

    I guess what I failed to see since meeting him is how much he''s helped me. I was an alcoholic on the verge of putting a gun my mouth to stop the anger and pain I''d never been able to cope with. I weighed a third of what I was meant to. I was dying. There was nothing and he forced me to be a version of myself, I''d never met before. He pushed the darkness down enough to show me I was surrounded by the wrong people and that there was more than just pain. Healed a part of me that I thought died with my mate.

    "Her gown is ready my King. We have to prepare you both," Lillies and Jordan appear in front of me with smiles on their faces.

    "Didn''t think we''d miss your final, did you?" he smirks.

    "A girl can only hope," I say disappointedly.

    "You''re no girl," Lillies smiles and holds out her hand. "And if you want us gone, all you have to do is give the order, your grace," "You''re already here," I shrug. The King''s hold on my hand tightens. I look up at him. "Everything okay?"

    "Everything is perfect," he nods.

    "I''ll see you in a bit," I agree. He takes a deep breath and pulls me into him. He kisses me gently and before I can respond the way I want to he''s gone. I spin around to face Lillies.

    Zets

    ter

    get you all dolled up," she holds her hand out for me to take.

    "Perry," Bunny screams excitedly and hops over to us until her arms are wrapped around me. She lifts me off the floor and spins me around. "Look," she says setting me down. She holds up a picture. "Ugh, I wish I could have been there,"

    I I take the picture from her. I''m standing at the altar with the Lycan King dressed in the most beautiful dress I''ve ever worn looking up at him as he gazes down at me seconds before the carnage that took ce in that sanctum happened. It looks legit. Two people in love starting the rest of their lives together.

    "Everyone died," is whates out of my mouth when I hand it back to her.

    "Yeah, but before that. It was perfect," "Lilliesughs. "Come see your coronation gown,"

    I

    to ce

    exits

    on the walls of former Kings and Queens and potential weapons. This ce is a little more tasteful. For vampires, but at the very least I don''t feel like I''m inside a tomb. It''s a family room. I''m guessing because there is a very fancy living room set up. There are paintings

    I take the room in properly to pulls me away from the paintings.

    "Over here," Bunny

    The King''s parents are up there. Their theme is silver and royal blue. It''s beautiful and her icy features are only amplified by the colors. He looks just like his father.

    On the other side of the room is a sewing mannequin disying a very elegant dress. It''s not my destroyed wedding dress, but sweet Mother Moon is gorgeous. Bunny skips over to it and pulls the hood back. The dress is ck with a simrce design to my dress. While my dress had had a corset this one doesn''t. It flows seamlessly down to the floor. The tail is longer than my veit had been and it''s covered with a very beautiful cloak.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "The Queen can''t be showing too much skin during the ceremony," Lillies exins. "The attention has to be on the king,"

    "I''ll be standing outside," Jordan says.

    "No," I reach for him. They all stare at me. "Just look away. Don''t go out there,"

    "It''s''s

    safe here," he tries to reassure me.

    "Not until it''s over," I shake my head.

    The twins share a look and nod. He takes a fancy chair from the conversation table in the corner and ces it in front of the door before taking a seat and using the door as a footstool to lean back while he ys on his phone.

    "Let''s get you freshened up," Bunny takes my hand. "Lils you figure out how we''re going to get her in this thing,"

    "On it,

    "You didn''t make the King regret his entire existence while you were away, did you?" Bunny asks as she pushes me into a chair so she can remove my makeup.

    "No, aside from the killing and cking out when he got hurt, everything was kind of fun," I admit. "He''s the one that made me question my entire existence," "In a bad way?" Lillies asks.

    "There''s a good way?" Jordanughs.

    "Yes," I grin. "To both questions," "Good,"

    "Thank you" smiles. "Your skin looks so good,"

    My wolf after two days of nothing is very present. My senses are all heightened and it''s only serving to amp up my nerves. Why did he let theme here if we''re both still in danger? Lillies helps me into the gown and Bunny does a couple of final touches, she puts on gold jewelry simr to the wedding jewels. Chapter 110

    The two

    of them stand in front of me with identical smiles. I''m just now noticing that they''re both dressed in gowns as well. Lillies in a blood-red dress fitted to her perfect body. Bunny in a baby blue flowy dress. Long in the back and short in the front. Her long legs are on full disy. Jordan is wearing a ck-on-ck tux. His bow changes from blue to red under the light as he moves around.

    "I didn''t know the King got you a ring. It''s not customary," Bunny reaches for my hand.

    "He didn''t. My mate did. He just added to it," I say gently. Her eyes fill with tears as she gently caresses it.

    "It''s beautiful. I love it," she blinks away her tears.

    I didn''t think I made any kind of impact on them and it feels good to know that I''m not alone. Not really. At least not today. "Boots," Lillies holds up a pair of boots. "I didn''t think they would be ready by the time you got back. Helen says hey," "Thanks," I reach for them but she pulls back.

    Sit. You can''t deprive me of. assisting my

    can''t sit in this thing. Lean on the seen." she scolds me.

    "She can''t sit

    ''Bunnyughs.

    She res at me when she sees I''m wearing ck Vans.

    "My wolf shredded my wedding stuff," I exin.

    "You look the part," Lillies says and points at a floor-length mirror. "Do you like it?"

    I stand in front of the mirror and nod smoothing my hands over my dress. I''m covered up to my neck. The material fits perfectly. No restrictions other than the long ass tail. I go back to the coffee table for my weapons. Jordan stands and holds up a holster with my guns in them. I slip it on and Lillies adds the cloak. I slip my knives under the sleeves careful not to cut myself or the dress. I slip the two guns I already had on me into the cloak''s inside pockets. I could have used one of these two days ago. I "Ready?" Jordan asks. I look up at him and nod. "Not every day one gets to dress up in their forever ghost outfit,"

    "One should always dress in an outfit they won''t mind wearing forever as a ghost. I just happen to know that today is the day," I hug him. He tenses up and then returns it.

    "I''m gonna miss you, Little Wolf," he sighs.

    "We all are," the twins hug me as well.

    "Hopefully I get to haunt you in this thing," Iugh.

    "Time to go, Wolf," Roy knocks on the door. "Prepare yourself. It''s going to be a long day,"

    I reach for my hood to cover my head. "Not long enough,"

 Bait Novel 111

    Chapter 111 88% 0

    My heart is pounding. My eyes are scanning every face as Roy and a handful of other guards escort me to the throne room. "Tone it down," Roy whispers.

    "I can''t," I growl adjusting my hood. He lets out a heavy sigh. We reach the outside of the throne room. There are hundreds of people present. The guards are having a difficult time keeping them***ing cheer. Freaks. I forgot the king said they believe it to be an honor when their kind holds off their feral state. "Get the Queen inside," Roy shouts. The guards lined up i

    front of the double doors all raise their ARS and clear my path inside. There''s a smaller door built into one of the big doors. Roy opens it for me and motions me inside. I get through the door as he gathers my dress and tosses it in after me. The Lycan King is standing on the tform where two thrones sit. He was pacing until his eyesnd on me. I look around to see there are only four of us here. Aside from the exit behind me, there are three other doors. Three huge stained ss windows behind the chairs. There aren''t any seats here. Just theater rope shaping the area where whoever is going to be allowed toe in here are going to be allowed. I move closer to him and offer him one of my guns. He smiles and tucks it into his coat. "You look amazing," he says. His voice trembling.

    "You''re fine," I

    I say fixing his cor. "Look at me," his eyes arepletely dted. "It''s almost over. You did it. There''s nothing else. Just this," "I''m scared," he whispers so low I almost miss it.

    "I''d be worried if you weren''t, my King. A n is always just the idea of the oue. You''ve delivered it wlessly. You did

    at Focus on the oue,"

    i just-"

    I lean in pressing my lips to his. He slips his hands through the opening of my cloak to pull me closer to him. He pulls away taking in a few deep breaths.

    "How am I going to do this without you?" he still manages to steal more than is being offered.

    "The same way you were before I came along. One foot in front of the other," I pull him closer. We stay like this until someone clears their throat. He steps away covering me back up with my cloak. "I''ll hold them off as much as I can," "Thank you, Perry," he says pinching my chin. "For everything,"

    "You too," I smile feeling my eyes fill with hot tears. I step back not wanting him to see *my f***ng cry anymore.

    we ready?" he asks clearing his throat.

    Are we

    "We are, Roy takes a deep breath and looks between us. "Take a seat," I do as he asks and sit in the chair to the left. He adjusts my dress. I lower my hood enough for me to be able to see the crowd that will be joining us. The priest or Reverand that married us appears from one of the doors and stands at a podium. grip my knives in my hands and try to rx as much as I can. 09.18

    88%

    The two massive doors open and cach highborn is presented one by one and escorted to the side of their monarch. My ears twitch when the Alpha King and princes are announced. My heart skips when the Falcon''s alias is called. I look up at him as he walks down the red carpet and joins the royal family. I miss who else showed up on my behalf. My ears are ringing. My wolf wants out.

    -Perry?

    -He''s

    here.

    -The Falcon?

    -Yes. -Yes.

    T

    I grip the armrests as my wolf pushes against me stealing my breath.

    -You have to keep it together, Crys- he says using his authoritative tone. -Rx, Little Wolf. We''ll get there.-

    Shav

    settles a little bit. Enough for me to catch my breath. I feel my head swim but my wolf clears the fog immediately focusing on the old man. The ceremony begins. The King rises and takes my hand in his to lift me with him. -Stand at the bottom. Remove your hood and push the cloak back- he instructs. I get down the six steps and do as he asks.

    The people on the right side murmur among each other. The Alpha King and princes all howl. The wolves join in the pride acknowledging my position. The Lycans stop talking when the King howls with the wolves. The Alpha King grins and settles the wolves. Stay there. I have your back- he says in my head. And I yours.

    I rotate my shoulders adjusting my guns under my arms and close my eyes to take in all the sounds. The priest begins as soon as the sound of metal meets my ears I pull my gun and aim in the direction it came from. "Don''t stop," the Lycan King growls at the priest. Imposter!" a man growls from the right side.

    eyes. His head whips back and he He steps out and before he can say anything I squeeze the trigger hitting him between his hits the floor. A woman crawls out from the crowd. I fire off a couple of rounds only to miss her. When she reaches me she''s I growl met with a de. Her eyes widen when I push it through her throat and kick her off me, pulling the string around

    my neck to release the cloak.

    My wolf pushes forward against my chest and howls. The wolves stand absolutely still keeping their eyes on the Lycans. The Falcon''s eyes are locked on me. The malice in his smile is driving Crystal insane, but if I attack him. This was all for nothing. I partially give into my wolf''s demands and let here out enough so that he can see me. I scan the other wolves to make sure none of the IOS are present. So far, I''ve only ced him. The Lycans p and it startles me enough to nce back at the king. The opportunity isn''t missed. I raise my gun putting it to the person who rushed out. When I nce back bottoms out and my blood runs cold. Calvin f****g Redwood is standing before me, fangs out and ws ready. my stomach

    The madness I''ve felt these past few months resonates with rity and boils over. I didn''t try to stop theughter thates with the feral b*h scratching at my soul demanding I feed her onest time.

    "You have got to be kidding," I breathe out. "Is she here with you?"

    "She and our son are home safe," he growls.

    3

    "There is no safe ce for either of you. Not anymore," I smile.

    "I''m not here to fight," he says tightly and nces back at the Alpha King. The Alpha King bows his head and then looks up at me with a smirk when he''s no longer looking. Calvin takes a step back and takes a knee in front of me bowing his head. "I''vee here to

    apolo-"

    I toss the gun gripping him by his throat. He looks up at me stunned by my strength as I squeeze just enough to keep him on his knees. His hands wrap around my wrist. I look back at the Lycan King who is now sitting on the throne with the st*st crown I''ve ever seen in my life. He''s smiling as if he were enjoying the show.

    "Do you hear this a***e? He''s trying to apologize to me," Iugh.

    "It looks that way," he nods. "What will you do with him, your grace?"

    Two little words ripple through the people before us. Calvin tries to pull out of my grip when I look down at him.

    "What do you guys think?" I ask looking to my right. "This man ridiculed his mating bonds and shunned his mate. Only epted her to shield himself when his chosen mate''s true mate came for her causing hundreds of casualties to the City''s minorities.

    "He then spent their tax money on rebuilding a luxurious packhouse in ce of the one that was destroyed instead of aiding the families of the wolves who were murdered because of his idiocy. He sold me to our King as a s* to be killed by him without knowing a single thing about the little beta bi**h in his ranks. What do all you Goddess-fearing Lycans want me to do with a man like this one?" "Death!" Bunny shouts from somewhere in the crowd of Lycan.

    you,

    Ipha King? We seal our treaty with the blood of this worthless alpha?" the Lycan King asks from behind me.

    "Kill him!" someone else shouts. What say "Perry, I''m sorry," Calvin panics. "You''re right. I shouldn''t have rejected Morgan. I love her. She''s going-" I squeeze cutting him short. "Please," "This isn''t about Morgan, Cal," I take a knee so we''re eye to eye. "Morgan made a choice and it was the wrong one. She turned her back on me for a pussy like you. She knew the consequences from the start. We''ve been friends for a long time. I even considered her a sister. She''s getting what''sing to her.

    "You on the other hand. You cost me everything. From my life down to the very essence of my soul. And look at you now. On your f*ng knees, bowing to the **ng s**t bag from the slums. Where is your high-born status now, Calvin? This is for Darren," I lean in to whisper in his ear. "I''m going to blow Redwood to f* hell. That''s for Rain. My son. You mo*r,"

    When I pull away to get onest look at him. Iugh at the fear in his eyes. I drink him in. His burning scent. His fearful tears. His pathetic pleas. My wolf is relishing this. The fera***h loves it so much she steps back to let me have it. "Perry,"

    "The strength of four or five alphas have never felt this good,"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Bait Novel 112

    I take a deep breath as I push myself up to my feet. I pull back and hit him. I growl hitting him again and again until his face is a mess of blood. "Perry," someone calls out but they''re stopped by the King''s warning.

    I lose it. I absolutely lose my s***it and push him back pounding his face over and over until my knuckles hit the carpet under him with a st. My wolf pushes forward and roars until my throat is raw. She looks down at the mess I made and scoops up a handful of his brains. "Don''t you f****g dare," I try to fight her.

    My body shakes as I fight her for dominance and then I decide I can give a rat''s *** I''m going to be dead soon anyway. She shoves our kill into our mouth. The moment his blood touches my tongue she takes over. Her ws rip into the body tearing him limb from limb. Until all that''s left is a pile of what used to be Calvin Redwood.

    I I feel her pull back. I snap out of it looking at all the people present. I wipe my mouth with the back of my sleeve and stand up. Embarrassed, I clear my throat and shake my hands out to get as much blood as possible off. They''re all staring back at me as shocked as I feel. "I''m sorry about that," I say calmly. "My wolf is feral and she''s wanted to eat him for a long time now. Thank you, Alpha King. That was the best wedding gift you could have gotten me," "I thought you might like it," he grins. "That was wild, Perry," "My Queen,"

    I look back to see the priest waving me back. I look over at the Lycan King. He nods and motions me to hurry. I shake bits of flesh off my dress and go back up the steps to the chair on the left. He takes my hand and turns me around to face the King. He ces my hand in his and says something. You say: This blood is for you, My King. And then you bow your head- he instructs. I nce over at everyone waiting. "This blood is for you, My King," I repeat his words. I take a step back taking a knee the way the Luna Queen does for the Alpha King. I ce a bloodied on his KISS on s hand and I look up at him. "I swore my life and it''s yours,"

    The priest steps to me and ces what I imagine is a matching f***g crown and I love that I''m not going to have to wear it for long. It''s heavy. The King helps me up and smiles as we turn to face everyone present. The guards open the red rope and everyone but the Alpha King and his family take a knee and bow their heads.

    "We did it," the King whispers.

    So,

    we''re all cool with me killing Calvin on live television and before the Alpha King?" I whisper back.

    "Yeah, that''s what I asked for when we both signed an alliance," he grins. "Look at you. You''re most beautiful covered in blood,"

    "Fuck off," I turn away to scan the people present. The Falcon is long gone.

    "He was tagged," the King waves Roy over. He hands the King a phone and the king shows it to me. Three GPS dots.

    "He shook my hand," Roy smirks.

    §Õ§Ö "Pleased with yourself, huh? I taught him that,"

    "She did," the Kingughs when Roy looks up at him. "I can''t take her anywhere. This is how things always end," he points at the bodies and waves his hand. Some peoplee out and start removing the bodies. "Begin,"

    09:18 Mon, Oct 28 B Chapter 112

    "What''s happening?" I ask.

    00%

    86%

    "They''re going to make offerings, my Queen. Then dinner and we''ll go for a walk after," he lifts me by my waist and sits me on the throne next to his. He tips my crown back, takes my hand to kiss it, and then takes his seat. "How does that sound?" "Good," I say softly. He smiles and then faces the people.

    A group of womene over to me and start cleaning the blood off my face and hands. They dig out the bits of Calvin on my dress and apologize for not having a backup. I''m not sure what to say to either of them. I''m sorry seems dumb and thank you feels patronizing as hell, so I simply nod. They offer up all I kinds of things. Animals, cars, houses in different countries, jewelry, clothing, shoes, rare nts, and devices. Some of this sh**is inappropriate as ***k. It''s an hour of thi***t and the best part is that not a single personments on the blood stters of the people I took out. This was weird even for me.

    Finally, the priest says something, and the guests who have been here the entire time all look relieved. They''re all escorted out. The Lycan King lets out a heavy sigh and I can''t help butugh at how ridiculous this was, but if I''m being honest. This was fun. "Thedy with multi-colored ****d*dos," I choke out. I look over at him to see him finally c****ck a smile.

    "I really liked the gold statue of you mming that guy on a car," he sighs. "That''s going in my room," "S***ist. Burn it all. Leave no trace of any of it. ***os at the top of the pile so they go first," I shake my head.

    Heughs and stands up offering me his hand. I take it and follow him into a grand ballroom. I pause when the doors are opened and we''re announced as the King and Queen. I had wondered what everyone meant when they were talking about the King putting everything together and as I look up at the candles hanging from the ceiling of this crazy ballroom, I get it. He had them arranged into different constetions.

    The walls are decorated with sparkly ck curtains. The theme is sp******y but at the same time, there''s something very dreamy and whimsy about everything. The tablecloths are velvet and shimmer. The centerpieces are beautiful ck and gold bouquets with little tw****le lights and I find myself smiling.

    Ci***n Roll heads. The dead tree decor have f***kughs when we''re seated.

    "Is that a girly smirk I see, my Queen?" the c****

    ???

    This

    is cute as hell. How did you have time to do this and all the other s***t?" I ask.

    "I had help. Mostly from the wolf you killed in the sacred prayer hall," heughs.

    "Sacred I prayer room? I killed a whole lot more in the actual sanctum,"

    "That happens in almost every generation. What never happens is what you did today. F**ng cannibal. Are you even hungry anymore?"

    "Yes, but I''d like a toothpick. I still have du*** stuck in my teeth," I joke but I''m quickly offered a tray with toothpicks on it. The King and I bothugh as I reach for it and set it on the table. "Thank you,"

    "My Queen," a man bows and steps back.

    "So, this is going to be your life now," I turn my attention to him. "Everything is going to be handed to you,"

    "They take care of the small things so I can ensure they live under the Feral Queen''s decree,"

    "The what?"

    "Feral Queen''s decree," he repeats and waves his hand forward. The boy who handed me the toothpicks gives him a scroll. An actual scroll. "Want to see?"

    45

    "Am I allowed?" I look up at him because it''s wax-sealed.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "You''re the Queen, Perry. You never have to ask that again," he says and hands it to me.

    I

    I take it and stare down at the King''s official seal. I wipe my hands on my filthy dress and gently lift the wax. I nce at him to see he''s talking to someone else. My eyes fill with tears as I read the ban on wolf trade and the list of names of the wolves that were freed this morning. I flip the page to find a two hundred and fifty million Pawcoin donation to build more housing for orphaned children for KIA families. I drop the scroll when I get to thest page. It''s a full pardon reinstating my father''s position as a solider of the crown. At the bottom is a drawing of the memorial that will be built in our honor in the Alpha King''s courtyard. I really wish I had my hood at the moment. "I think I''m ready for that walk now," I choke out fighting the anger knotting in my stomach.

    ready for that walk now," I choke out fighting the an

    "Are you sure?" he whispers.

    "Yes," my body trembles as I fight my wolf once again. "Or a lot of people are going to die if she gets free here,"

 Bait Novel 113

    Chapter 113 Jonas

    Perry has had good days and bad days since we''ve been mated. There''s always a slow bubbling feeling when she gets upset. Like a wind up and it gradually increases because of the way she bottles things up. crowd, but she didn''t stop smiling.

    Not today. We woke up this morning and she was calm. She genuinely enjoyed the ne ride, but something shifted in her when wended and were greeted by the people wanting to catch a glimpse of us. I tried to make out what she was thinking as she stared at the

    There was this burst of satisfaction to watch her beat the shit out of Calvin with her bare fist. The relief she felt when she hit the floor was like a dam broke inside of her and nothing but coldness flooded our bond. Then the wolf roared its final battle cry. It was both liberating and heartbreaking. None of this feels real.

    The two of us walk out to the courtyard. As soon as she sees we''re alone she lets go of my hand and walks up ahead. I watch her copse under the entrance of the maze. To say her crying hurts would be an understatement but I can''t bring myself to show her that. It''ll be a long time before I can show anyone anything.

    "Why did you do that?" she s***bs covering her face with both hands. I crouch down in front of her.

    "Because

    you deserved it," the answer is simple, but I know it''s going to go right over her head. "don''t," she shakes her head.

    don''t

    "I want an argument to be ourst conversation, my Queen," I take her by the wrist and lift her with me. The first time Iid eyes on her, she had mascara smeared on her face despite the fact that she looked like she''d just gotten out of a shower. Her hair was long and matted. Her skin was so dry it looked like someone had thrown chalk on her and she used the back of her sleeve to wipe it off and missed a bunch in the creases of her pretty face.

    I didn''t expect the girl with the emptiest eyes I''d ever seen to feel as much as she does. We had both wanted a way out and here we are at the end of our deal, both of us with what we had wantedid out in front of us.

    This

    thest time I get to see her and it is honestly perfect. She''s crying the same way she was when she put on her knees before me. There is mascara running down her face along with gold sparkles. She smeared her lipstick when she used the two million dor dress sleeve to wipe her face. The same dress she protected me in while I was named King. The same dress she offered me the blood of those who dared challenge my reign in. Every promise. Every word was fulfilled as expected. How could I not meet the demands she so passionately ranted about? No one had ever listened to her before. That much was more than obvious. I wanted thest thing I could offer to be something that would give her some catharsis. A little relief or maybe onest hit of I pain and and rage.pletely caught off guard.

    she sniffles and reaches under her dress. "I stole this from your mate''s Mom,"

    "Here" I''m

    "A gift for James. Something to remind him that I think he''s a piece of sh***t onest time,"

    She holds up a small golden ne. Eve had one of these. It''s a golden rope chain with a small seashell hanging off it. I reach into my shirt and pull the one out I''m wearing. Sheughs looking up at me.

    "I know. That''s why I took it. He cared enough to track her bloodline down to tell them what happened. Oregon. Bloodbornes. That''s where she came from. I killed a delta there a few years ago. They''re a very traditional type of pack. They''re born and bred betas. It''s a cool history if you ever want to poke at the little sa****st in you," 09:19 Mon, Oct 28

    "What do you want me to do with this?" I ask.

    "Give it to him. When you''re ready. He''ll do the rest,"

    "You''re a f****g demon," I smile. She grins, her face getting more red.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "Thank you," she clears her throat and points at the maze. "What''s on the other side?"

    "Come on. I promised you a walk," I take her hand and lead her inside.

    When weplete it, she smiles up at me and walks out to the edge of the cliff overlooking the sunset over the h***on. Her dress glistens in the light as I step up to stand next to her. She looks up at me when I take a deep breath.

    86% Come

    My ws elongate as I reach for her. She lets me pull her into me. Her arms up around me and I lean in. Before I can press my lips to hers, my ws pierce through her chest and I don''t stop until my hand bursts out of her back. She smiles and thenughs as bloodes up her throat. "God," sheughs. "I f****ing love you. You''ve never let me down. Not once, Jo,"

    I watch the shades ofvender fade from her eyes and pale. Her head falls back and her arms fall ck to her sides. I pull my hand out of her and hold her head against my chest onest time. I growl feeling as our bond reaches for her to find nothing and then shatter. This is the fifth time this has happened and it''s never been like this. I take another deep breath feeling the ache take root. My throat swells and I can barely breathe. "You''re okay now," I say and lift her into my arms. "You''re okay,"

    COM

 Bait Novel 114

    08:11 Tue, Oct 29 G. Chapter Jonas

    114

    as it starts to register. +5...

    I stand here for a moment, just trying to catch myself. I take her inside with me so that she''s properly prepared to be taken back to Cliffside. When I walk inside, everyone is on their feet. For a moment, I freeze unsure of what to do. They all take a knee. I almost drop her I killed her. I made a promise I fully intended to keep, but it''s the most f***ed up shit I''ve ever done. I didn''t expect it to feel like this. The weight of a single strikees down on me and it''s heavy. Was it mercy or greed? Why are the lines blurring when this is what the two of us wanted from the beginning? Royes over calmly, his expression filled with worry.

    "Do you want me to take her, my King?" he asks. I nod and he takes her from me. dress as he takes her away.

    Blood trails behind him from under her "Thank you all for all foring. It meant a lot to us," I say addressing everyone present. What else am I supposed to do? I didn''t n this far ahead. My eyes scan the room. They''re all looking at me sympathetically and I don''t know how to react. "You''re all excused," body bag. Roy says something and then waves someone over to me. I''m I follow after my cousin. I watch as she''s ced in a escorted to my room and as soon as I''m alone I rush to the bathroom. Bilees up my throat. I empty my stomach into the porcin bowl. When I reach to flush I pull back seeing her blood on my hands. Immediately I ediately I tear at my clothes needing to get out of them. As I feel the hot water rain down on my face suddenly her little fit in the shower doesn''t feel so little anymore. I understand that the burning sensation takes away from the anger and grief she''d felt. There is no time when it all crashes down. It stops. Effectively numbing everything else as it all presses down on the gas pedal and hits a dangerous hundred-and-twenty speed limit. Why does the first time we actually had fun togethere to mind? The way she freaked is fast I was driving. I find myselfughing at the way Perry perfectly described what it was like to lose something that meant everything to her. Then Iugh at myself because I literally knew this girl for six months and she gave me more than anyone had my entire life. She called it loyalty. I trusted her with things I''ve never even trusted myself with. Things I''d never say out loud to anyone and she didn''t judge me. She gave me her honest opinion on anything I presented to her. I''d been surrounded by lies my entire life and then there was her. Lit ally bleeding with truth and no one would listen. I don''t know what to make of it. How am I supposed to live with myse now? "Yeah." I

    the sound of Ss''s voice startles me. He wasn''t supposed to be here until tomorrow or is that how long I''ve been in here?

    Yean, I clear my throat.

    "Time to go home," he calls back. "Your clothes are on the bed,"

    "Thank you, Ss," I call back and stand to turn off the water. Unlike the water back home, this shower never ran cold, but it also didn''t get as hot.

    "You''re wee," he says quietly after a long pause. I thought he had walked away.

    I walk out to the bedroom and put my clean clothes on. Someone put her in an ice box and I stay with the box until it''s loaded up on the ne. Ss, Jordan, the twins, and Roy get on the flight with me. It doesn''t feel right to leave her back there alone, but then again it would be morbid to have her up here or sitting back there with her. She''d probablyugh at

    me.

    08.1

    3.11 Tue, Chapter 114

    "My King," Jordan catches my attention. He hands me his phone.

    It''s a video. I tap the screen to see it''s a national report. In big bold letters the words, REDWOOD CITY IN FLAMES. I had forgotten about that. The anchor goes on to list the names of the people who died in the explosions. The very first name is Luna Morgan Redwood followed ved by the names of Calvin''s parents.

    "Why are you smiling? Sixty-four people died," Roy scolds me.

    "That''s it?" I look up at Jordan.

    "Jake called some people," he exins. "I guess that the City decided who they wanted to save," him his

    hand him

    phone back and sit back. Demon wolf. That''s what she was and yet, I can''t believe she''s gone. That I ended her. We arrive and we''re weed by cheers. Banners and posters of the Local Lunatic are waved as the ice box she was ced in is paraded all the way to the shiny ck hearse. The crowd chants WOLF BAIT over and over again. We follow behind the hearse to Cliffside.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    My mother and sister are waiting for us along with Jacob. To my surprise, a woman is standing behind him. Next to her is Violetta f**ng Wilde. Jacob waits for everyone to get out of the car. I stop right beside him so he gets out whatever he wants to say.

    "Was it quick?" he asks quietly.

    "Yes," I answer. He nods and ces his hand on my shoulderfortingly. I expected something a little more violent, but the truth is that there was no other way out for her.

    "This is my daughter. Mackenzie," he nces back at her.

    I wasn''t sure what I expected her to look like, but it wasn''t a near-mirror image of the man that haunted both Perry''s and my dreams. They have the same gunmetal blue eyes. The same sharp features and high cheekbones. The soft brown hair. She''s petite and the cold look in her eyes matches theirs. Both Perry''s and Darren''s.

    "It''s nice to meet you," I offer her my hand. "Perry spoke very highly of you,"

    don''t believe that," she says coldly. "All I ever did was hurt her,"

 Bait Novel 115

    Chapter 115 Jonas G

    "Not the way

    she saw it," I look over at Violetta. "What the ***k do you want now?"

    Just

    there to make sure that **h really is dead," she raises her hands defensively. "She was kind of indestructible, you know,"

    You can all see her at her service tomorrow. She''s going to be cleaned and prepared today. You will always be wee here, Violetta," "Lycan King," she bows her head.

    "Jonas," my mother calls out but I don''t have the energy to deal with her at the moment.

    If she says one wrong thing, maybe I''ll do what Perry asked me to do. It''s a big if and if it were to happen, I''d like it to be something I want. Not a burst of grief. Thank ***k she doesn''t linger. I hear her tell everyone to give me some room. I walk into the lobby and take a seat not wanting to move anymore. Everything feels heavy. My body is on fire. The swelling in my throat is starting to feel permanent. I sit back and let my head fall over the back rest letting the room spin. Everything in my body screams sleep, but I can''t bring myself to shut my eyes.

    Feeling equally pathetic as I did when I begged her to stay with me, I stand. I nce down when something falls out of my coat The ne. I pick up and before I can think about it, I''m in my study taking the DNA results Dr. Alvarez had given

    me.

    The high tower isn''t too far from here and in a matter of seconds, I''m standing at its entrance. The guards bow and greet me as I walk past them. My brother''s cell is at the very top. I find him behind the ss lying on a bed a little too luxurious for his current situation. The motherf****er grins when he turns to look over at me.

    "Did you go feral yet, brother?" he asks. "Or are you well on your way,"

    "I''m not sure," I admit. "I have a gift from Perry and me," I say holding up the envelope and ne. I reach for the ne around my neck and rip it off to add it to what I''m already holding. "This is for you," "And this i sis?" he asks sitting up.

    "When she was fertile, she found you. Didn''t she?" I ask. He looks up at me but doesn''t answer. I hold the envelope up. "I thought so. It never made sense to me how she was able to hide it from us for two days," "Did you ever love her or was it the idea of what she represented?" he asks.

    "I loved her. How could I not? She was mine and I hers. I think I didn''t allow myself to feel more of our bond because you having her first always sat in the back of my head. I felt both guilt for taking her from you and anger that what we had wasn''t as natural as what the two of you had," "Like what you had with Pernicious,"

    "Nothing about what I had with Perry was natural. It was convenient. Forced. Why did you tell me she was yours?"

    "To f***k with you. I was hoping you''d kill her before she put that crown on your head, Jo. I bet she saw right through it. She may not have been my mate, but you can''t deny the simrities between us. Both killers created by the very people who brought us into the world. A world painted ck and white to cover up all the little gray areas those in charge like to dabble in," he grins and that''s a very Perry thing he''s said. It might just be the only reason why I don''t kill him tonight.

    "You know I''ve felt sorry her I''d probably try to reform you and eventually pardon you,"

    for you for a long time now. Yeah, she saw right through you. She asked me to kill you when I told

    a

    83%

    Wed, Oct 30 B Chapter 115Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "I bet sheughed at how pathetic you are, Jonas," he scoffs.

    "She hit my ¨¦go a few times. Nothing I couldn''t solve by sticking my *** in her mouth," I shrug rolling the nes into the results. "She wanted me to remind you that you''re a piece of ***it, James. She''s under the impression that you''re going to do something that will give me some kind of catharsis," I shove the paper through one of the air holes. He stands and picks the envelope up. He stares down at both chains and looks up at me with a re. His breathing increases as he tears the envelope open. He steps back until he''s sitting on the bed. "What is this?"

    What is this

    "Sofie was your daughter, James," I watch as he stares at the results in his hand. "Perry told me that I was a piece of shit for allowing Dad to bring you back so you can see how happy she was without you. At the time, I didn''t see it as a bad thing. I thought you''d be more willing to let it it go. "It doesn''t matter anymore, I guess. It''s over. Eve, Perry, your attempt to f***k up our Kingdom. In the end, everything turned out the way it was supposed to. I don''t think this will make me feral. I feel like I want to w my f***ng throat out, but I find sce in this one thing. I''m not piece of shit that killed my unborn

    You ***K," he throws the papers and the nes aside and hits the ss. "Open the ss, Jonas,"

    "For what?"ugh. "You know that you can''t kill me anymore. I hold my power and the strength of my Little Wolf Queen. I''m not going to let you out. Not now. Not ever. You and I will suffer together until our veryst breath, Brother. Try not to make a mess. Mom isn''t going to be around to be cleaning up after you for long," "You''re not going to do shit to, Mom," he growls. "You''re a fucking momma''s boy. Everything Mommy asks you fulfill. You would be nothing without her,"

    "I guess

    we''ll see about that," I smile. "I''ll see youter, Jimmy,"

    "Jonas!" he shouts as I walk away. "You motherf***er! Come back here!"

    The sound of him pounding against the ss echoes in the high ceilings before he shifts and starts howling. My mother is standing outside with a worried expression on her face. did do?" demands.

    Perry was serious when she told me to kill her before she infected my little sister as well. At the time, I didn''t think much of it because I had been so wrapped up in giving her what she wanted. But standing in front of her now. After having to let go of the one thing I wanted f****g crown, I see I see it. "Buenos Aires, you

    more than this said you needed me to apany you. Why?" I ask her. She tenses up and shrugs.

    "It was your deal. It would have been disrespectful to show up alone,"

    "You didn''t think it would be disrespectful for you to allow my mate to meet up with my brother while she was showing signs of fertility?" I ask. She inhales sharply and takes a step back "I was losing him," she chokes out.

    "How

    could

    you?" "Andromeda and the twins are walking out of the police cave with Jordan and Mackenzie Phurry. "How could you do that to them?"

    "Annie," she shakes her head looking between the two of us.

    "You cost us everything, my little sister shouts. I stop her from getting closer to her. "My dad died because of you!"

    "I didn''t-" she shakes her unable to form any kind of exnation

    09:41 Wed, Oct 30 B BO

    "Jonas!" I look up to sec-Dr. Alvarez running toward us. "Jonas! Come quick. Hurry,"

    "What''s wrong, Oz?" I ask. "Now isn''t the time. We''re in the middle of something,"

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    "I don''t know. I-1-1-" Her eyes are wild. Fully dted. The sweet aroma of her adrenaline is starting to permeate the air. "Just, hurry,"

    "Go inside, girls," I order my sister. No one moves for a moment and Jordan pushes the twins forward. Mackenzie takes my sister''s hand and bows to us before pulling her with them. "Jo," my mother reaches for me.

    "Run," I growl at her. She takes a step back. "Run and never look back,"

 Bait Novel 116

    Chapter 116 Jonas

    "What did you do?" Dr. Alvarez asks ussingly as soon as we''re standing outside of her clinic.

    "I beg your pardon?" I flinch when she all but jumps on me holding a tablet in her hands. She shoves it in my face. There are Lycan scans on the screen, I stare at them not sure why she''s showing me this. "Oz, I don''t care about whatever this is," "Come," she takes my hand and pulls at me. "I''m tired. I want to go to bed,"

    "Now," she growls tugging on my hand harder.

    I groan and motion to the doors. She looks around like she''s expecting someone to jump out at us from the shadows. I think hanging around Perry changed her just as much as it did me. I stop when I see the empty icebox Perry had been kept in. On the floor a few feet away is the empty body bag. "What the fuck, Oz?" I growl at her.

    "I was cleaning her up. I read the report. A hole straight through the chest," she pulls on me again. Perry is lying on an operating table in her pretty dress. "Look,"

    Dr. Alvarez releases me and pushes me toward the body. I slowly approach and stop when I see that the hole I''d punched through her chest is gone. I rush to her side cing my hand over the ripped material of her dress. There''s skin where there should be a gaping hole. I look back at Dr. Alvarez. "What the f****k?"

    "That''s what I said," she nods and starts fiddling with the machines around Perry. She''s sticking wires all over her where she

    can.

    "Is she alive? How is she healing?" I ask.

    "Healing?" we both look back to find Mackenzie standing in the doorway.

    "Not healing," Dr. Alvarez saysing closer. "Transitioning,"

    "To what?" Mackenzie demands.

    "Lycan," I a "I answer when Dr. Alvarez stares back at me. "No,"

    "I thought this would make you happy, Your Grace," she steps back.

    Why would that make me happy? It''s not going to make Perry happy if she wakes up. It''s going to make her angry. And sad. If she wakes up a Lycan it means she won''t be a wolf anymore. She''d lose the final tether to who she had once been. Crystal. "How is that possible? There is no f***ng way," Mackenzie storms over to us. She looks Perry over.

    "She''s going to be pi****d," I ce my hand where her wound had been. "S***. I pierced her heart. There''s no way she survives this," "Not exactly," Dr. Alvarez says. "You cut the two bottom chambers triggering the proper healing process. Her body is in hibernation. Like before. It shut down enough to help her heal. The ice has been helping. Keeping her cool enough to preserve her body while she heals," ""What now?" Mackenzie asks.

    "Now we wait," Dr. Alvarez says. "The rest is up to her,"

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    can still die," I say pulling away in case my being close might change that. "Wolves die in this phase, right?"

    "It''s a one in a two-point six million chance that she makes it," Dr. Alvarez says. "If she wakes up, Perry will be a fully-blooded Lycan,

    "You f*****ing idiot," Mackenzie sighs. "If there''s anyone who can beat those f*****ng odds, it''s this st***d b***h," she takes her hand and holds it up to her cheek before letting out a low chuckle. "You just refuse to***ing die, Perry. Der did say you were always too stubborn for it," "This stays between us," I immediately go to lock the door to find Roy jogging over.

    "Good. You''re up," he says. "I can''t sleep. There''s this scent,"

    "A scent?" I ask. He leans into me and tries to look past me.

    "Lycan King, you''re going to have to-" Mackenzie freezes when she steps out from behind me.

    "Jonas!"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    grabbing my cousin by his jacket and pulling him in.

    "F******" growl and look back to see Jacob running in our direction. "Hurry the f******k up and get in here,"

    just wanted to ask if you''ve seen, Kenzie," he says defensively.

    "She''s in here," I urge him to run faster. I m the door shut behind me and turn around to find Mackenzie ring at my

    cousin.

    "This is not happening," she spits.

    "It''s going to happen, wolf. There''s no way in hell I''m letting you go," Roy smiles.

    "What is happening?" Jacob asks.

    "Nothing," I growl at the two of them. "Perry is transitioning,"

    What?" Jacob asks.

    "I don''t think it''s a

    I

    "If

    f she wakes unod idea to have this many people in here when she wakes up," Dr. Alvarez interjects.

    nce over at Perry''s body.

    "How is this possible?" Jacob goes over to her.

    "She was bonded to the King for some time. It''s possible that she had been transitioning before that because of your son," Dr. Alvarez is moving around the room gathering things. "Stop," I grab her arm.

    "If I don''t do something she''ll be lost," she tries to pull away.

    "That''s what she wanted," I remind them. "Do you have any idea the strain this will put on her if she wakes up with her wolf gone?"

    "He''s right," Jacob sighs and thenughs shaking his head.

    "Why are youughing?" Roy asks him.

    BB

    "Because it''s just like Perry to ****k up something as simple as dying," Mackenzie grins.

    "Jonas," Dr. Alvarez pulls out of my grip. I release her.

    "Clear the room. If she wakes up by morning, she wakes up. If she doesn''t, we carry on with the funeral arrangements,"

    "We can''t just leave her here,"

    "I''ll stay. She''s still my wife. Go. I''ll call if anything changes. Not a word," I warn them.

    "Stop staring at me, Freak," Mackenzie growls and storms out. Jacob looks at him skeptically before following his daughter

    out.

    "You''re fu**d," I tell him. "If she''s anything like this one, you''re utterly f***ed,"

    "That makes two of us, Cousin," he smacks my arm. "Call and I''ll be here," he looks back at Dr. Alvarez. "Doctor?"

    "I took an oath," she stares back at me.

    "So did I and I outrank you," I remind her. She growls throwing her tablet across the room before stomping out with Roy following behind her. "She hung out with you a little too much, Perry. You made her bratty,"

 Bait Novel 117

    Jonas

    I nce down at her body. There''s no sign of life, but it''s just like her to y possum, isn''t it? I remove the stickies and needles from her skin and set them on the counter. I''ve watched her sleep before and I can easily say that she''s never looked so peaceful. I''m caught between wanting her toe back and wanting her to find the peace she''s owed. It''s more than selfish. I know that. She knows that. But I can''t help the fluttering in my belly. I pull the office chair in the corner out and turn the lights off. I sit down listening to the ticking sound of the clock above the Doctor''s desk. It''s been twenty-two hours. It''ll be a whole day in two more.

    If she wakes up, how would I even begin to exin this to her? Everything will change. I''ve caught some changes over thest few weeks. The way her marks had faded. How she''s been healing much faster. The changes in the tones of her skin. She''s going to hate me for doing this to her. I shut my eyes for the first time in a while and I can see the look on her face as she died. The way she faded away in seconds. The sound of her telling me she loved me and that I had not failed her. No one has ever said those words to me with the conviction she had. I findfort in them for a moment and I feel myself start to drift off.

    "I told you I''d call if anything changed," I growl feeling someone in the room with me.

    I

    Jonas?"

    I jump up at the sound of her voice. She''s sitting up looking down at her hands.

    "Perry

    ites out low, but her eyes snap to me.

    Even in this lighting, I can see that her eyes are no longer brown. The soft regalvender shades glow as she starts to panic. "What did I do?" she gasps. I''m at her side in an instant.

    The moment my skin makes contact with her''s a jolt of electricity shoots up my arm and I pull away at the same time she

    "I''m so sorry," I find myself saying. "I do?

    know

    how to fix this,"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "She''s gone," a sob racks her body and she stumbles off the table. She growls at me when I reach to help her. I hold my hands up and take a step back.

    I say her name and she growls at me again.

    is this happening to me?" she cries. "Why?" sh

    screams at the top of her lungs. Her newly found Lycan roar vibrates the walls around us. She looks around frantically and lunges for a tray with medical equipment on it. "This isn''t fair,"

    It takes me a split second to see that she''s going for the scalpel. Iunch myself over the operating table and miss her hand as she stabs the scalpel into her throat.

    "No," I rip it out.

    She starts scratching at me as I struggle to stop her from f***ng herself up more, I pin her against the table with her hands over her head as I try to put pressure on her wound. The bleeding stops and the wound begins to heal. She''s choking on her blood but as her body heals the sounds she''s making slowly turn into low sobs. She grips the other end of the table and screams. The door opens up behind me. "Get the f**k out," I shout without looking back.

    "They all keep saying I deserve more," she cries out. "I don''t want anymore!" she goes limp on the table. "I don''t want

    3

    Thu,

    anymore," she sobs. "F***k!"

    I don''t know what to say. We stay like this for a long time. Neither of us answers when there''s a knock at the door.

    0

    "If Het you go, will you stop?" I ask her. She nods and I release her arms. She stays there for a moment before she tries to stand straight.

    "I don''t feel good," she says. Her eyes roll back but she fights it and tries to look at me.

    "You need to eat something. Maybe drink some water. You''ve been hibernating for a whole day,"

    "What happened?" she asks.

    "I don''t-" I shake my head. She nods reaching up to cup my face. The mate''s draw floods through me.

    "It''s

    not your

    fault," she says quietly. "I did this to myself. All the bad things I did. I did this to her," she covers her face and starts to cry again. "God, I''m sorry for dragging you into this," "Perry," the loor is ripped open behind me and Mackenzie barges in. "F***k you, Lycan King. You''re not going to keep me from seeing her like you did my dad. She''s my sister!" "Mack?" Perry looks between us. "Where are we?"

    "Home. I brought you home so we could bury you properly. Mackenzie was here when we arrived,"

    "Holy shit, Trash Bag. You''re alive," Mackenzieughs. "You had a big a**** hole in your chest but you''re alive!"

    Perry stares at her like she can''t believe she''s standing there. She looks at me andughs.

    "Yeah," she says disappointedly. "Looks like the universe is not quite done fucking me yet,"

    "No offense, Perry but you look like a fucking vampire," she blurts out.

    She flips on and it only makes it worse. There''s a silver tint in her skin now. The sunkissedyers are gone. I didn''t notice before but her hair is longer. A little past her shoulders. Her eyes are lighter than mine. "Better?" Perry asks.

    She

    the lights on

    "Bitch, no. Worse. You''re like sparkly. You''re not even like a cool vampire. You''re a f***ng Edward Cullen a** st**d b***h," she bursts intoughter. Perry grins showing her canines off andughs with her. "Except for those. Those look sharp. You''re a bonified monster now. F***k shit up certified,"

    "Mack, I''m really happy you''re back and I want to catch up but can you give us a moment?" she says in a tone I''ve never heard her use before. It''s gentle. Motherly, even.

    "You don''t have to stay here, Perry. He doesn''t own you anymore. We have shit to do and it doesn''t involve him," she growls at me and then ms the door shut behind her.

    "She''s Roy''s mate," I whisper. Perry looks over at me eyes wide. I stare back at herpletely taken aback by the amount of joy in her eyes.

    "Seriously? That stuck-up goodie two-shoes lord of the sanctum is her mate?" sheughs. "I was kind of hoping it would be

    Ss or Oz,"

    "Oz?"

    "She''s into nerdy babes," she clears her throat. "Can I get out of this? I can smell the dry blood and it smells-"

    "Good?" I offer.

    "Why does it smell good?" she whispers. Her eyebrows knit together with confusion.

    0000, 79%

    "You''re a Lycan now. Not a vampire. We like a fresh kill," I look around to find one of Dr. Alvarez''sb coats. "This?"

 Bait Novel 118

    Chapter

    Jonas

    118

    She stretches and the dress she''s wearing rips. Her eyes go wide and she snorts ripping it clean off her body. She stops for a moment looking down at herself. Her hand gently caresses over the left side of her body where the marks had once been. She stops where I''d punch my hand through her chest and looks up at me. I hold her gaze not wanting to tempt the bond. "Here," I hold theb coat out for her. She buttons it up and slides up onto the counter. I lean against it next to her not wanting to touch her again.

    "The marks are all gone. Even the mating one," she says quietly.

    "Yeah," I I push off the counter to face her. "She''s right you know. You''re not obligated to stay here, Perry. I''m-I''m not sure how I feel about you being alive at the moment, I-" I swallow back the knot in my throat. "You''re free to go. Everyone thinks you''re dead and it''ll stay that way if you want it to," "Do you want me to go?" she asks softly.

    "You''ve got a second chance, Sweetheart. You''re twenty-eight years old. That''s like twelve for a Lycan. What I want shouldn''t matter to you anymore," "You''re my mate," she chokes out.

    know,"

    "Are you-" she turns away. "You''re rejecting me?"

    "What?"

    "Okay," she slides off the counter.

    "Perry. I''m not-" I reach for her but she growls at me swinging her hand out. Her ws cut across my forearm. "Why would you think I''d reject you?"

    "Because I''m a f*u**ng loser," she says like it''s the truest thing in the world. "I ruin everything. I ruined my mate and his family. I ruined my life. I ruin everything. Why wouldn''t you reject me?"

    "Don''t ever say that again,"

    "I''m gonna go," she sighs. "I need to be

    away

    from you

    for a while."

    "I''m not rejecting you," I panic.

    "I was your ve, Jonas! You marked me up and you f***ing kept me from my family. And now I''m just supposed to be your mate? You have to be f***g crazy," she shouts. "I love you. I respect the lengths you were willing to go through for your people. But as a mate, as a friend, you''re an a****le. And I need time to get it out of my head. It didn''t matter before because I-" she pauses rubbing her forehead. "I don''t know what to do,"

    "I understand," I don''t know what to do either. "You don''t have to leave. You can stay here. This is your home now. I''m sure your father has space in his vi for you. You''re still the Lycan Queen," "You said death can break the bond,"

    "You''re not exactly dead," I remind her.

    She looks down at her bloodied hand and the mess that was made. Tears stream down her face as she takes it all in. She looks around the room until her eyesnd on me. Chapter 118

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    "I saw them," she says quietly, "I could hear Crystal telling me that it wasn''t my time. That I had to learn how to do shit on my own. They were so close," she chokes out. "No matter how fast I ran I couldn''t reach them," "F****" is all I can say. She was so close. "Perry?"

    the door swings open and Jacob runs in. He stops in the doorway his eyespletely fixed on her.

    "Jake," she manages to get out and he''s at her side immediately wrapping her up in his arms. "We''re going to be okay, baby," he rocks her back and forth before he pulls back to push her hair out of her face. "You''re going to be fine. I''m right here. I''m not going anywhere," It only serves to make her cry harder. The bond between us is itching. Like fire ants on a hot summer day. But I can''t bring myself to get any closer. I step out of the room to find Dr. Alvarez anxiously waiting to be let in. "Is she okay?" she asks me.

    "No, Oz. She''s not. You should examine her," I hold out the bloodied scalple. Her eyes turn from worried to horrified. "She tried to rip her throat out," ''she says taking it. "My orders?"

    "Jonas,"

    "I don''t-" What am I supposed to say? Fix her? There''s no fixing this for either of us. "Whatever she wants. She''s still your Queen,"

    I

    "Yes, sir," she nods tucking the scalpel into her pocket. She formally bows and proceeds to go inside.

    my

    stomach drops down into my a***s when I see my little sister standing by the elevator that leads up to my room. Her makeup is streaked down her face and she looks the way I feel. "What''s happening? Who is that?" "Perry transitioned," I answer. Her eyes light up and she runs to me wrapping her arms around my waist tightly. "That''s good, right? She didn''t die," she starts to cry.

    "I don''t know. Things are a littleplicated right now. I think we should give her some time to process her new position," "Why would her position change? You''re still married, right?"

    "Yes, but the original contract had beenpleted and she''s a lycan now. Lycanws apply to her. The marks are all gone. Clean te moving forward,"

    So, that''s it? You''re just going to let her go?" she demands.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "If she wants to go, she can f****ing go, Annie," I growl and move past her so I clean myself up and hopefully get some f****ng sleep.

    "And mom?" she asks. I pause short of pressing the button. "You just let her go,"

    "What did she do?" we both look back to find Perry and her sister standing behind Andromeda.

    "She made Jo go with her on this ***id business trip so that Eve and James could f*** one out onest time. Sofie was his daughter," Andromeda answers. "And this idiot let her run," "Perry is really good at hunting runaway *****es like that," Mackenzie shoves her forward. "Big tension in the house of what''s your newst name, Trash Bag?"

    "Prince," Andromeda answers. "She''s Pernicious Prince now,"

    Are you serious Chapter

    sheughs. "Big tension in the house of Prince Let us go hunt her down. You do your thing. We do ours. It''ll give us all the time to sort our heads to the new situation at hand. We Phurrys are men of our word. I volunteer to be the shade,"

    118

    w and she has one. His name is Jordan," Andromeda shakes her head.

    "Is that something you want to consider?" I ask Perry.

    "Do I still have to ask for permission?" she asks.

    "No, but I''d like to offer my blessing and anything you ma

    need on your-"

    "Hunting trip," Mackenzie supplies.

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    "On your hunting trip,"

    "May''Ie up to your floor so I can get some equipment?"

    "We''re not leaving right now. F*****k off. I''m tired and so is my dad. Thanks for ****ng worrying him so much. By the way,"

    "You literally abandoned us for five years, you ****ng a***e," Perry

    "Yeah, I didn''t suicide by Lycan King scare him," she shoots back.

    "I will f****ng kill you

    at her.

    and not a single person here would do jack s**t about it," Perry shes her canines at her.

    "Okay****es. Perry, get some rest. I''ll take Mack attack back with me. Goodnight. Morning whatever,"

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    Chapter

    119

    been in your previous life.

    Why am I here? It''s a theatrical question that I feel one shouldn''t be asking oneself. Unless you let your now mate punch a f****ing hole through your chest only to wake up the next day as apletely different type of monster. A much more terrifying being than you had The Lycan King is standing right next to me. We''re back in the elevator I never thought I would see the inside of again. But here I am. In the f***ng elevator. Again. Crystal is gone, but the images of her crammed in here with the King moments before she tried to kill him sh in my head. I can ¨¤ scent

    t her. It''s so weird. I''m taking in my scent and identifying it as some wolf. It''s a very woodsy and sweet scent. Like freshly sweetened jasmine tea. There are overtones of burned sugar signifying the wolf''s feral state. My mouth fills with saliva and I understand why the King couldn''t keep his hands off me. Why he liked being so close. The scent is intoxicating. Inviting to the predator I am now. As if urging me to tear it apart. To devour. "I can have someone clean up so the scent-" he starts. I ce my hand on his arm to stop him.

    it too,"

    "It''s okay," I shake my head. "I''m going to miss it t

    "If you need anything you know where to find me," he says when we get to our doors.

    I nod and watch him go through his door. I continue on so that I can get some clothes. My fingers itch as I reach for the door to find it unlocked. I nce back at his door and shake it off.

    The terms and conditions of our contract are done. This is no longer a job. The two of us created something that neither of us expected to fully see through and here are the consequences of our actions. "F***k," I drop onto the bed next to Crispy and toss the clothes I got for a shower next to me. I take the urn and ce it on myp.

    I have had many near-death experiences but this one. F***k my a*** with a massive Lycan fist, this one felt like thest one. I stood there, right on the edge of that knife, and was denied ess to my freedom. Crystal I gave me a whole speech about ountability andpleting our life''s work. She had a lot to say for someone who had been going feral and trying to kill anyone in sight for the past five years. ountability. Yeah, okay. So, maybe I deserve this. But t giving the girl who I who has been toppling packs and lives a sharper set ws and teeth sounds like fate is cing a brand-new set of toys in front of a child with undiagnosed ADHD and expecting her not to y with them. The memory of of Darren''s erand-new convinced other arren''s scent and the was Sour son''s is on s on the tip of my nose. I thought this had been hell before, but running after the ghosts of little wolf Perry Phurry is not something I''d ever wish on anyone. Not even that piece of shit James. You''ve done to us what the rest of the world had always known you''d do, Perry. Her words run through my head and the apology I gave her was nothing. The same way that Calvin kneeling in front of me was nothing short of a joke. She''s right. I betrayed us. I let my grief overwhelm her and push her into the darkness. Then I made her ept Jonas without fullymitting to either of them. Only thinking of myself and what I wanted.

    "I''m so sorry, Crispy," I whisper to my urn and ce it back on the nightstand.

    My body feels hot from whatever the hell is happening to me and a cold shower serves to rx the aches I have all over. I think getting some separation from the Lycan King is a very good idea. However, he is in fact my mate now and there is no way in f***ing hell I am leaving him without cing my mark on him.

    The door is slightly open and I just give it a little push. The shower is running and I decide to take a seat on the bed. Our

    scent is all over the ce. This would have been literal hell for him had he stayed here if I had really died. I knew that. We both did. Yet, we both chose to do things exactly as we agreed.

    I smile at the growl thates out of him when he finds me here. I wonder how different I seem to him. Does he recognize me as Perry or something entirely new? His instincts are betraying him the same way mine are.

    "I''m sorry," he says staring at me. "Your rank is settling in and it''s different. Past beta,"

    "I didn''t die a beta," I remind him. He huffs and nods before lifting his towel to dry his hair. "Come sit with me. I think we should talk,"

    He sits next to me and stares at the door. We both do. For a while.

    "What did Oz say?" he breaks the silence.

    "That I''ve fully transitioned into a Lycan. The first in six centuries," I answer. "She called me her little princess miracle,"

    "Princess?"

    "Yeah, a princesses before a Queen. I''m the Queen now. So princess," we bothugh. "She ran all the tests she needed before I woke up. All she said was consider me a newly shifted Lycan. That is what she will be treating me as,"

    "Good," he nods. "You don''t have to ask me for anything. I meant what I said before,"

    "I know you did. It''s the only reason I''m still here," I take a deep breath and let it go all at once.

    "I don''t know what to say," he says after a while. "Do I apologize?"

    I

    "Are you sorry?" I ask turning my body to face him. "For any of it?"

    "No," he shakes his head.

    "Me either. Except for surviving. I guess. I''m not upset that you punched a hole proud of you. You took that leap knowing the consequences. Thank you,"

    "I still failed,"

    through me. Just so that''s clear. I am a little

    "Not really. If we hadn''t been bonded as long as we were, I would have stayed dead," I finally work up the nerve to look down at where my mark had once been. Then I notice that his ne is gone. I don''t say anything. I just notice. "I think I wouldn''t have been able to do i it in y n your shoes. Not after everything that happened,"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "I''d never be able to reject you, Perry. I just think we need time to actually get to know one another. We''ve been granted second chance. The way things happened was- I''m-"

    a

    "Crystal said that I am to be held ountable for what I''ve done and I think it applies to both of us. And while we do that, I just-" I look up at him.

    His eyes are taking me in as if I have all the answers. I don''t and I am one hundred percent sure that this is what I want to do. Given all we''ve been through the past whatever months. If this triggers my heat, so be it. Hean in wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer. He sighs with what sounds a lot like relief.

    The sparkling sensation of our bond tingles all over my body and I tighten my hold on him. He does the same. Goes as far as burying his face in my hair to inhale my scent. This is revenge for everything. For marking me up when he swore he wouldn''t. For keeping me isted here. For being such a f****ing idiot. This is for what was left of the Little Wolf he fell in love with. "Per-" he groans as my teeth sink into his neck right under his ear, so everyone sees it the same way he had done to me. Everything in my bodyes alive in the same way it always did when I shifted as a wolf. Itch on to him, his blood filling Chapter 119

    93%i

    my mouth. There''s an edge to it. Something sweet but also a little bitter. His handes up to my head and he grips my hair like he intends to pull me off, but then stops and lets go. He simply rxes under me. The sound the wound makes when I rx my jaw just does something strange to my body and I have the urge to lick it. So, I do I gentlyp at the bleeding wound until it stops. I sit back to see that I didn''t make the mess we did thest time. Or maybe, it was me who had made that mess. Per usual. I can hear his heart pounding in his chest. There''s an unyielding uncertainty starting to creep in as my mark on him reveals what he''s feeling. He''sying back now. I''m straddling his hips. My hands are holding me up over his chest and he''s looking up at me. Annoyed that I marked him without his permission. "This isn''t how we should start our mating, Perry," he says condescendingly.

    "No? I think it''s perfect. For me, at least. You can choose to do it however you please. All I know is that there is no way in hell I''m leaving without you bearing my mark. Since you can''t reject me and I would rather die than let you be happy with anyone who isn''t me,"

 Bait Novel 120

    "Do

    you mean that?" he asks cing his hands on my hips.

    "I''d mean it even if you weren''t my mate. You know shit about me. Real crazy shit about me that would require one of us dying should our rtionship ever implode. Me being alive is your worst-case scenario. This isn''t a good thing. At least, not where the past is concerned," I ''I climb off him and fall onto the stack of pillows. He sits up resting his elbows on his knees. "What happened with your Mother?" "You know what happened," he says quietly.

    I me anyway,"

    "She took me away so that James/could ****k my mate onest time,"

    What? I didn''t know that. I did know she was manipting the hell out of him, but that is some next-level p********-mom stuff. I didn''t think she had that in her.

    "I would have killed her,"

    "I couldn''t in front of Annie, the twins, Jordan, and Mackenzie," he sighs and falls back on the bed.

    "Do you want me to bring her back?" I ask. He rolls around and crawls into the spot next to me. "You''re

    I''re my Queen now. I am never going to give you a task that I couldn''t carry out myself. This isn''t what this is anymore, Perry. I don''t own you anymore," "That''s not what I asked," I sigh. "I know you don''t own me anymore, but you''re still my king. I''m still me. There''s a whole lot for us to do. I took the same oath you did. Granted I didn''t expect to live past that, but still. I''m not one to take back a promise," "Death did us part," "So, you want me to just bail? Out of sight out of mind? That sounds like you," I "I scoff.

    Dea

    and sits up

    stops "What I wanted was for this to be over. I wanted to wake up in the morning to get to work. I wanted to-" he pulling his knees up to wrap his arms around them. It''s odd seeing him like this. I get it. The situation has turned on us. Thank you, Gods, for that. "Hey," I crawl over to him pulling his arms apart so I can kneel between his legs.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "You stabbed yourself in the throat," he says quietly.

    my defense, I died and woke up without half my soul. Half, Jonas. It''s just gone," I sit back on my calves and take in the words that just came out of my trap. "It''s like reaching out to Jake or Mack only to find nothing. Crystal was all I had left, "You have me and your family," he reaches for me. I swat his hand away shaking my

    head.

    "That''s not what I mean. I don''t expect you to understand because of what you are. I was a wolf. I was chosen by a powerful spirit, and I destroyed it so badly that it turned feral. Maybe one day, I''ll wake up and see this second chance as a gift, but after everything I''ve done. It feels like I''m being punished. This has nothing to do with you or us.

    "I panicked. I''m not entirely sure that it''s stopped. Without her pain and rage, it''s just me in here. And I hate to sound like a broken record but, I''m not a good person. I''m selfish. I''m angry. Vengeful and mean as hell," I wipe the tears away and look up at him. "I just need to clear my system of her. Maybe redeem what''s left of the person I wanted to be with her at my side, "Okay," he nods. He reaches for me again and this time I let him have it. He pulls me into him tucking me into hisp. He rests his chin on my head. "Before you go, I''d like to help you learn how to shift. If you don''t want me to-" Chapter 120

    do," "I assure him. "If you''re going to treat me as your friend. I''d like for you to help me," your mate,"

    "I''m

    90%1

    "Right, but if you''re going to get all mushy about training. I''m going to side-bust you in the face with the strength of a newly shifted Lycan female. You''ve seen what I can do with just the strength of four of five alphas," "Dearly noted," his body shakes with his suppressedugh. His hold tightens on me and I feel him inhale deeply.

    "I''m sorry you had to kill me," I whisper.

    "Is this real?" he whispers after a while.

    "Unfortunately," I nod. "If you were to mark me, would I go into heat likest time?"

    "No, your b

    "Sweet," I

    body isn''t developed enough for that. I saw some of the scans Oz did. Like I said, you''re a newly shifted Lycan,"

    Sweet push him back. Heughs as I straddle him again. "That means, we have to officiate our wedding and our coronation,"

    "Not in the mood after watching your second chance mate try to kill herself an hour ago?"

    "You-" he growls gripping my thighs and flipping us so fast my head spins. Iugh trying to shake it off and then stop when I see he''s gonepletely serious. He leans in pressing his forehead to mine. "This isn''t like asking a girl with nothing to lose to help me save my people," his eyes stay on mine. "I want this. I want you. All of you. Not like before," "Even knowing everything you do now?"

    "Yeah," he lifts himself up. "The good and the bad,"

    I push him off and stand up. He follows but stays seated on the edge of the bed.

    "No limitations? No lo s****d f***ing rules? No guards following me everywhere?"

    "Thatst one is going to be hard. You''re the Lycan Queen now. Your safety is always going to be my top priority and now that we''re mates, I can''t not look out for you. You''re mine. I don''t-" he clears his throat. "I stopped the drinking, and the drug abuse because you''re a public figure. You''re bonded to me. You''vee a long way,"

    "I know. I don''t want to drink. It was to keep Crystal from going off the rails. You saw how hard it was to fight her and I like to drink. I started very young,"

    "Yes, but you did it. I was very proud of you,"

    "Thanks," I don''t know why that makes me feel all warm inside. "That''s not what I meant,"

    "No limitations. We have rules to follow. I

    by example. But the rules between us h**** can''t just let you run around doing f****k knows what, Perry. We''re supposed to lead

    respect that,"

    changed. No rules. All I ask is that you know that I am your mate. That you

 Bait Novel 121

    "Jo, I barely like myself. I honestly like you more than I do me. Do you really think I''d let some other a***hole put his hands on me? That I could stomach it? This is it," I point between us. "It''s you or the convent. Do you guys have that? We have a pack called sisters of truth," "No, we don''t have that. Abstinence isn''t something we regte as Lycans. We''re beasts,"

    "Well, Sisters of Truth is still an option. I think they might make an exception for the Wolf Bait girl. Deal. All in," I agree.

    "Deal," he smiles and then looks me over like I''m some stranger to him.

    "What?"

    Nothing. I just-"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "Spit it out, Lycan King. Your Queen demands it," my heart flutters in rm when he stands and steps closer to me.

    "You seem so different. I''m looking at you and I see you, but there''s this light in your eyes,"

    "The feral part of me that kept me locked in is gone. That coldness and rage was her. I mean I still have that, but not like that. It both feels like I''ve lost everything and gained it all at once. Does that make sense,"

    "Yes," he nods gripping the front of my t-shirt to pull me closer. "It makes perfect sense,"

    His lips are on mine before I can say anything else. This new bond is suffocating. It''s strong and with my mark on him, it''s only gotten stronger. This isn''t what I wanted. I still have my reservations about the whole thing and I''m not sure if I''m going to be able to give him what I gave Darren.

    very

    idea of having this without him is killing me. I don''t know, maybe this is my punishment. Maybe it''s a gift. It sn''t really matter anymore. Beating myself up over something I have no control over has always been the reason why I end up losing in the end.

    It hurts that in order for me to see the errors I made, Crystal had to sacrifice herself. I don''t know what she expects me to do this time around. What I do know is that I want to do things differently. I spent so much time angry at everyone else and hating myself for it that I lost my best friend. I ruined her. Turned her on me and now she''s gone. I don''t want to squander her sacrifice.

    I can''t apologize for the things I''ve done, but I can try to make them right. That''s right, Crys. I''m taking ountability, you p**o. Even though half the s***t I did was you goading me on.

    "You, okay?" the King asks when wend on the bed. "Where''d you go?"

    right here," I say reaching for his shorts. "You''re naked. My clothes are a problem,"

    F*****, I''ve never felt this ***ny before. It''s like my numbed senses areing alive and I just want to feel them all. So far, being a Lycan is turning out to be... Lit. He tears away my clothes I notice where every piece of ripped clothnds as his mouth nips and sucks all over my chest. I shut my eyes letting our bond overwhelm what little reservations I have left.

    "Will you stay this time?" he growls pinning my arms over my head. He leans in gently caressing the left side of my body where the King''s marks had been. He gets to my knee and then slowly trails up until he finds the little aching bud begging for attention. "What''s left. Let me have it,"

    "Take it then," I say, and I didn''t mean for it toe out as broken as it did. His eyese up to mine. "Take it because it''s not exactly mine to give,"

    "That sounds a lot like resignation, Perry," the words feel like a p across the face. It was just a couple of days ago that I''d tried to hurt him with them. Word for word.

    Mon,

    "You know what they say, Lycan King. If you can''t beat him. Let him have what''s left. He might surprise you," Iugh. 90%1

    He hovers over me. His eyes are on the spot where his mark had been. His teeth elongate and I find myself wondering why the f****k I can''t put my teeth away. I gasp when slowly pushes inside of me. It feels a hundred times better than it had ever before. He growlsing closer to lick my skin. He bites and nibbles irritating the skin there and teasing the bond driving me crazy. Just as I''m about to break I feel his teeth sink in.

    I expected it to be a little like it had been the first time. His numbness. His darkness and pain. All of the words and actions make a little more sense now. Not that they didn''t before. Fear and anger greet me along with a warmth I didn''t think I''d ever find inside of him. For the first time since he started to fall, I believe him. The love and grief he felt in watching me fall apart are real. As our new bond snaps into ce, ourplicated emotions seem that much more, and then there''s something I''m all too familiar with. Crystal''s dominance. The beta call I had been missing since waking up. It''s still inside of him and as his hips snap against my own I feel it bonding the two of us giving more than I deserve. I died his chosen mate, offered what I had left, and he epted it. It makes sense that he''d inherit it the same way I had inherited Darren''s. are-e

    -There you are- I say in my head. He lifts his head to stare at me

    "I can hear you in my head," he says shocked. Blood dripping down his mouth onto my chest. "Lycan''s can''t do that," "Darren was half Lycan," I ce my hand on his chest. "Bonded we inherit our ranks. They''re both inside of us. I''m not the only one who changed, I guess," Iugh feeling a lot like me again. "Thank you. I thought I''d lost her forever,"

    Me too," "he smiles looking down at me. "Red looks so good on you,"

    t''s Crystal''s crazy talking," Iugh. His eyes gleam as he leans in to lick at my bleeding wound. I feel it starting to heal. y not to let it get the best of you,"

    His arm slips under me as he positions himself between my legs with a better angle.

    "Am I going feral?" he asks.

    "No, but power inside us will try to get there again," I cry out he thrusts into me with one hard stroke. "Let it out. Let''s see how much more indestructible you made me,"

 Bait Novel 122

    91%

    "So, you just gave in again?" Mackenzie growls as we load up the Shelby. "You didn''t want to go out there and meet other people or I don''t know? Live?" "We''re going on a hunting trip, Kenz. How much more alive do you think we can be while hunting another living being?" I roll my eyes. even like him?"

    DO

    you

    Yes,

    I do. A lot," I m the trunk shut. "He''s not like us. There''s a lot more to him than the spoiled ***h he pretends to be," "Like what?" Like "Mackenzie," I warn her.

    "I''m just saying, Perry. The man bought you. He- Dad told me what he did to you. I''m sorry. I just don''t see why you''d forgive him. You''re Pernicious f****ng Phurry. I know shit got bad after Darren died, but this is ridiculous. You''re everything we sought to destroy," she growls when the King approaches with Roy and Jordan. Not leaving without saying goodbye, Wolf?" Roy asks her.

    She bares her teeth at him with a hiss and gets in the passenger seat to get away from him. He grins bending down to blow her a kiss through the ss. It only serves to pi*** Mack off more. Iugh knowing that it''s going to get worse moving forward. Mackenzie hates the idea of mates since Calvin rejected and tortured Morgan.

    "I put together some things I thought you may need," the King shakes his head and hands me a designer bag. I open it to find my new documentation and a few new credit cards inside.

    "Thank you," I zip it up.

    "Where

    you

    headed first?"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "Your grandparent''s pack. A quick in and out to get some information on her. Make sure she''s not hiding there," don''t think she is,"

    "No, my best guess is her mate. I want her to get a head start so his family isn''t caught in the crossfire. Hiding her or aiding her would mean treason against the crown. I doubt he''ll give her up or admit to it but, Kenz can get location if he did,"

    ****, I feel really anxious about letting you go,"

    "I f**ing knew it," we both look back to see Ss and Violetta walking towards us.

    "Vy, what are you doing here?" I ask.

    "You''re supposed to be dead," she runs past the king and hugs me. I pat her head as she squeezes me. If I lean down a little I can rest my boobs on her head..

    "Last time I saw you, you wanted to kill me,"

    "I usually do when we''re together more than a few hours. You''re a b***h," she rolls her eyes. "I saw him punch a hole through your chest. I saw the hole,"

    "Lycans," I shrug. "It happens,"

    "You made her a bigger ***le," she points at the King. "Thank you, Lycan King,"

    "You''re wee?" he looks her over annoyed. "You can leave now,"

    "I sure can," she nods slipping her shades on.

    "Wait," I stop her. "The old man was at my coronation. Do you know anything about that?"

    "He''s pissed, TB. You strengthened the hierarchy he''s been working hard to dismantle by marrying and mating your monster. He wants to invest in Obsidian Corp. Take it slow, Perry, One f***k up and he''ll pounce to get you back in the KNAVE. Keep Mack close. She needs you. Don''t let him take her again,"

    "Take her? What are you talking about?" I demand. She looks over at Roy and Mack.

    "Ask her. she denies it, ask her about Hunter,"

    "Who''s Hunter?"

    She smiles tightly and shrugs.

    "I can''t say anymore, Perry. I''m still me," she gives my arm a squeeze. "I''m d you''re alive. I''m going to need your help back home,"

    "You''re going home?" that''s as shocking to me as it looks to be to her.

    "I''m going home. Vince needs me," she confirms, but she doesn''t sound too happy.

    "Keep your head down. Don''t get caught in the middle of enemy territory. Call and I''ll be there. I know Roman and Baby will be too,"

    "Thanks, Perry. Stop trying to get yourself killed,"

    "I f***ed her," Ss says when she mounts her bike and leaves. Iugh looking up at him.

    "She''ll destroy you, Ss. Don''t call her,"

    "My ego is way too big to be with an alpha like that. She''s got a filthy mouth on her," he smiles. "But if she calls in a favor. You can add me to your squad," he smirks finally meeting my eyes. "Wee back, my Queen," "Thanks, Sigh. Make sure the King doesn''t get into too much trouble without me," I poke his side.

    "My Queen," he bows formally. "Your wish is mymand,"

    "All right. F***k off,¡± the King growls at him making us bothugh. "If things getplicated. Come home,"

    "I will," I nod. He He pulls me into him. "Hell Hell yeah, I will,"

    "Be careful," he pinches my chin to keep me f

    from looking away. I''m headed to Nova. Rodrick wants me to talk to the alpha,"

    "Who the fuck is Rodrick?" I ask. He searches my face confused.

    "The Alpha King," he answers. "You don''t know his name?"

    "No, he''s the Alpha King. You address him as the Alpha King. What would I need his name for?"

    "Well, you need it now. You''re the Lycan Queen and you only bow to me. His name is Rodrick Savage,"

    I know the Royal Family''s surname. That''s all I ever need honestly.

    "Noted. I''ll keep you updated," I agree. He presses his lips to mine and gently caresses his mark.

    213

    08:00

    I miss he in my head.

    "Let''s go!" Mackenzie presses the horn.

    3

    "I''ll let you know when we stop. When I woke up my trackers were gone. So was the detonator. I added a new one this morning," I hand him my handheld. "If it turns off, there''s a blocker. Don''t freak out," "A tracker, right?"

    "Sure," I say jokingly and his expression tells me it didn''te across that way.

    "Okay," he nods. I reach to cup his face. Before he can say anything else I get in the car.

    "Simp," Mackenzie growls lowly.

    "He''s my mate," I roll my eyes.

    "I was talking about the other one, but the King too," she sighs. "Where are we headed?"

    "Gorgon. I want to talk to Eloise''s cousin before we sneak into Vari," I send a quick text and before I can even shift gears I get a location.

    "That''s where his momes from? My mom was from there,"

    "I know. Her dad was your mom''s alpha," I look over at her as I turn onto the highway. "So, Roy,"

 Bait Novel 123

    "Don''t start," she shakes her head.

    Chapter

    123C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "He''s a nobleman,"

    "He''s your mate, Mack,"

    "And?" she shrugs. "You know I don''t f****k with high ranks,"

    "Look what having a mate has done to you, Perry. You used to be the baddest b****h I knew,"

    "Just because I''m mated doesn''t change that. I was mated to your brother,"

    "Darren held you back. We all know that,"

    "What are you talking about? How can you say

    that?"

    "It''s t

    s the truth, Perry. Darren kept you on a short leash. This guy is no different. We''re not the kind of people you keep on a leash. We''re the problem. It''ll always be that way," she huffs. "Maybe, I don''t want to be a problem anymore,"

    "Maybe, you''ve let this f****ing a**ole domesticate you and now you want to be a good girl. Raise a bunch of little princes and princesses. What a f***ng waste,"

    "No one said anything about kids. Maybe one day. Not now. Getting mated isn''t the end of the world, Kenz,"

    s the girl who stopped everything she was when my f***ing idiot brother was murdered by a rogue of all things,"

    "What happened to you?" I ask upset to hear her talk about Darren that way.

    "It doesn''t matter,"

    "It matters to me. I looked for you. I needed and you were nowhere. All I had to go on was an I''m d you''re alive. What was I supposed to do with that? Did the old man take you in?" I ask. She shifts ufortably. "Mackenzie," "No, he didn''t. He didn''t do anything I didn''t consent to,"

    "What did he do, Kenz?" the longer she stays silent, the more worried I be. There are so many things that f***ing a**le could have done to her and I''m terrified of what it is.

    "I joined the rebirth program,"

    The car skids on the

    empty

    road when I hit the brakes. I turn my body to face her.

    "What?" I growl. "Why the f*** would you do that?"

    "I was supposed to deliver Alice. I knew when you woke up, you were going to kill that **h and the f***g rogue. So, I declined and offered myself up in the exchange,"

    Chills break out all over my body. "And then?""

    "I have a son. His name is Hunter. He''s four," she says tightly.

    "And the father?"

    "I don''t know. I was inseminated. The deal was to give him a child and that was it. I was done, but there wereplications.

    Hunter needed me. He doesn''t anymore and he took him," "When did you n on telling me?"

    88%1 +5

    "I don''t know if I was going to tell you. I made a deal with the Falcon, Perry. He could f***k us all over if I try to take him. And he''s-" she growls and looks out the window. "He''s like him. A f***ing wraith. I don''t know anything about raising a child much less a wraith. He sparks, Per. Like a ***ng Pikachu," "Mack-"

    "I don''t want you to fix it. There''s nothing to fix. I made the exchange. I have a lot of issues, Perry. You better than anyone knows that. That man is not my mate. I will not ept him. Not now, not ever. So, just drop it. Let''s find your crazy a*** mother-inw and take her back. We''ll cross that bridge when we get to it," unbuckle my belt and scoot closer to hug her. She tenses up tightly before she rxes and silently starts crying.

    "Mack, I''d give a anything to

    to hold Rain in my arms," I tighten my hold on her. "We can''t just let that sick f***k get away with this," "I don''t want to do anything about it," she pushes me back gently. "What am I going to do with a kid, Perry? I can''t even take care of myself," looked for for you better. I sho I should-"

    I shot

    have looky mouth. "You''re not my mom. I made a choice. Let me live with it. Just-I don''t know. Tell me how you''re the Lycan Queen now. Make mad at you so I can stop thinking."

    ." she covers

    "I Stop. "Cal sold me to him," I s s my I say starting the car car back up. "He''s kind of a pretty boy. Was raised right and a bunch of ugly shit happened to him. All of it from his family. Then the idiot bonded to me while I was in the middle of my final feral state," "When you say raised I right..." she res at me.

    "I mean he had everything. Parents, siblings, proper etiquette, a promising future,"

    "You''re simp too," she she rolls her eyes. "If his life was so great, why are we hunting his mother?"

    "It was all alle. all a lie. Shit came he need

    "What did he

    crashing down when his mate showed up married to his brother. It tore them apart. We have him locked in a cage not even the old man can get into. Lots of secrets,"

    you for?"

    "Lycans are big on traditions. He had to be married and mated to be coronated. He needed someone to do that. His brother was killing anyone he got close to. Female Lycans aren''t as expendable. Then there''s me who is denied death," all the f***ing time. sheughs. "That is wild. Is his brother hot?" "They could be twins. The j***k and the a***le,"

    "Well, he has that going for him. The Lycan King is cute. What does he n on doing with him? Public execution?"

    "Yeah, right," I snort. "He wants to reform him,"

    "And then let him go? Oh, he''s like Dad," she huffs. "F***ng heroic a***es. I can see why you

    like him,"

    "Nike him because he''s theplete opposite of us. He''s a good person. Just kind of spoiled and shit is only going to get worse. Everyone wants to give the King and Queen the best of everything,"

    "Why don''t we put out an APB on his mom? Have one of them bring her back to him and we can go do whatever the f***k

    08:07/ Wed, Nov 6

    Violetta is doing,"

    "This is a family affair. Unlike wolves, Lycans know how to mind their business,"

    "Oh,

    I like these a***** a little more already," she smiles. "Dar isughing at us wherever the f****k he is,"

    "I hope he''s not watching," I sigh.

    "Do you love him?"

    him?" she asks. "The Lycan, I mean,"

    "I love him. I''m just not in love with him,"

    What''s the difference?"

    amerence?

    "I love you, but I''m not in love with you,"

    "Oh," she nods. "If I weren''t Darren''s sister, would you let me smash?"

    "I hate you," I shoot her an evil side nce making herugh. "I missed you,"

    "F***k, I missed you too," she smacks my arm. "Someone bombed Redwood when you were off being Cindere in London,"

    I read the report. Dad f***ng called Tyler," I roll my eyes. She squeaks excitedly.

    "I knew you still had it in you," she grabs my arm and pulls me to her. I swerve into the oppositene causing a group of passing cars to k at me. "Mack," I growl at her straightening the car. "/le,"

    ENT

 Bait Novel 124

    "My bad," sheughs drumming the dashboard. "God, it was amazing watching you bash Calvin''s head in. I wish I could have seen Morgan''s face while you did it. That would have made living a ss box with an active Pikachu bomb worth it," "What happened? Why did he keep you there?" "She. F*** Kitty,"

    "Katherine is the one running the reborn program?" "Mhm,"

    she nods. "It was all pretty basic at first. I was examined. honestly didn''t think I would qualify but I did. I was taken to this facility in New York. I was a little malnourished and s**it. They had to flush my system. I was h***ed up to IVs and I was put on a routine. Wake up, exercise, breakfast, conditioning, lunch, free time, dinner, and bedtime.

    "It was month of that and then a doctor came. He was like this ***h is ready and Katherine stuck a f***ng needle up my ***. Then I was pregnant. Everything was-" she stares off for a moment and then she sighs. "My wolf hated it, but because the fetus was so strong. My body couldn''t terminate. I had to be tied down for the first four months. "Every day, they woulde into my room and**k me up to this IV. It had this bright green liquid in it. Hunter''s eyes are that color," she whispers. "Then when it was time, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. We almost died. "The baby wasn''t responding to the feeders they had, and I had to stay because he would only eat and sleep with me around. It was supposed to be for a few months. Until he could drink water and hold a bottle on his own, but-" she shrugs. "But what?" But what?

    "He''s like me, Perry. I saw it. The malice in his eyes. That thing is a weapon and it''s tiny right now, but it''ll grow. It''ll grow up and do exactly what it was intended to do. He grew attached to me. He would scream and no one but me could near him," "How did you get out of there?"

    "There''s a little girl. They scheduled ydates. She''s going to be his wife one day. To purify the bloodline. Kitty told him he had to choose, and he chose her," "He''s four,"

    "Yeah, but he''s four the way we were four. A tiny**ng genius. He spoke threenguages by the time he was two. I took a few coding jobs to help me cope, and he was learning, Perry. He was building and coding at a beginner''s level thest time I saw him," "With the strength of a wraith," I add. "Umm, how mad would you be if I bring this up with Jonas?" "Perry," she growls in warning.

    "Hear me out," I shift gears as I turn off into the Gorgon City ramp. "We f**** shit up on a semi-grand scale. Betas. You remember what he did with the Rogue King, yes? And what he has Violetta doing. Can you imagine what he can do with a fully developed wraith capable of what thebination of what the two of us can do?" "Yeah, that shit is wild," she nods. "I hear ya," shrugs her head.

    She

    sit t off like she can careless. In the wrong hands, that little boy can be used for a lot of bad shit. Things the little hybrid princess in Magique probably doesn''t have the imagination for and she''s got a few loose screws nking around in

    "I agree with you. You shouldn''t be in the possession of a child," groan. "Perry, you tell the big guy and the old man targets us. Everything we did will be leaked. Yeah, we''ll take him down, but we''re 07:21

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    international criminals. We''ve literally f**d everyone. It would be Nelson War World Six. Dropping in the Phurry n and the f***g Lycan Royal family. Not even your newly advanced healing powers will save you from getting publicly beheaded before the Royal Court," "This is going to be a long ** trip, Mack," "Does ****k head I know we''reing?"

    Does

    "Yes, actually was rerouted to Zander,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    ''she falls I

    back into the seat and crosses her arms over her chest.

    Yean, not t jumping for joy either," I agree.

    Gorgon City is in the same state Redwood had been before I killed Calvin. The Alpha King sent his little brother Ace to get the new alpha of the city situated. Nate is probably nose-deep in paperwork andwyers as we speak.

    If

    Carmichael. The woman who paid the price of the Rogue King''s biggest mistake. is known for its ability to make or break a person, Gorgon is thest stop before you hit rock bottom. This ce is run by Harleen Gorgon formally known as Harleen Lockwood. Former Alpha Tech''s baby sister. Raised by Notorious Rogue Extraordinaire Felicity Carmichael. The Anything goes here so as long as you''re willing to pay the toll.

    As disastrous as that may sound, Gorgon City is basically one big nature hole. It''s the witch influence. The buildings and houses are all covered in rare nts and flowers. A city-wide decree. A lot of tree-huggers here. A lot of WB heads. Wolf bane addicts. The chillest people you''ll ever meet until they''re not.

    I hate it here. I''ll never be more embarrassed than the time a ***ing hippie in flip-flops kicked my **a*when I was sixteen. That b***h smelled like onions and icy hot ointments. She had dreads and those really cute Ozzy sses. She moved like a f***g cobra. I didn''t see any of those kicks before she put me on my a***

    "You seem really calm," Mackenzie says as I approach the coordinates Lockwood sent me.

    "That''s what ***t for a while. You should give Roy a spin. They''re cousins. He''s an A-ss elitist. I''ll vouch for him,"

    "There are more satisfying things in life than sex, Perry," she rolls her eyes. I check my weapons to make sure we''re good to

    go.

    "Like what?" I ask slipping my gun back into the holster. "Name one thing,"

    "Mmm," she hums. "Murder," sheughs. "And churros. There, two things,"

 Bait Novel 125

    in the cell next to little Eloise Lockwood.

    Zander King is staring at me like I''ve grown a second head. He keeps opening and closing his mouth unable toe up with a single word to say to me. I''m pretty sure he''s already on cloud nine. Somewhere between Zander King and Zander, the little boy who was locked "Yeah, me too," Mackenzie nods and stares at me the same way. "****ing, Perry,"

    "F***ng hell," he finally clears his throat.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    5

    Zander King is a very attractive man. He looks like a rock star. Slender

    to his toes. Baby blue eyes, st***pid rock star slick back, and a whole le

    boy. Tatt

    the chisel of his jaw down

    of ck.

    "I''m looking for chem. That albino b*****d told me toe see you"

    "The King know you''re snooping around in deep dark holes on your day off,

    "Blue serum,

    4." he smirks. "What do you need?"

    "Mm," he groans shifting ufortably. "Darren asked for some of that before he ended up dead. That don''t ring an rm for you, Wolf Bait?"

    "Give me the f***ng serum the nice way and I''ll pay. Make me take it the not-so-nice way and I''ll have your head delivered to the Ice Princess and your idiot brother myself," I warn him. "Come now, Perry. We''re all friends. I got what you need. I''m just saying. You do what you want," heughs like it''s not a big deal. His eyes are riding a little low. "Baby, get me a couple of blue sticks for Her Highness," he hollers. "You still smoke? I got a couple of new strains," "Me, I

    new

    , I do," Mackenzie raises her hand. "Trash Bag here is turning a new leaf. She''s got

    master, you know,"

    "The whole world knows," he opens a drawer and tosses a couple of blunt wraps on the table between us. A baggy of pink wolfsbane follows and a bag of what is probably his best cannabis flower on the market. He slides everything over to her. "On the house. Share some with her mightiness. Might loosen the stick she''s got up her a***

    "Not even my brother could do that," she mumbles as she dips her finger into the pink powder to rub on her teeth.

    I stretch popping my shoulders. She''s been back in my life one day and I already want to kill her. I really did miss her. "What''s up, Wolf Bait?" Cara Wolfe skips into the room with two glowingb tubes. She hands them to Zander. Sweetie.

    "Hey, How''s Sara?" I ask. It takes her a long moment to process what I said. Mackenzie looks down at the product Zander gave her questioningly. "Sara''s good. She''s at L.U. finishing her Doctorate," she blinks very slowly and her wordse out rehearsed. "What are you doing?" Mackenzie asks rudely. I smack her elbow.

    "I work at the L.C. Laser Tech development," she smiles cheekily. "I''m working on the new designs for the eye surgerysers. I was thinking about getting into the neurology tech development you started in Redwood. Lhear Nate is going to do an inventory sweep as you move forward with O.C.," did hear the Lycan

    "You go to work in King talking about that with Roy on the ne ride to London.

    like that, Beautiful?" Mackenzie asks.

    "Like how?" she grins making her already low eyes smaller.

    "Don''t mind her. She''s being rude. How much? And how much more can you get me?" I ask Zander.

    "Uh, I''m not sure. I''d have to ask the supplier. Fifty k a pop,"

    Mackenzie ces the little backpack I filled with money back home and sets it on the table.

    "There''s one fifty in there. Do you have another vile?"

    He nods and motions Cara to go get it.

    125

    Three is all I usually carry," he opens the bag and flips through the bills. "I''ve had those viles for a little over two years now. Can I ask what you''re making?"

    "Nothing. I''m going to use it for feral reformation research in Lycans,"

    "You should call Luna risse," he looks around his desk and finds a card. He tosses it on the desk to slide it to me.

    "I

    "I don''t like poking at the triads," especially after what happened to the Rogue King. Dr. risse is their Luna and her two twin mates do not y well with anyone. "She''s the leading expert in Ferals. She made the pills Vy was giving you before you-" he motions me up and down.

    "Two mates, six sons, and a daughter. And she''s still feing it up in her field. I want to be rise Miller when I grow up," Mackenzieughs.

    "Thank you,

    I tuck the card into my holster. This This stupid jacket doesn''t have pockets.

    Cara arrives with the third vile and he hands them to me. When we get back in the car Mackenzie crawls into the back seat to roll up the gift Zander King just gave her. I nce at her through the rearview mirror to see her fully focused on what she''s doing.

    The eyebrows of disappointment Darren would re at me when I did something he disapproved of sh in my head. What am I supposed to tell her though? Literally, anything I say right now will start an argument about the King''s recent influence on me. I should have probably left her in the car, to begin with. When smoke fills the cabin, I raise the windows and pull over to lower the top.

    You''re the f***ing best. y some Rebelution," sheughs. She climbs into the front seat and makes herselffortable.

    We drive through the city until we hit the outskirts. I double-check my booking and head to the hotel I got us. I stop for food and snacks at the gas station before we check in. That was the same shit Cara was on. As we''re going up the elevator, Mackenzie is looking up at the ceiling with a nk a nk expression on her face. "You good?" I I ask her.

    ner.

    "Does it feel like we''re moving?" she asks. "It feels like we''re moving,"

    11

    "We''re in the elevator," I try not tough.

    "Oh, that makes sense," she nods and steps closer to me. She jumps when th

    "Jesus, you''re f****ing wrecked," I shake my head.

    "You want some?" she smirks.

    Maybe

    when Ie back," I help her into our suite.

    Clor pings.

    "Nice. Remember how Darren would get mad when we got the big rooms?" she heads "Yeah," I say taking our luggage over to the coffee table. straight for the kitchte.

    There''s

    sno food," sheins looking through the cabs.

    "Bags on the counter," I point them out. She was carrying them.

    starts pulling things

    Nice. You''re the ***g best, Dare," she says happily and starts pulling things out of the bags.

    Anot

    A hot ache fills my chest as I watch her look at what I got over while she sings Doomed under her breath. There''s that ountability guilt again. I was so wrapped up in my own shit that after a few months of searching, I gave up on her. Jake and I both did. I never stopped to think how much pressure was on Darren''s shoulders having to deal with us and his own shit. So as long as I got what I wanted, nothing else mattered. Looking at her, knowing what I do now. It''s killing me. I don''t know what to do about any of it. I can''t even help myself at the moment.

    I turn the T.V. on for her and start up Supernatural from the beginning.

    "I love this show," she squeaks and skips into the living space with her snacks and a drink. She is going to be locked in for a while.

    021 AM d d Chapter 123

    I take out what I need to start making the tranquilizers I''m going to need to get the tee Queen back home without harming her. I''m mixing the viles in the kitchte when my phone ringt

 Bait Novel 126

    "You''re on speaker, Bunny," I answer.

    "You''re alive and like you didn''t call?" she growls.

    "Sorry, I''m still processing it," I roll my eyes but f****k. It feels good to know that she feels relieved to know I''m alive. "Surprise, I''m alive,"

    "Are you okay?" she sighs. "Where are you?"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "I''m trying to get my mother-inw back without ****ing her up too badly,"

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    "Shit. Oh, my goddess. Perry, it was the most f****ed up thing I''ve ever witnessed," her voice is filled with emotion. "Princess Andromeda was so happy to be back home and then she heard the King arguing with their mom and now she wants her dead. Annie was such a Daddy''s Girl," "How is she doing?"

    "She''s with the King now. They''re in a meeting. I think he''s instating her into the board of directors,"

    "She''s seventeen," but I don''t know if that''s any of my

    business.

    "The King was fifteen when he became a chairman. He was dealing and marketing way before that," she dismisses me.

    "Can I call you back?"

    "You''re good, right? To be alone, I mean. Lillies and I will be where you are if you need us," Than

    Bunny but I''m okay. If hearing the Royal gossip was a lot for you, I doubt you can stomach what I''m doing," I say moving a beaker closer to the stove. "I''ll call you back if my next call goes well,"

    Thanks, "Hey," he answers immediately. "Have you eaten?"

    "Kay, be safe, Nothing reckless, your grace," she hangs up. I dial for the Lycan King.

    "I am eating right now," I nce over at the burgers on the counters. "I heard you''re adding Andromeda to the board of directors?"

    "F***k no. She''s with me. I''m no. James. Who told you that? R

    No.

    to convince her to join the Luna program at Nova. I think learning packws will teach her something. I don''t know. I''m not very good at parenting a teenager," he groans. "She keeps asking about what I''m going to do with Mom and

    I deny it. it. Maybe a a little too fast. "Are you also making Nate clean out my failed programs?"

    a few. Lillies is reviewing some of this stuff and she''s kind of picking out what would work best for us and what we''re willing to let the Lessers work on,"

    "Just a

    "Lessers being other wolves?" I huff.

    "I didn''t mean it like that," he gets defensive immediately.

    "I don''t care. I''m teasing you," Iugh.

    Laon

    "Thate you," he says jokingly. "Please, stop f****ing with me. I don''t think I''m there yet,"

    "For the remainder of this call, maybe,"

    £¤86%

    "What are you doing?" he asks.

    "I am making tranquilizer darts for your mother. I did a supply run in Gorgon. Looks like I''m running solo into your mother''s pack,"

    "Mackenzie bail?"

    Mac

    "Not exactly," I look up at her to see her staring at the T.V. like it''s the first time she''s ever watched it in her entire existence. "I have to talk to you about something. If all things go well, maybe I can catch up with you in Nova in a couple of days. I''m not sure how to move forward with it," "Does it involve Mackenzie?"

    "Yeah, and the old man,"

    "I don''t like you being alone out there if she''s going to be clocking out like that, Perry. I can have Jordan there in a few hours,"

    "I got something for you," I say when my eyesnd on the glowing blue containers on the table. "I was talking to a buddy of mine and he gave me the number to a feral psyche specialist. The same doctor that treated Eloise Lockwood,"

    "Dr.

    "I

    rise M Miller," ''he says. "She''s not an easy Hellion to find,"

    know, which is why I epted the card. I got you blue monkshood for James. It''s already prepared,"

    "Now why would you go and do that?" I can hear the c****y f**k''s smirk in his tone.

    Call me sentimental. I picked it up from you," I remove the beaker from the heat.

    You

    have no

    idea how much better you''re making my day," he sighs. "I''d love a report when we meet up. Maybe we can make a day out of it so we can discuss removing my mother from the boardpletely. I don''t know who I''m going to rece her with," "Roy," I answer. "Hm?" I hear another voice hum.

    "Is

    "He

    I

    he listening?" is," he heughs.

    "He''s going to be taking over Cliffside. Not much to do there. If you want to build on the Lycan economy, we should start building into the hills. Ss has the dome ns and setups. You can use your Superchips to power three more domes,"

    "BI***dy hell, there are two of you now. Auntie got out just in time," Roy grunts.

    Working hard then, Lycan King?" Iugh.

    "You bet your sweet a**. Be careful. Eat. Get some rest tonight, please."

    I''m eating and I will do my best to sleep tonight," I promise.

    "I''ll see you in a couple of days, Lycan Queen," he says satisfied.

    "You guys are gross," I hear Roy tease him just as the line cuts off

    As I fill the empty darts, a sort of ice-cold sensation goes up my pine. My attention snaps to the couch where I left Mackenzie to find her gone. I go around the ind to look for her and find her in one of the rooms, She''s holding her arm out counting down. I watch as she pulls her arm back, tucks it into her chest to cradle it, and turns on her side. 08:08 Sat, Nov 9

    "Cold," she whispers. I go over to her taking the folded nket at the end of the bed and tuck her in.

    "You okay?" I whisper. I nce over at the rm clock on the nightstand to see it''s eight oh two.

    "Thank you, Mommy," she mumbles and falls asleep.

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    My chest constricts as tears slip from her eyes. I stay with her for a bit. I dim the lights in the room and leave it a tiny bit open so I can listen in on any changes.

    Mack''s always been very sensitive. The beast inside of her is very demanding. There are times when I can''t tell if it''s the wolf talking or her. There are times when it''s just her and she''s an absolute delight. Then there''s this side to her. The perfectlypartmentalized parts that sneak up on her. They take over and they force her to submit to the wounds none of us really ever heal from.

    I make sure anything she can use to harm herself is hidden away before I leave. I almost stay, but staying means that I have to deal with my own shit and it''s not an option at the moment. I don''t want to think about what could have happened if I had stayed dead. I don''t want to think about Darren or Crystal.

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    Chapter

    127

    I toss the duffle bag into the passenger seat and take a deep breath.

    This is the first time I''ve been alone since I met Jonas. Despite my circumstances, it feels good. I reach for the radio and smile to myself as bad decisions greets me like an old friend. I hit the switches in a sequence and the car roars to life.

    I take the back roads and stash the car just outside the pack borderlines. I secure the duffle bag on my back and climb up a tree to get a vantage point.

    For a pack of traditionalists, they sure do have a lot of security measures. Laser outlines that are triggered as soon as someone steps through. The way the king exined to me how bringing the shift works sounds a lot like getting upset and since I don''t have anything to be upset about at the moment, I''m hoping my regr training is sufficient to get in there.

    I toss the duffle bag, jump down, and take a few steps back. I scan my surroundings and push off the grass in a sprint to jump through the twosers. I hit the floor and roll on the grass next to my duffle bag. I loop it back over my chest and army crawl toward the nearby vis. I hate small packs like this because everyone knows everyone and it''s not easy blending in. I turn the bag and get up into a crouch. I look down at my phone tagging my location on my map so that I can get to the main house. It''s not too far from here. This ce is actually kind of nice. A little too suburbia for me but that''s just because I''m so used to the city. White picket fences and award-winning yards aren''t my thing.

    I

    The main house is one big Boston mansion masterpieceplete with a bright red front door. The red brick used is beautiful and it makes it easier to scale. This ce is just as ridiculous as Cliffside. Where the f****k are the camer and security measures. I''m practically walking through the front door here. I slip in through a bathroom door and drop my bag in the tub. I take my favorite spying kit with me and leave the bathroom. It smells like gingerbread and pine in here. There are lights along the floor. That''s going to be a problem.

    There you are security measures. A hunter-type Lycan definitely lives here. I can feel it. I gently close the door and move toward the stairs. I can hear two voices below. A man and a woman. I start looking through the doors to find some kind of study. All bedrooms or bathrooms. Who the f****k needs eight rooms in one house? Wild.

    I go back to the stairs trying to pinpoint where the two lycans are. I make my way down as if I belong here and find them in the family room.

    "Did she say why?" the man, who I''m guessing is the Lycan King''s grandfather, asks.

    "He knows about James," the woman answers. "It''s that f****king wolf he married. She went and stuck her nose where it didn''t belong. Good riddance,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    She is in for a rude awakening when she finds out I''m still alive. move around the house and take a br***onie off the kitchen ind as I move toward the darker parts of the first floor. She might be a bigoted racist, but these are amazing. Finally, I find the study. I set up my program on theirputer and start downloading everything on here. This study is a little Godfather. The walls are a deep red. It looks beautiful against the mahogany-framed borders. The shelves match. I read some of the spines. Lycanw and literature. Every author is a Lycan.

    I I put my things away when the download isplete. My body locks up when a house phone rings. A fucking house phone. Who has a fucking house phone anymore? I rush over to a close and wiggle between the clothes leaving the door the way it was.

    "Gfahm," the woman answers. "Honey," she beams. "I''ve been so worried. Where are you?"

    I bring up my download and find thendline. My phone automatically starts tracing the call. She''s calling from her mate''s 10:33

    house. Called that one. Histen to the instructions she gives her mother. She had a backup n all along. Not just in case Jonas found out, but his father as well. She just gave me the evidence. It''s right here in my hand with subtitles and everything.

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    When the woman hangs up, she starts to cry. The man walks in and tries tofort her. The two leave together, turning the lights off as they go. The closet floor lights up around me and I groan to myself before I step out. I take another **nie before making my way up the stairs, slowly this time. I make it to the bathroom and once again ask myself why the fuck they would need so many rooms if they only had two kids?

    I sit in my car listening to the call and then send it to Jacob. It takes about ten minutes for him to call me.

    "You just can''t sit still for ten minutes, can you?" he sighs. "This is going to cause an uproar,"

    "I know. That''s why I sent it to you. I need you toe get Mackenzie. I''m going to have to disappear for this,"

    "The King isn''t going to like that,"

    "We''re going to have to keep this quiet as long as we can," I agree. "Has Mack said anything to you about where she''s been?" "No," he says tightly. "I''m sure you''ve noticed some changes in her behavior,"

    like she''s been reconditioned? Yeah, I noticed that,"

    t understand is how she hasn''t started the final feral stages. She was almost there before Darren-" he pauses. "I''ll go get her. Where are going now?"

    "You mean "What I don''t "Lockwood City," "It''s

    not going to be easy for you there. You''re a Lycan now,"

    "I have to talk to Tech. There''s no other way. Menekus is involved. Can''t exactly walk into his father-inw''s house to drag the former Lycan Queen out without Eloise taking it as an act of war. You know how she is," "Please, do not start shit with her. You should take Jordan with you. I can tell him to apany me. I''m sure the King wouldn''t mind,"

    "Let me get back to the suite. I''ll let you know what the next move is then,"

    "Be safe, Perry. I never want to feel what I did when the King arrived two nights ago. Kill us before you do it again," he growls and hangs up.

    There are those damn eyebrows again.

    "Shut up, Darren," I growl turning the car on. "I know. I know I f***d up,"

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    "What the f*****k are you two doing here?" I growl at the twins when they skip into the suite. Jacob holds up four sparkly duffle bags with a **id grin on his face. Sony, Kid. Jordan was busy," he shrugs. "Where is she?"

    "Shower. Have Oz take a look at her and then have her call me," hold up a bag with the King''s things for him.

    "Is this where we''re staying?" Bunny asks. It sounds like she''s going toin. I re at Jacob for not warning me they wereing with him in Jordan''s ce. "Sorry," he repeats.

    "No. We''re heading out in a bit. I''m going to be moving around lot, somodities are not going to be what you''re used to," I m the door shut. "Death did not make you nicer," Lillies grins and drops into the gray armchair with her phone in her hands.

    "Take them back with you," I say to Jacob when he sets their bags down.

    "The

    King was

    was the one who gave the order. Do you really think that boy would leave his mates with the likes of you? You''re not the victim here, Perry," he waves me off. "Dad. What are you doing here?" Mackenziees out of the room drying her hair. She turns a re at me when she sees the twins. "You''re trading me?" "Mack, I need someone I can count on and right now. That''s not you," I

    "It''s always about what you need, huh?" she nods.

    "Yes, I''ve made that clear plenty of times. So have you. You need to home with

    Jake and let Oz examine you,"

    "I need that?" she asks. Her eyes sh amber with rage.

    "Yes, you need it," I repeat.

    "And if I refuse?"

    "You don''t have that option,"

    "You''re going to order me now, Your Highness? Sign a decree to have me institutionalized again?"

    "What?" Jacob asks.

    wha

    I tuck my hand in my pocket wrapping my hand around the dart.

    "You g got high and passed out knowing I needed you tonight," to go now,"

    "I''m

    "I''ve already finished. I''m moving to a second location in the morning. Taking you out on the field is not a good idea, right now. Go home with your father. Let Oz take a look at you. Get some rest. Can you do that?"

    "Thate you," her eyes fill with tears as she steps into me. "No god is keeping you alive, Perry. You''re already a f****king demon. You''re going to have to-" I stab her in the neck with the dart. She stumbles back and rips it out. When she sees what it is, she looks up at me. "Always ten steps ahead of the world. Pernicious Nelson,dies and gentlemen," her knees give out and she slowly slides down the doorway behind her. "Watch out. She''ll get you all killed," 08.34 Mon, Nov 11 D

    she shuts down as the falls tomp on the carpet. Jacob is staring down at her like he can''t believe she just said that. When lie looks up at me, he shakes his head. She didn''t mean that,N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    It''s okay, Jake. It''s nothing I haven''t told myself already. I''ll walk you down."

    llin her up and carry her down to his car. I take her things from the car and put them in his trunk. I expected a lot of things from her return but what she said wasn''t one of them. I can''t deal with it at the moment. I just need some time to think about what I''m going to do with the information she gave me all the knowledge of what I tried to do. Not dying sucks a lot more now that I''m no longer fighting a raging beast trying to w its way out of me.

    We all made choices," he says cupping my face. "Whether they were right or wrong. We all knew what we were doing. It''s not fair for you to carry that alone,"

    "I''m not. We''re just the only ones left to regret it. She won''t wake up until tomorrow," I point at Mackenzie in the backseat.

    "Here," he reaches into his pocket. I smile when he holds up one of Darren''s old journals. "Lockwood City. Contacts, safehouses, and money stashes. Please don''t get mad, but Darren''s with me now. I have this. For you, he opens the journal to reveal a cuff. A beautiful golden bangle. "I was going to put it in your casket. That''s why it''s engraved on this part," he shows me the side and stares at it as if it were the first time he''s seen it. Just a little bit of him so he wasn''t out of reach,"

    "I love you," I choke out and hug him. He ces his hand on the back of my head.

    ??

    "You''re as much my daughter as she is. Dying aside, I''m very proud of how far you''vee. I may not like his methods, but Jonas is a good kid. Don''t feel guilty about moving forward. You''re alive. Act like it," he kisses the top of my head and pulls away.

    "Thank you," is all I can say. He gets in his Mustang and drives off. "What''s up, Cripsy?" I smile looking down at the bangle. "Miss me?"

    I pull it open and slide it onto my arm before clicking it shut. I have my phone to my ear before I get on the elevator.

    T

    "You should be in bed. It''s one in the morning," the King answers.

    "Fine, I''ll go to bed. Thank you," I clear

    my throat.

    "For?"

    "The bracelet. Jake doesn''t do jewelry,"

    "I told him you weren''t going to buy it," heughs. "The twins have training,"

    "I''m taking

    them

    "No, you''re not,"

    am.

    back in the morning,"

    They''re little girls, Lycan King,"

    "You''re the same age," he argues.

    "Yeah, but

    "Yeah, but we''re not the same,"

    "Jordan is taking his trials. His parents are trying to cut him out of his position. I don''t have anyone I trust to go with you and I''m not letting you go out there alone," "Then I''ll stay until you find someone. Where are you?"

    "I''m home,"

    08 34 Me says skeptically. "I don''t head out until tomorrow in the afternoon,"

    Nov 11

    "Okay? You''re justing back? Come back now, I can postpone my travel arrangements, he rushes out in one breath.

    Tre youter. I roll my eyes, Haer a good night. Jonas. I''m fe,"

    Goodnight. Perry, he sighs heavily and hange up.

    The reins are making food when I get back to the suite.

    ste

    "This is actually really smart, Bunny says as she examines what used to make the darts. "If you add half a scoop more it''ll work faster."

    "The target would also go into cardiac arrest. The goal is long term not immediate," I start putting things away. "Besides, I don''t mind the dy. Famousst words are my favorite.

    "That is one angry wolf girl," Lillies sets down a te in front of me. Grilled chicken fajitas over fresh spinach and veggies. You were angry but never like that,"

    "You just haven''t been on the receiving end of it," I take the fork she hands me. "I''m probably the person she learned it from. Thank you,"

    "You''re wee," she smiles and continues to serve her sister. "Guys, I don''t think you should be here,"

    "Strongly disagree about myself," Lillies smirks at Bunny.

    Don''t even start," Bunny rolls her eyes. "Look, would I rather be at home working on your programs?" she points at me. Yes, but I would also like for you to be there. So, thepromise is we help you get Mrs. P back and we can all work on them as your formal apprentices," "We''re the same age," I remind them.

    "We''ll be twenty-four next month. You''re younger," Lillies scoffs. "That''s not the point. You are higher level because you yed the beta program and now you''re cracked. We would like to be in your position by the time we have to take an actual position in the Lycan Hierarchy,"

    "Obviously, the King will be pushing for us to crawl out from under our rock like Wolf Bait,"

    join the outside world. We want a cool name

    "Bionic Good Girl," Lillies adds.

    "Local L***ic," Bunny grins.

    "And you''re the only adult friend we have," Lillies concludes. "No one else takes us seriously,"

    "They take credit for our work and hang us out to dry, but we''re still just Lord Jordan''s Weird mates," Bunny says. begrudgingly.

    "I''m sorry to hear that," I''ve been there. Many. Many. Many times. "What I''m doing can get us killed,"

    "No pain, no glory," Lilliesughs. "You taught us that,"

    "Couldn''t wait to throw that in my face, huh?" I look down at my food and shake my head. "Thank you guys for offering and yes on the apprentice thing when I get back. I just don''t think it''s a good idea to bring you along on this,"

    "Because of what Mackenzie said?" Bunny asks.

    "She''s right. You guys saw me do one good thing, but it doesn''t change the lifetime of f***ed up shit I did. You don''t be feral and lose everything because you''re a good person. I have really bad habits. I''m ky. I lie and manipte everyone ¦¬¦©¦¬, ¦­¦¯¦´ ¦³

    around me to get what Tward. This thing with the King is the fire time I''ve ever told the truth. I only told it to get him to kill

    me when it was ver

    "And it Teh good didn''t it? 1 Mies asks. Shees around and takes my left hand to show me the ring on my finger. "So, you failed at bring a wolf. You''ve got a second chance here. You can jake things right. You can do right by us so we can do right

 Bait Novel 129

    I don''t know how to do that. I had a cor on before. I did things I thought the King wanted. I was following his lead,"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "So follow his lead. He''s your husband," Bunnyughs.

    "Your mate," Lillies brushes my hair off my shoulder.

    "In exchange, we teach you how to Lycan," Bunny pops a cherry tomato in her mouth.

    "Why don''t we finish eating and I''ll sleep on it? We''re headed back to Cliffside in the morning. I''ll let you know what I decide once I speak with the King," "I''m not-" Bunny starts to argue, but Lillies covers her mouth to stop her.

    "That seems fair. Given we kind of blindsided you tonight," she agrees. Bunny groans and then agrees.

    "So, we''re not bringing it up anymore,"

    "I point at the two of them with my fork. They both agree and go back to their tes. "So, you''re alive," Bunny squeaks. "Are we allowed to ask what happened?"

    "I lost Crystal," I move the veggies around my te. "I''ve never gone into hibernation the way I did. I was home, but I wasn''t. Everything was right in front of me, but I couldn''t reach it. No matter how hard I tried.

    "She told me if I truly believed I deserved what was in front of me I''d be able to take it. All I could think about was all the mistakes I made. Everything I ruined and-I don''t know. It sounded a lot like she said she sacrificed herself because she thought I could do it. She thinks I can make amends. I just wanted it to be over and now I''m not sure what I want,"

    "I''m sorry for your loss," the two of them say in unison. It''s a little unsettling.

    "So, you wake up after a near-death experience that has shaken you so badly, you feel empathy for the first time and the first thing you do is break into a packhouse to gain information on your mother-inw?" Bunnyughs. "She''s a fugitive," I defend myself. The two of themugh. "And those people are racist as hell. I get a double free pass," "Most Lycans are. You should Les nods. What about you and the King used to it," Lillies suddenly.

    King?" Bunny asks

    "You''re like the Queen now," Lillies snorts. "That is the greatest "Oopsie Glowup" in modern history. When people learn the truth about Redwood, the Alpha King is going to take a hit. Not the new one. His dad,"

    "Oh, Former Alpha King Savage is going to love the opportunity toe out of vacation. Thest time I saw him he was ying golf with his brother and the two were trying to find any little excuse to fight. Their pups pushed them out very quickly,"

    "You know a lot about wolf politics," Lillies clears her throat. "Would it be inappropriate for me to ask you to share that information with us?"

    "Not anymore. You''re probably going to have to add Wolf General Education to your schedules this uing semester. I''ll join you. I have to learn Lycirian and lycanw. This sucks. I actually have to f*g* work now.

    "You help one lost pretty boy and suddenly, you''re in charge of f***ing race that''s been in hiding for the past twelve hundred years. I am going to bed. I''ll see you guyster," I wave them off.

    I hear the two of them giggling as I take the room Mackenzie had slept in. After a quick shower, Iy in bed for six hours unable to close my eyes. I sleptst night after making our bond official. Neither of us gave each other a moment to think about it. I hold my hand up to look at the ring and bangle, 08:20 Wed, Nov 13. Chapter 129

    @

    @88% +5

    can''t believe this is happening. F***k, I am way in over my head here. Me, a Queen? It has to be some kind of sick joke. Not to mention half the other shit going on. I am going to deal with all of it.

    O go insane trying

    Truth be thought, I''m f****ing terrified. How am I supposed to do all of this without Crystal? In the midst of hell, she was my only friend. The only being I''ve ever shared the extent of my mind with. It''s probably what killed her. I did that to her, to us.

    I feel like myself, but I''m so used to reaching out to feel her. To check in on the animal I wounded so badly she started to lose herself in the darkness I''ve used as an excuse to just be the biggest piece of shit I could be. It''s all I had ever known. All I could offer her. Laying here watching the blue night turn into daylight, I feel empty. Alone. Surrounded by people who don''t know a single thing about me. People who are looking at me the same way he does. Jonas Prince was looking for a savior and while I did my best, that''s not exactly what he found. I don''t know if I can continue to pretend to be I''m this person.

    The twins sit in the back seat quietly. At some point, Bunny falls asleep with her head on Lillie''s shoulder. She''s tapping away at her phone.

    "Did you sleep?" she asks when she catches me nce back at them. "I can drive if you want,"

    "I''m okay," I reassure her.

    "I read that wolf spirits are kind of like Lycan twins. Two parts of a whole," I nce back at her to see her running her fingers through Bunny''s blonde hair. "I can''t imagine not having Tullie in my life. She''s everything,"

    "Can I ask

    I you something personal?"

    "Given how much we e know about you, yeah," she smirks.

    "Jordan said his parents didn''t want him anywhere near you. I don''t see why it''s an issue,"

    "Jordan is a lot like the King In the linage sense. I guess if you put it into terms, we''re you in Redwood City Peasants and very defective," "Because you can''t shift

    t without the other,"

    "Yeah, and we''re not as strong separated.

    I''m the oldest. The strongest between the two of us. When we came of age, it was up to me to fix this. And I couldn''t do it," ""What do you mean fix it? How do you fix being two separate beings?" "She eats me," Bunny mumbles in her sleep.

    "What?" chills break out all over my body. "I thought if one died you couldn''t shift anymore,"

    "If one of us died by the hand of someone else. It''s why James liked us. We were something he could keep locked away under the premise of our safety. Jordan tries his best not to keep us isted. He put us in training and we''re really good at it, but all everyone ever sees is how weak I am for not doing what was expected of me," Lillies shrugs.

    "When we get home, I want a resume from both of you. Schr credits, basic training, any kind of training. Specialties. What are you good at? Everything. That way I can decide if you''ll be helpful out on the field,"

    "Okay," she nods enthusiastically. "What are you going to do?"

    "I need to get a hold of Alpha Tech Lockwood,"

    "You

    You can''t just show up?"

    "I can, but it''ll look badly on Lycans. And I think Jonas is dealing with enough to add a f***ng ps***ho like Eloise to that,

    "I

    I heard rumors she wants to target the Wolfes for the rest of the Wolfe Corporation," Bunny says sleepily.

    "Over Violetta''s dead body," I scoff. "Vy would burn all of Lockwood City down than let that happen. It wouldn''t be the first time and she''d make Eloise watch. She''s number two for a reason,"

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    Dr. Alvarez is taking a blood sample as I go through some of the files I was able to get into from the Lockwood City security database. It wasn''t easy to get into it and I had to do it manually. It''s not impossible, but it is Wolfe Tech so it checks out. "How are you feeling?" she asks after I growl at the s***id screen "Any numbness? Coldness?" "None," I look up at her. "If you''re asking me if I feel any signs of going Feral. I have none. It''s just me in here,"

    "I know you have a task you''re working on, but I''d like you to take a psych evaluation. That way I can get a feel of where we are," she says quietly.

    I''d

    I usually tell her to f***k off when she brings up therapy or anything that involves exactly what she just proposed. I look around the dome to see others immediately look away. It kind of makes me feel like a b***h and that st****id ountability guilt side busts me. "Okay," I agree and turn back to theputer. "Set up an appointment and I''ll be there," "All right," she says with a little too much enthusiasm. "I''ll set it up and take to theb with me,"

    these

    back to

    "Wait," I call after her when she tries to escape. I spin the chair around to face her. "Have you gotten a chance to check up on Kenzie?"

    "I can''t legally do anything without her consent," she shakes her head. "Or while she''s unconscious,"

    "Okay," I nod and turn back to the screen. After another round of sneaking around Eloise''s servers, I get a number for her Dad.

    "My King." I hear someone say behind me. I love that they give him away before he can approach. Gives me a second to prepare myself mentally.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Not I thought you would being back for," he says and spins me around to face him.

    "No? What else would Ie back for?" I smirk. He growls at me and looks behind me.

    "What are you doing?" he asks disapprovingly.

    Sweet mother moon, he smells amazing. My mouth waters and my body responds to his proximity. This is why I don''t want to be so close. I can''t help but want him. This new arrangement is nothing like the one we had before. I had no attachments then. Now there''s this bond between us and I don''t know how to handle it.

    "I wanted to get Tech''s number so I don''t start a fight with the Lockwoods," I hold up my phone.

    "But you hacked their system?" he smirks. "They shoul shouldn''t have made it hackable if they didn''t want people snooping around," I shrug. The rumble of hisughter does something to me and my ears ring. Holy shit, the bond is in full effect. My body is buzzing already "Have you had breakfast?"

    "I was waiting for you toe down. Have you?"

    "Come on," he offers me his hand.

    The tingling sensation in my body only worsens when he closes his hand around mine. I quickly shut down what I was working on. Everyone tries to act like they''re minding their own business when we walk by. The King is dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. It''s a soft gray shade. Under, he''s wearing a soft blue button-down. The color

    Chapter 130 88%

    is gentle enough to mistake it for white from a distance. The vest over it perfectly outlines his physique. Since he has no jacket on, I get a full view of his perfect round a**** "You okay?" he clears his throat. "You''re looking a little feverish,"

    "F****k off. Can''t a girl ogle her mate without him making a fuss?" I growl. He grins and pulls me closer. "Can we have breakfast in my study? I want to talk to you about something important,"

    "Yeah," he agrees without hesitation. He pulls out his phone and takes us to the elevator.

    My

    scent is still very prominent here. I look around and unconsciously reach out for her, but all I get is my bond with the King. He meets my gaze when he feels it. His hand on mine tightens, but he doesn''t bring it up. When we get to my study, I freeze. "What did you do?" I look up at him.

    "I can return it," he shrugs.

    I run into the room and jump on the gigantic eight-foot Hello Kitty plushie sitting on top of the pillow pile.

    "This is mine?" I can''t even talk from how cute this is.

    "It''s not mine," heughs. The material is so soft and it''s squishy. "What did you want to talk about?"

    "I don''t remember," I get up and m the door shut.

    "Perry-"

    "You cannot wear this," I pop the button on his vest open. "And give me the coolest plushie I''ve ever been given and then expect me not to retaliate. Are you crazy?"

    I unbutton his trousers and pull at his shirt.

    "Hold on, let me take my tie off,"

    "We don''t have time for you to use your tie," I push him until he falls on the giant plushie.

    He growls wrapping his arm around me to turn us around so he''s on top.

    "Fine. Hard and fas...

    is," he

    "he unbuttons my jeans and then pulls them down from under me.

    The moment he enters me the buzzing in my body hits a million miles per second and my newly found Lycan rage takes over.

    "Don''t-" he growls but it''s toote.

    My ws cut through his shirt and vest. He pulls my arms from around him and pins them over my head. Heughs when I try to struggle out of his hold and picks up the pace. His touch, his scent, and the excitement I feel through the bond are all too much and Ie undone. My ws immediately retract and I rx under him as he builds himself up. I feel more of him, more than I did when I taught him to use the bond between us thest time.

    "F***k, what is this?" Iy back against the giant plushie. I feel like I just snorted that entire baggy of pink dust Mack had on her. I hope Jake found it and took it from her.

    "We''re newly mated," he nuzzles my neck gently. I push him away and reach for my jeans. He lets out a heavy sigh. "It''s not going to be like it was before, Perry. Our bond is a lot more physical now. It''s an actual mating bond. Not chosen,

    "I''m sorry," I slip my feet into my pants. "It''s a lot. I''m not sure I''m ready for more physical stuff,"

    08:20 Wed, Nov 13. Chapter 130

    "Okay," he nods. "But we have to talk about your aggression,"

    100%

    "My aggression?" Iugh going over to the bathroom to clean myself up. "You and every therapist I''ve ever had are on the same page,"

    "You''ve never had a Lycan therapist. I actually would like you to see one,"

    "Oz beat you to it," I put myself together. That did nothing to help my predicament. He''s close and my body is responding to him. It wants more than just a quick fuck like before. It''s giving me a head rush.

    "Oz cares a lot about you, Perry. Please, don''t upset her. Just because she brings something up-"

    "I said yes," I stop him before the scolding. I''lean against the frame and watch him go over to the closet area to find a new shirt. "You''re not going to find anything fancy there, Pretty boy. Jeans, T-shirts, and jackets,"

    "That''s fine," he says looking everything over. I go over to him and open his part of the closet. "You have a lot of clothes for me here,"

    "Yeah, I figured you''d want to y civilian once in a while with me gone. Even got you hats," I pull the bottom drawer out.

    "I''ve never worn a hat," he smiles and slips out of his trouserspletely. I turn away and try not to think about him in a baseball cap, but the image is there and he''d make a really cute city boy.

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    only

    call me that when you''re serious," he says. I go around and take a seat in my chair.

    "Jonas," I ce my hand on my ss desk.

    "You

    "It''s about Kenzie," I start up my PC. He goes back to the plush to put his boots on.

    "I''m listening,"

    "Before I say anything. I want to talk about how we''re going to move forward. Professionally, I don''t know how to handle our mating just yet,"

    "Sure," he nods looking up at me. The lights from above me make his eyes glow like gems. "No matter how we look at it. You''re the Queen in name. Yes, you did die, but you''re not dead.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "Perry, what happened to you was kind of a miracle. Maybe not you, but it will be to the rest of us. It''s not something that happens to just anyone. As of now, you are a Lycan.

    "This means that Perry Nelson or Perry Phurry is dead. Everything she did died with her. You will be protected by the Lycan mandate at all costs. The people will riot if anything happens to you as our Queen and Wolf Bait,"

    "I don''t want that," I sit back.

    "I know, but this is happening," he sighs. "We can leave our mating out of this until we''re ready. I have a proposition for you. Call it a contract if you want. You being dead and out of the picture is a good thing. For us as a species. It gives us an advantage," "You want me to stay underground," I understand. "For how long?"

    "I don''t know. I feel like I''m standing in the middle of a minefield going into this with the other kings. I need to focus on the new scriptures and the census establishment at court. I know very little of wolf militia, but I do know a strategy when I see one and it looks like the kid wants to move in on Vamp territory

    "S***it," I groan. "It''s not just the wolves. The old man has been gunning for the Vampire King since he lost the Rogue King. The vamp has some serious weapons in his arsenal. Lilithian and her mates are just the start and those three can take out a city like Magique on their own. It''s why the Wolfe''s give them whatever the f****k they want,"

    "I think we should hand the old man over to the wolves,"

    "No," I sit up. "A lot of people go down for that. There would be public executions all over the world. My head and Mack''s would be owed,"

    "Perry-"

    "No, Jonas. You don''t understand what it would mean for this to go p¨²blic. The pds would implode

    "Then what do you suggest?"

    "Me staying dead is a great advantage. Since we''re on the subject there''s something f*****ed up I have to tell you," "More f*****d up than an armada of specially trained wolves to hunt down hierarchy officials?"

    A lot more I think it''s a lot more. Right?

    ****k, he stands up and paces a bit. F***, he looks so good in anything he wears. "Give me a second. Take your time, I agree and get up to get him a cap from the drawer.

    7 08:25 Thu, Nov 14 GT.

    ter 131

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    Chapter 10000 92%

    "What are you doing?" he asks when I climb onto my desk and sit on top.

    closer." I wave him forward. I touch his hair thinking maybe it''s gel but it''s soft to the touch. "Your hair just does this on its own? What do you put in it?"

    "Come clos

    "I have a leave-in conditioner," he shrugs. I snort and fit the cap on his head.

    "Look a at you. Twenty years younger,"

    "That would make me twelve,"

    "I thought you were like forty," Iugh. He sucks his teeth and scrunches his nose quickly before pulling away.

    "Tell me what''s going on with Mackenzie," he says.

    "Remember how he asked for a sample of Ss?"

    "Right, for breeding purposes. Ss said he''d consider an offer," he shrugs. "For breeding purposes. Any Lycan would jump at the opportunity to strengthen their lineage,"

    "Hmm, then this might not shock you as much as it''s f***ng me up. His DNA is being considered for a program the old man calls the Rebirth. He only epts candidates that have a high chance of producing a high-level wraith,"

    "Mack Perry," he back his don''t what you''re about to."

    has a son. He''s four now and he''s a lightning elemental wraith,"

    His calm features change as he battles the anger in him. He sits down on my plush and leans back into it. He nces at me with a re. "No," he he shakes his head.

    "Jonas,"

    "No," he roars so loud the ss I''m sitting on vibrates. "You are not going to go after this kid. You''re afraid of this man, Perry."". You, who literally stood before the entire Lycan council boarding feral and told them to f***k off," he stands andes back to me. He grips my thighs s and pulls me to him. "Don''t do this to me again. Please, don''t do this to me again. I will not survive it," "What if it were Andromeda?" I ask calmly.

    He covers my mouth with his big a**hand and just stares back at me. I can feel his grief. How much pain he''s still in. I reach for his wrists. When he lets me pull them away I hug him. It catches him off guard. His entire body goes rigid for a moment before he tries to catch his breath.

    "I can''t lose you again," he repeats holding me to him.

    "I can''t do anything about it now. I promised I''d bring your mom back and I have her. Mackenzie is falling apart. She''s twenty-two. I don''t think she knows the extent of what she did yet. She was seventeen when that sick f**k did this to her,"

 Bait Novel 132

    "Royce is going to lose his shit when he finds out, Perry," he says without meeting my gaze.

    "She''s going to reject him, Jonas," she seemed pretty adamant about that.

    "She''s going to try. It''sw for both parties to be in agreement. It''s been a long time since a mating has been on trial," "Are you serious? You hold trials?"

    "Yes, they''re both adults and there''s no political interference,"

    "What does that mean?"

    "Roy isn''t promised to any other bloodline," he shrugs as if that''s not a life-defining statement."

    "Being the King fucking sucks, Jo. Why did you want this?" I shake my head. He finally smiles and tilts my head back.

    "You''re not acting like yourself," he says gently. I pull away from him and push him back so I can get away.

    "I am. You just don''t know me, Jonas. You know a part of me. A very, very dark part of me. That''s not all I am,"

    "I feel like you woke up apletely different person," he nods.

    "I did and I didn''t. I didn''t get what I wanted and in trying to get there I hurt the only thing that meant more to me than literally everything else. Crys is gone and-"

    Saying it to him somehow really let that set in. I''ve never really given anyone other than Darren the absolute truth. Even if I''m not in love with him the way I feel we both deserve, I realize that I do care for him deeply. The first thing I wanted to do after learning what happened to Mackenzie was fell him so that he could give me some space to fully process it. I don''t do that. Not with Darren or Jacob. I swallow it and I bury it deep down. Yet, it was an instinct to ask for his opinion.

    "I understand," he sighs swiping a hand over his face. "I mean not fully, but I understand that it''s something that''s going to take time to heal from. I think we both need some time to fully adjust to our new situation. I don''t want you to feel caged like you did before and I don''t even know where to begin to apologize,"

    "You don''t have to and you can stop with the gifts," I point at the giant plushie.

    "I would have bought it anyway. To add to your collection. You made me promise to add to it," he shrugs. He goes over to it and falls back on it. "I can see the appeal,"

    "Oh, you are not going to like the thrill of it. It''s the worst kind of coping mechanism you can develop. It feels so good at first but when you really sit down to look at it and admit just how empty it all is, you''ll hate yourself. Then to help you get over that you go and buy another one,"

    "Funny. That''s kind of what happened when I met you,"

    I look up at him to see him smirking back at me.

    "Jonas, that was a great dark joke. I am so proud of you," Iugh. He grins and the ugly sticky feeling inside of him takes a little break.

    "Fucking weirdo," he rolls his eyes. "What if we put a team together? But it''ll take time. I trust Jordan to protect you, but he''s got some shit going on. I sent the twins to you for two reasons. I know you love them. They''re not safe away from him and I know you''d never let anyone get too close. I want him to be in charge of this team. "And also they know Ninjitsu. I''ve seen them teaching my sister and getting carried away. It''s kind of funny until they start almost killing each other and we can''t pull them apart. And you also work well with them. Tulips at least,"

    "They''re little girls," I try to dismiss him.

    66%N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "They need not to be, Perry. Surviving is not going to be easy for them. Jordan''s family means business. I can''t favor them and neither can you. If we change thews to help them, I''d lose the respect we''ve established already. The people would fight back," "What about giving them a fair chance? Bunny said that others take advantage of them,"

    "Perry, we''re talking about thousands of years of bigotry and tradition. The fact is that only one should exist and it would be one of the strongest Lycans alive. Lillies failed to absorb Tullie in the womb and then refused to finish it when they turned. That''s isn''t going to change because you think it''s barbaric,"

    "Do you hear the wordsing out of your mouth, Jonas?"

    "Yes, I do. Pernicious. This is the way things are. We''re not wolves. I don''t deny that it''s going to be beneficial for us to change a little, but there are things that do not need to be changed. We''re beasts, Lycan Queen. She shamed herself and her sister in refusing to absorb her,"

    "You mean eat her?"

    "It sounds dirty when you say it like that,"

    "It''s very dirty. You''re going to have word from the other races,"

    "Who cares? I don''t like how rejection of wolf mates is handled. If you say it''s not a political issue, you''re wrong. Mating determines the steady growth of our poption and the development of our species. I also think yourws of justice are fucking dumb. You settle a dispute to the death or submission. That''s why pack cities are overpopted. Let them kill themselves. That''s what we do,"

    "I don''t know what to say to you, right now," I cross my arms over my chest.

    "Because I''m right?"

    "Yes, because you''re right. And also because it''s so fucking wrong. These are people we''re talking about," "Werewolves. Not a lot of people around anymore, Perry. Because of stupidws like you have,"

    Opposites. That''s what we are, but I admit that this is still very fun.

    "Whatever. Fine," I agree. "We''ll call it the Local Lunatic Task Force."

    0

 Bait Novel 133

    The twins have a beautiful resume. One alone is overqualified but together, holy shit. And I can just have them? This is crazy. I shouldn''t be in the position I am in. I might be a little off but Jonas is downright out of his mind. "A task force?" Bunny asks.

    "How many?" Lillies adds.

    "Normally, I''d say six, but since the King doesn''t want me to be part of it officially. Seven. Four since I already have and he wants Jordan to run it,"

    you two

    15

    "Yes," the two of them high-fived..

    "Just to bring in the Queen?" Jordan asks.

    "No. Bringing in the Queen is my job. The King doesn''t want to make my presence known until he''s established his footing at court properly. The task force will be under my guidance. Our job will be to gather information on the other Kings. It''s a good idea. We make friends and we get dirt on them,"

    "Aren''t you fike a super spy? Don''t you have that already?"

    "My area of expertise is the Alpha King. He''s five years older than me and it''s easy tomunicate with him. We''re kind of friends. But the other Kings are not. The vampire King for starters is fucking crazy.

    "We once went to this gathering and he had this human. She waspelled and all over him. He fed off her while everyone was deciding what to do with some attacks the old man was causing to distract the Triads,"

    "You''re kidding," Bunny shakes her head. "And no one did anything?"

    "No. It didn''t vite the treaty. Those at court are there for their people. Humans have their Queen and like me, any mortal could be handed off to any other race. So as long as it''s legal. Vamps can care less about all the other species abolishing their veryws. And theirs go a lot deeper than what happens to us. Blood ves have it the worst,"

    "Do you think that''s why the Alpha King wants to go after him?" Lillies asks.

    "No, taking out the vampire king means the hierarchy would be up for grabs. They''ll start killing one another for the position and who do you think would win in an all-out blood war?"

    "Psycho-hybrid princess," Jordan answers.

    ""Exactly," I nod.

    "So, what do we do?"

    "We watch. It''s not a bad idea to have Lily in a greater position of power. She creeps me out but she''s the kind of evil that those fang fucks need. It''ll decimate at least sixteen percent of the vampire poption," "That''s a big percentage," Bunny whispers.

    "And it''ll be big yers on the board. Generals, coven masters, vamps with real power, Wasteful but necessary," I agree. "For now, we start training. Which is why I asked you guys to meet here," "My studio?" Lillies res at me.

    "The King said it would be the perfect ce for us to spar and shift. He even sent stuff," I point at the shopping bags Ss brought in earlier, "He''s not leaving until I do,"

    20:12 Sat, Nov 16).

    "We have to teach you how-to shift. Have you tried?" Lillies asks,

    "No,"

    "Why?" Jordan asks.

    "I don''t know," I shrug.

    That''s a lie. I haven''t tried because I''m not sure I''m ready to feel the shift into something that isn''t Crys. I know it''s part of my transition and that it''s inevitable, bute on. I need a little more time to wrap my mind around it. "I''ll go first," Jordan says. "I hear you''re quite the savage in a fist fight,"

    "Where would you have heard that from?" Iugh.

    "Violetta," he smirks. "She got me thewyer I need against my parents,"

    That definitely sounds like something Vy would do, having been a victim of her father''s stupidity as a child herself. Whoever she got to help him is not only going to give Jordan what he needs but all that he''s owed.

    "All right," I agree and stand up. The twins move back and sit down by the mirrors. "You want to talk about that?"

    "Only if you tell me why you don''t want to shift,"

    "Silent spar it is," I take a defensive stance.

    "Okay," he smirks. "I won''t tell you what she told me about the case,"

    I wave him forward. It''s been forever since I''ve sparred with anyone. It''s been fight after fight and when the King got involved, goddess forbid someoneid an actual hand on me. I wonder how he fights. Has he ever had to?

    Jordan''s tell is easy. His eyes are taking me in and when he''s ready to strike, he takes a small step forward and then charges. I move out of his path and kick the back of his foot. He trips hard andnds on his belly with a bounce. Bunny snorts and tries to hide behind Lillies when Jordan turns a yful re at her.

    "Come on, Jordan. It''s just you and me. Let loose. I''m not like them. I can take a hit,"

    He pushes up bouncing off the hit and he nods putting his arms up.

    "Fine. Let''s do this,"

    His entire demeanor changes and a spark of excitement floods my body. His massive fistes at me, but he''s a really big guy. I grab onto his arm and pull myself up wrapping my legs around his head. I arch my body up and then pull back as hard as I can. He stumbles forward, but he''s a little too heavy for me to subdue this way. I quickly let go and bring my elbow up to his face. He catches it and grips the back of my shirt and rips me right off of him. Assholeughs and it allows me to kick him. I go for his chest, although I wanted to kick him in the mouth. He releases me gasping for air. I hit the floor and rush him immediately. He hits the ground and I put my knee to his chest.

    "Holy shit. You are crazy strong," Iugh panting. I stand and offer him my hand.

    "You popped my neck," he groans. "I''ve never been kicked that hard,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "You ever been tossed? Fucking gorgons are ruthless. My back was ck and blue for almost six months,"

    "Never," heughs. "Again,"

    my ws We both take a defensive stance again. He takes me in as we circle each other. This time he steps forward and takes a knee. He turns his entire body trying to swipe my feet. I cartwheel over him and spin around totch onto his back with

    to his throat.

    "I''m a lot smaller than you. You have to improvise,"

    "So you attack me," he pushes my hand away.

    I''m afraid. He''s big and crazy strong. I also don''t know the extent of my Lycan strength. What if I hurt him? What if I hurt myself?

    He takes a defensive stance and I strike before he can try to predict my movement. He''s barely able to dodge my punches. I push until he''s back into the corner of the room. I reach for him not giving him a moment to think.

    However, he switches his weight from his right foot to his left, and without hesitation, he shoves me back and reaches for my right arm. He loops his fingers through mine and spins me around. My back is to his chest now. I push my upper body back and swing my legs up. I''m able to face him again but he doesn''t release my hand. I try to pull out of his grasp.

    ""You let him lock you in?"

    Jordan immediately releases me when the King walks in. I take the advantage to strike. One punch to the stomach makes him lean into me. One palm to the forehead makes him stumble back. And I grip his wrist pulling him into me and put my boot to his face. "Never allow yourself to get distracted," I let go of him and tuck my right arm to my chest. "Holy shit that is a strong grip," "You never tightened your hand around mine," he sits back against the mirror.

    "And risk you fucking up my bones or tendons? I''m not an idiot, I turn back to the King. "What are you doing here?"

    "She''s a juvenile," he tells Jordan and pulls something out of his pocket. Something fucking weird happens. He holds up a ball and my instinctspletely zero in on his hand. He grins as he waves his arm around. "The first thing you do is make her aware of her instincts," "Don''t you fucking dare," I growl when heughs. He throws the ball.

    An itching sensation starts in the center of my chest. The moment the ball hits the wall, Iunch myself in the direction of the sound. A growl rips out of me as I hit the wall and push off as hard as I can. My fingers graze the ball before the King snatches it out of thin air. His eyes stay focused on me and I know what he''s about to do. I can see the intention in his eyes every time he subdued me in the past.

    "Don''t do this," I step back.

    the same way I''d see it

    "It doesn''t bring me any pleasure to do this to you, Perry, but you have to understand something. I love you and I would rather you hate me than let you leave my side unprepared. You aren''t my little wolf anymore. You are not a ve. You are not a child. You are my Queen. You are my mate. And as hard as this may be for us, you have to abide by ourws and traditions,"

    "My King-" Jordan tries but is cut off with a simple re.

    "Leave us," he orders.

    "Forgive me, Your Grace. As the Queen''s Shadow, I will stay here with her," he stands his ground and nces at the twins.

    "Go,"

    They get up and leave. Bunny looks at me with a terrified expression on her face.

    "But-" she shakes her head. Lillies cuts her off with a growl and pushes her forward. 20:12 Sat, Nov 16))

    Chapter 133-

    "I failed," Lillies looks at me sympathetically. "You shouldn''t. Thi

    I

 Bait Novel 134

    20:12 Sat, Chapter 134

    Jordan escorts the twins out and shuts us in so he can stand guard at the doorway. The King steps away closing his fist around the ball he''s holding. Fuck. Hello, consequences of my very little thought-out actions.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    I unzip my hoodie and toss it aside. I have to remove my shoes. don''t want to ruin them. My throat is so swollen I feel like I''m once again at the bottom of the abyss looking around with nowhere to go. This is not the first time I''ve been pushed into submission. It is, however, the first time I will be forced to shift without permission. It''s always been up to Crys. We were always on the same page. I know this is going to be painful. Not just for me, but for him as well.

    "Being in the position you are in has rules," the King takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "You will never bow to anyone, but me," he says meeting my gaze. "You will not take orders from anyone, but me. You will never need to exin yourself to anyone, but me. I am your King and while we are the same rank trust that I will always have your best interest at heart. And vice versa. You are now tasked to help me be a better version of myself the same way," he tucks the ball in his pocket. "Prepare yourself," "I''m not ready,"

    "Being what we are is not connection, Perry. It''s instinct. You have the best killer instincts I''ve ever seen. You were born a wolf, but you were chosen to be a Lycan. That is not something that just happens.

    "You''re in pain because you were taught to rely on the spirit of the wolf inside of you. To be one with it. I feel it just as much as you do. There is no spirit to hold you back anymore. I''m not saying this to disregard Crystal or your beliefs in any way. I''m not askiChapter 133

    The twins have a beautiful resume. One alone is overqualified but together, holy shit. And I can just have them? This is crazy. I shouldn''t be in the position I am in. I might be a little off but Jonas is downright out of his mind.

    "A task force?" Bunny asks.

    "How many?" Lillies adds.

    "Normally, I''d say six, but since the King doesn''t want me to be part of it officially. Seven. Four since I already have and he wants Jordan to run it,"

    you two

    15

    "Yes," the two of them high-fived..

    "Just to bring in the Queen?" Jordan asks.

    "No. Bringing in the Queen is my job. The King doesn''t want to make my presence known until he''s established his footing at court properly. The task force will be under my guidance. Our job will be to gather information on the other Kings. It''s a good idea. We make friends and we get dirt on them,"

    "Aren''t you fike a super spy? Don''t you have that already?"

    "My area of expertise is the Alpha King. He''s five years older than me and it''s easy tomunicate with him. We''re kind of friends. But the other Kings are not. The vampire King for starters is fucking crazy.

    "We once went to this gathering and he had this human. She waspelled and all over him. He fed off her while everyone was deciding what to do with some attacks the old man was causing to distract the Triads,"

    "You''re kidding," Bunny shakes her head. "And no one did anything?"

    "No. It didn''t vite the treaty. Those at court are there for their people. Humans have their Queen and like me, any mortal could be handed off to any other race. So as long as it''s legal. Vamps can care less about all the other species abolishing their veryws. And theirs go a lot deeper than what happens to us. Blood ves have it the worst,"

    "Do you think that''s why the Alpha King wants to go after him?" Lillies asks.

    "No, taking out the vampire king means the hierarchy would be up for grabs. They''ll start killing one another for the position and who do you think would win in an all-out blood war?"

    "Psycho-hybrid princess," Jordan answers.

    ""Exactly," I nod.

    "So, what do we do?"

    "We watch. It''s not a bad idea to have Lily in a greater position of power. She creeps me out but she''s the kind of evil that those fang fucks need. It''ll decimate at least sixteen percent of the vampire poption," "That''s a big percentage," Bunny whispers.

    "And it''ll be big yers on the board. Generals, coven masters, vamps with real power, Wasteful but necessary," I agree. "For now, we start training. Which is why I asked you guys to meet here,"

    "My studio?" Lillies res at me.

    "The King said it would be the perfect ce for us to spar and shift. He even sent stuff," I point at the shopping bags Ss brought in earlier, "He''s not leaving until I do,"

    20:12 Sat, Nov 16).

    "We have to teach you how-to shift. Have you tried?" Lillies asks,

    "No,"

    "Why?" Jordan asks.

    "I don''t know," I shrug.

    That''s a lie. I haven''t tried because I''m not sure I''m ready to feel the shift into something that isn''t Crys. I know it''s part of my transition and that it''s inevitable, bute on. I need a little more time to wrap my mind around it. "I''ll go first," Jordan says. "I hear you''re quite the savage in a fist fight,"

    "Where would you have heard that from?" Iugh.

    "Violetta," he smirks. "She got me thewyer I need against my parents,"

    That definitely sounds like something Vy would do, having been a victim of her father''s stupidity as a child herself. Whoever she got to help him is not only going to give Jordan what he needs but all that he''s owed.

    "All right," I agree and stand up. The twins move back and sit down by the mirrors. "You want to talk about that?"

    "Only if you tell me why you don''t want to shift,"

    "Silent spar it is," I take a defensive stance.

    "Okay," he smirks. "I won''t tell you what she told me about the case,"

    I wave him forward. It''s been forever since I''ve sparred with anyone. It''s been fight after fight and when the King got involved, goddess forbid someoneid an actual hand on me. I wonder how he fights. Has he ever had to?

    Jordan''s tell is easy. His eyes are taking me in and when he''s ready to strike, he takes a small step forward and then charges. I move out of his path and kick the back of his foot. He trips hard andnds on his belly with a bounce. Bunny snorts and tries to hide behind Lillies when Jordan turns a yful re at her.

    "Come on, Jordan. It''s just you and me. Let loose. I''m not like them. I can take a hit,"

    He pushes up bouncing off the hit and he nods putting his arms up.

    "Fine. Let''s do this,"

    His entire demeanor changes and a spark of excitement floods my body. His massive fistes at me, but he''s a really big guy. I grab onto his arm and pull myself up wrapping my legs around his head. I arch my body up and then pull back as hard as I can. He stumbles forward, but he''s a little too heavy for me to subdue this way. I quickly let go and bring my elbow up to his face. He catches it and grips the back of my shirt and rips me right off of him. Assholeughs and it allows me to kick him. I go for his chest, although I wanted to kick him in the mouth. He releases me gasping for air. I hit the floor and rush him immediately. He hits the ground and I put my knee to his chest.

    "Holy shit. You are crazy strong," Iugh panting. I stand and offer him my hand.

    "You popped my neck," he groans. "I''ve never been kicked that hard,"

    "You ever been tossed? Fucking gorgons are ruthless. My back was ck and blue for almost six months,"

    "Never," heughs. "Again,"

    my ws We both take a defensive stance again. He takes me in as we circle each other. This time he steps forward and takes a knee. He turns his entire body trying to swipe my feet. I cartwheel over him and spin around totch onto his back with

    to his throat.

    "I''m a lot smaller than you. You have to improvise,"

    "So you attack me," he pushes my hand away.

    I''m afraid. He''s big and crazy strong. I also don''t know the extent of my Lycan strength. What if I hurt him? What if I hurt myself?

    He takes a defensive stance and I strike before he can try to predict my movement. He''s barely able to dodge my punches. I push until he''s back into the corner of the room. I reach for him not giving him a moment to think.

    However, he switches his weight from his right foot to his left, and without hesitation, he shoves me back and reaches for my right arm. He loops his fingers through mine and spins me around. My back is to his chest now. I push my upper body back and swing my legs up. I''m able to face him again but he doesn''t release my hand. I try to pull out of his grasp.

    ""You let him lock you in?"

    Jordan immediately releases me when the King walks in. I take the advantage to strike. One punch to the stomach makes him lean into me. One palm to the forehead makes him stumble back. And I grip his wrist pulling him into me and put my boot to his face. "Never allow yourself to get distracted," I let go of him and tuck my right arm to my chest. "Holy shit that is a strong grip," "You never tightened your hand around mine," he sits back against the mirror.

    "And risk you fucking up my bones or tendons? I''m not an idiot, I turn back to the King. "What are you doing here?"

    "She''s a juvenile," he tells Jordan and pulls something out of his pocket. Something fucking weird happens. He holds up a ball and my instinctspletely zero in on his hand. He grins as he waves his arm around. "The first thing you do is make her aware of her instincts,"

    "Don''t you fucking dare," I growl when heughs. He throws the ball.

    An itching sensation starts in the center of my chest. The moment the ball hits the wall, Iunch myself in the direction of the sound. A growl rips out of me as I hit the wall and push off as hard as I can. My fingers graze the ball before the King snatches it out of thin air. His eyes stay focused on me and I know what he''s about to do. I can see the intention in his eyes every time he subdued me in the past.

    "Don''t do this," I step back.

    the same way I''d see it

    "It doesn''t bring me any pleasure to do this to you, Perry, but you have to understand something. I love you and I would rather you hate me than let you leave my side unprepared. You aren''t my little wolf anymore. You are not a ve. You are not a child. You are my Queen. You are my mate. And as hard as this may be for us, you have to abide by ourws and traditions,"

    "My King-" Jordan tries but is cut off with a simple re.

    "Leave us," he orders.

    "Forgive me, Your Grace. As the Queen''s Shadow, I will stay here with her," he stands his ground and nces at the twins.

    "Go,"

    They get up and leave. Bunny looks at me with a terrified expression on her face.

    "But-" she shakes her head. Lillies cuts her off with a growl and pushes her forward. 20:12 Sat, Nov 16))

    Chapter 133-

    "I failed," Lillies looks at m

 Bait Novel 135

    much worse.

    I feel like I''m on fire. I''d know I have been on more than one asion. This, however, isn''t going to be remedied by rolling around on the floor. I have to push through it. Images of Crystals reflection over the years flood my head and it only makes my predicament that Memories of the first time I shift storm my head not only reminding me that I no longer have Darren, but my loss of Crystal as well. It was pleassurable when it happened. My skin came alive when the light of the fullmoon washed over my for the first time. It felt like I had been trapped my entire pathetic existence and the rise of the beta wolf inside of me set me free. This is nothing like that.

    It feels like it''s all building up on my forehead, right between my eyes. I shut my eyes tightly trying to get a hold of myself not wanting to disappoint the King, but it only makes it worse. The pain spreads to the top of my head as if my scalp was being ripped from my skull and my ears begin to ring. I fall on my ass not wanting to move anymore.

    "Stop!" I cry out unsure of what I''m expecting to happen but the pain is too much.

    It builds and builds and just as I start to feel like I''m suffocating, it explodes. Whatever block was building up erupts and cool relief floods my body as I inhale sharply trying to breathe in as much air as possible. I turn my body to get on all fours. My hand automatically goes to my head and I finally open my eyes as fatigue rolls through me making me light headed.

    I gasp as I stare down at the ghostly white skin of my hand. Long pale ws stick out of the tips of my fingers. My ears stop ringing and my senses start toe back better than ever before. I look up to see that the King is standing in front of Jordan protectively. The two of them are staring back at me in what I can only precieve as horror.

    "What the fuck was that?" I pant.

    The King is staring at me in shock. I sit back kneeling and take in my surroundings. The mirrors to my right are broken. Shattered. The pieces are floating around. I look back at him wondering what the fuck is going on and I see my reflection in the mirror to his right as he stares back at me unable to make out a single word to exin.

    This thing reflected at me is something straight out of a horror movie. Jordan and the King watch as I move closer to get a better look. It''s simr to the gray beast the King turns into. Except my pelt is white as paper. My eyes are pale and glowing the same red shade the King''s does when he gives in.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    The thing I''m staring at is truly a monster. Fear is familiar after offering myself up as bait for death, but this is entirely new I don''t know what to do or what to think. All I know is that this is wrong. Terrifying and unnatural even by supernatural standards. Why the fuck do I look like that?

    "Get Oz," I demand, cing my hands on the mirror. "Please. Someone get Oz,"

    "Go," I hear the King order Jordan.

    I turn to face him. He slowly takes a few steps

    in my

    direction.

    "Look at me," I cry out horrified.

    "Oh, baby. I wouldn''t look away even if I could," he says calmly.

    "Why do I look like this?" I demand. We both look to the doorway when there''s an audible gasp. Dr. Alvarez and the twins are staring at me just as horrified as I feel. "Why do I look like this?"

    The people I''ve learned to call my friends stare back unable to answer my question. But the answer is more than clear. Shifting is always reflected on what''s inside of a person. I''d been born Pernicious Abigail Nelson. The daughter of a monster. A killer. And I took his blood, his name, his rank and did exactly what the world knew I would do. Followed in his footsteps.

    The sleek beast in the mirror simply shows what has always been true. Crystal had been nothing more than the mirage of what a beta-ranked werewolf should be. She had been stunning. Perfect. I knew all along that I had been the problem. It was 1/2

    61%

    why she went feral. My half of our soul was rotten long before she chose me as her vessel. There is the proof in a grotesque shade of nothing. A nk sheet of pale white terror. I killed her. All of them because this is what I''ve always been.

    "It''s "Wow?"

    eetheart," Dr. Alvarez walks in with her hands out in front of her. "Wow,"

    The growling sound of my voice in this form scares her and she takes a step back. Her fear isn''t the only scent in the air around me. There''s a sickness inside of me and the fact that I actually like the smell of it proves that much. My mouth fills with saliva as I breathe in both trying to catch my breath and marvelling in the sweetness of their fear.

    I''m panicking. My head is spinning. My fears are alling true and I don''t know what to do. I can only stare back at the truth painted in front of me.

    "Yes," she grins as her eyes fill with tears as she takes in the rest of the room. "Oh, my God,"

    "This is insane," Jordan says looking up at me. The twins are standing behind him.

    "Perry," my attention snaps to the King when he says my name. "I''ve never seen anything more terrifyingly beautiful. I take that back. I was pretty fucking scared when Crystal tried to attack me the first time. I couldn''t be more proud to be your mate,"

    1

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 Bait Novel 136

    Jonas

    Perry is aplete mystery. She far exceeded my expectations long before I killed her and she continues to give more than I will ever be worthy of. Yet, she''s the only one who doesn''t see it She doesn''t see how special she is.

    It shows in the colors of her pelt. White hasn''t been granted to any of our bloodlines for centuries. No one has ever been worthy. No one until a little ck wolf was forced to serve me. I took some time and coaxing to get her to settle down. As soon as she shifted back into her skin, the telekic hold she had on the shards of ss gave away. I''ve never seen the glow she emitted around the shards she lifted from the ground or the st that burst out of her when she finally gave in.

    She''s freaking out and telling her she went from being beta-born straight to royal status is not going to blow over very well. She''s already overwhelmed with everything else. Every one of my instincts want nothing more than to lock her away. I''ve lost too much to just let her run around as recklessly as she does. But I can''t bring myself to do anything other than prepare her for what it means to be the Queen of race. That''s right. Our race.

    "I gave her a sedative," Dr. Alvarez says as she sits on the floor next to me just outside her room. I nce at her and nod.

    "Thank you. Did she say anything?"

    "No, I think she''s still in shock. She stretched as expected. Just a couple of inches. She''s six feet now. Her hair is longer and-" "And?"

    "Her body adjusted to her length. We''re going to need to rece all her clothes immediately. I have her new measurements," "Send them to Ss. Tell him Perry shifted. This doesn''t get out to anyone. I already spoke to Jordan and the twins. How many Lycans do we have that have telekic abilities still?"

    "Two," she answers. "The Duke of Arinsteele and the alpha of Qamar Jadid,"

    "Shit. I have to find her an obsidian amulet to help her control it. I need to-"

    "Jonas," she ces her hand over mine. "I can take care of the details. You need to be close to her. What is happening to Perry is a lot. She was already very vulnerable when you brought her to us. She seems like the kind of person who always thought she''d be in control of her fate and she hasn''t quite grasped that none of us do. She''s very young, my King. She needs real guidance,"

    "I''m not enough," I admit. "She put a knife through her throat the moment she opened her eyes, Oz. I don''t know how to speak to her. I never have. I had to force her to shift today and you saw how horrified she was when she saw what she is now. She told me herself," "You weren''t listening before, my King. She didn''t want you to get attached because there was no way out for her. Wolves are very peculiar creatures. They rarely ever do anything without thinking of others. Even selfish little Perry Phurry. She was going feral and feral wolves don''t shift back once they''re done.

    weren''t

    "That thing could have leveled the entire downtown area by the time she was subdued. She was warning you and you listening. Maybe try doing things her way for once. Open yourself up to new methods. Let her show you how she works. Show her there is more to you than brute force,"

    "I don''t want to fuck this up again. If anything happens to her, itll be on me now. How am I supposed to protect her when she''s so careless?"

    "If anything, the world needs protection from her," sheughs.

    "Oz," I growl at her. She grins.

    61%

    11

    "Thest thing you want to-do is keep trying to subdue her the way you have, Jo. She has real power now," she reaches for my face to trace the scar. "She''ll fight back. You two are partners now. In life. At court. Equals. She needs to learn our way. Think of all the ways you wish your parents had treated you going into this. You were a very small and pampered boy when you first shifted. Don''t make the same mistakes as before. You''re not dealing with a Eva here.

    "Perry has proven to be an asset. It would be stupid of you to treat her as a trophy wife. Now get your ass up and get in there. Try tofort your mate. I''ve got her. I''ll continue the preperations I''ve already begun,"

    We stay still for a moment before she gets up and leaves. I take a moment to gather my thoughts and stand up. I raise my hand to tap on the door, but before I can knock, she rips it open. We both stare at one another not sure what to do next. Perry breaks the ice with a smile.

    "You surprised me," she looks away first.

    "I was told you were given a sedative. You should be in bed,"

    "I''ve smoked things stronger than this. It just made the aches go away," she shrugs. "Is it okay if I get to myputer?"

    "Yes, but I think you should rest before you-" she pushes past me before I can finish. I watch her walk toward her study for a moment before I follow behind her.

    Just her scent is intoxicating. The changes are excruciatingly obvious. She looks a lot taller because her body is slimmer in certain areas. Other parts of her have... rounded a little more. Her hair is fading. Graying, no longer the soft brown is had been when she first arrived. She''s wearing pajamas bottoms that hug her thick thighs perfectly. It doesn''t help that she''s not wearing anything underneath or that her top is a bit short.

    She doesn''t stop until she''s standing in front of the full length mirror by her closet space. I watch as she stares at herself. The sweet scent of her tears permiated the air when she reaches up to touch her hair. She turns her body inspecting the changes before covering her face.

    Apologizing to her for this feels patronizing somehow. I take her in trying to find the small hexagon birthmark under her ear as I approach. I pull her hair away and tilt her head enough so she can see it. Her tear filled eyes meet mine in the mirror. "Why are the changes

    so drastic? I look like someone else," she cries softly. "I even sound different,"Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "Your body is adjusting to the rank and power growing inside of us," I offer an explination. "And given what happened when you shifted, your power is great,"

    "Can you move things with your mind?" she whispers. I shake my head. "Why is this happening to me?"

    "The trauma you underwent before turning. The feral state you fought back for five years. It''s a power granted to someone who needs it to protect themselves with. There are others. Oz and I will make contact so you can be taught to control it," "Like I''m not enough a freak already," she growls and turns away from the mirror.

    "Hey," I stop her. She res down at my hand around her wrist before she looks up at me. I release her. "You''re not a freak, Perry. It''ll take some time before you get used to it. You''re changing and only you get to decide if it''s good or bad,"

 Bait Novel 137

    Jonas

    "I''ve never been good at telling the difference," Perry says and goes over to her desk.

    "That makes two of us," I admit and go over to the giant Hello Kitty, I push it off the pillows. I doubt she wants anyone sitting on it. "This might sound like a stupid question, but how are you feeling?"

    I look up at her to see she''s staring at theputer screen in front of her not really making an effort to make use of it. She looks down at her hands and just when I give up on an answer she lets out a heavy sigh. "I''m scared," she says calmly.

    "You''re safe here,"

    "That''s not what I mean," she shakes her head without looking over at me. She holds up her hands and releases her ws. They''re a milky white shade now. "For thest five years, there was no future for me. Honestly, I don''t ever remember a time when I really believed I had one. I''ve been living my life one n at a time since my mother died. And now, I''m basically indestructable,"

    "You seemed pretty indestructable to me from the moment we met," I smile remembering her definance. "I can''t even begin to imagine what you feel, Perry. But I can share with you what happened to me when I first shifted. If you like, "Okay," she

    and agreeses over toy on the plush. "What did you do before?"

    "There''s a training trial we have to pass before transition. I began my training for it when I was fourteen. Most Lycans do. However, because I was the heir to the throne, my trials were more conditioning," "Muscle conditionin

    she says.

    I turn around to face her. She''s buried in the plush with her arms out to her side as she pets the soft fabric. She both looks like my

    little wolf and doesn''t. She''s breath takingly stunning and I don''t know if she wants to hear that after the reaction she had in the studio. "That''s right. Do wolves have that as well?"

    "No, but I got conditioning for the KNAVE. I''d call it torture. Endurance in different climate conditions. I can fight and take a hit the way I can because I was trained by apponentsrger and stronger than me. The Rogue King," "He trained you?"

    "Yeah,"

    "I thought it was torture as well, but after. Once I started healing and getting better, I saw it for what it was. I was stronger than the other juveniles. I could do things they couldn''t. Gray isn''tmon among our kind either. Alphas are pitch ck. Betas are dark brown. Deltas are dual colored. Omegas range for tan to red.

    "My parents wanted me to be albino and by the time I was fifteen, I was doing things alphas were without having shifted yet. They thought it was a sure thing, and they kept amping my training every few months.

    "I think it didn''t work because it didn''t break me. I epted that this was the only way I could continue my family''s legacy and I wanted to make them proud more than anything. The idea of being King and helping people was the goal and the stronger I was by the time I shifted the stronger I would be as a Lycan and their King.

    "I had lots of support. Not just from my parents but Oz and Ss. His family was very supportive as well. My transition was rough. When I gave in, I killed Ss''s father and one of the doctors tasked with keeping me alive,"

    "I didn''t need that," she sits up.

    @K 61%

    "You did have it. Oz was the one that found

    out

    you were healing when she was cleaning your body for the funeral arrangements. She was preparing you for transition when she came to get me. I tried to stop her, but she had already administered the vitamins and wolfsbane," "So it doesn''t happen right away?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "No, but it would have happened during the fullmoon. It''s a good thing that I-"

    "Forced it," she finishes. "Why?"

    "Perry, you''re my mate now. You-"

    "I mean why is it a good thing. I know why you did it," sheys back further so she can look up at the ceiling.

    "Our beast side takes over during the fullmoon. The first time it''s very difficult to control what we are with the sway of it. Your body was already conditioned to shift into a wolf. It was less of a risk for you to shift without the fullmoon. The st of your new ability would have been bigger. It could have leveled more than just the mirror. Do you remember what it was like?"

    "Yeah, I''ve had a headache for a while, but that''s always been something that I''ve had to put up with since my wolf began the stages of feral. So, I didn''t think anything of it, but when you started the order. It felt like my eyes and my head and my body were too full. Like my blood was swelling more and more. My head felt like it was going to explode and then it felt like it did. The pain faded all at once. Was it like that for you?"

    "No, I felt like I was set on fire and then someone tried to put the fire out with a pipe or something,"

    "Oh, yeah. I felt super hot too, but I guess the pain in my head made me forget," she rubs her chest. "It started with the firstmand. I was just hot and it amplified,"

    down "During the fullmoon, the pain doesn''t stop. It gets to a point where all you want is for it to stop. Nothing and no one else matters. That''s the final trial for us. It''s called Triunfa Le Lumen. Triumph of the fire. You either go feral and are put or you surivive,"

 Bait Novel 138

    Jonas

    hy not wal

    Do you thin buldrer have made in

    "No, that''s not why. I diske my head. I know you''d curvive anything that''s thrown at you. I just didn''t want you to go through then. Ter done enough"

    She stares at the ceiling for a long pause. She weed to make me resus as my chosen, but our bond has only served in make my feelings for her worse. I don''t know if I can hold back how rich I need for her to be closer. A lot closer. "I think we should start over," she sits up so she can be closer to the "I feel like I''m walking on eggshells around you and you are too. I heard what you said to Or,

    "The truth?

    "I told you, you weren''t enough then because it was the truth."

    ""But it isn''t now?"

    "Not entirely. We didn''t know this was going to happen. You said it yourself. It''s fucking crazy that it did. You also said that technically, Pernicious Phurry is dead. I''m no longer feral or a wolf. What was said and done has to die with her, "I can''t forget,"

    "That''s not what I said," sheughs. "I don''t want to forget either Pretending it didn''t happen is how repeating history that doesn''t need to be repeated happens," she takes my hand. "We''re kind of stuck together. Right now, you''re just the King to me. The same way I''m just the little wolf that cheap shotted you across the face a few weeks ago.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "I can''t exactly exin to you who I am because I''m not sure what that even means. Mack said something that really got to me when we left. She called me an idiot for letting you mark me without thinking about it. That Darren had me on a leash and that now you hold it. "What really fucked me up was when she said that we''re the problem and that it will always be that way," she wipes tears from her eyes and looks up at me. "I don''t want to be a problem anymore. All I do is hurt people. Now I feel like I look as ugly as I am on the inside on the outside,"

    Her words leave me speechless. I stare at her not knowing what to say because if we''re being honest. I''m not that great a person either. But the conviction in her statement is admirable. I don''t think I''ve ever heard anyone I know admit that there is something wrong with them or that they''re in anyway the reason why their world is crumbling around them. How strange is it that the wolf who spent herst days making those she believed took everything from her pay believe that she had been the problem all along? How can she say she''s ugly when a work of art doesn''t even begin to describe her?

    "You''re not ugly in the slightest, Little Wolf. Not even the day I had you cleaned up," I reach out taking a strand of her dark graying hair. "If this is how you want to move forward, I''ll give you that. However, it has to stay with us. I''ve been at court a couple of times and cut throat Perry is the ideal person to be dealing with that bat shit insanity,"

    We bothugh.

    "Do you like this?" she asks after a while. She stands up trying to pull her shirt down only for it to bounce back up exposing her little belly button. "I''m a fucking giant,"

    "You''re just slightly taller," Iugh.

    "If it were a slight difference, I wouldn''t have to cut off my PJs when I want out of them," she tugs at her shirt. "I''d also be able

    19:20 149d Now 20

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    mud ked beans he her pyre we dourtyader for us to the it the priwitian Wave

    topster her can''t have hebells than these the into th

    You did not just do that," sheughs.

    "I''m just helping you get out of these ufortably tight clothe Perry''

    Her grin furtis sofi She looks up at me and les eat a heavy thgtail trip the bottom of her duirt shirt and pull her iEDITIE There are so many emotions disyed in her eyes freplicated doesn''t even scratch the solid smooth surface of the we find ourselves in at the moment. However, we''ve been the, well figure this this out somehow, people since day one sai there''s no doubt in my mind that we will get to where we need to be.

    "This bond is fucking me up, Jonas," she whispers leaning into me.

    She rests her head on my chest and wraps her arms around me. I run my fingers through her hair letting her scent surround me. I don''t know when she''s going to take off again and it feels like I''m going to be waking up to an empty bed soon.

    "Me roo," I admit because I''d lost the thought of having a mate long before she came along. "I''m sorry."

    "Why do you keep apologizing to me?" she looks up to meet my stare. I cup her face and lean in to press my lips to hers.

    "You''re not the only person with a false idea of what''s in front off them. Perry. I''m hanging on by a thread here. Being with me is not going to be easy. My instincts scream at me to lock you away from everyone and everything that might be dangerous to you. And right now, that''s you,"

 Bait Novel 139

    Chapter 139.

    Everything is changing too fast for me to try to understand how it is I even got here. The one thing that makes sense is the one thing that shouldn''t. Waking up in the King''s arms is bothforting and confusing as shit.

    My study is covered in boutique boxes and shopping bags. Oz is rerunning her tests, and I am grateful to be distracted by her because unpacking all this to put away was not on my to-do list today.

    "Everything seems to be normal," she says as she puts her things away.

    "Thanks, Oz," I say pulling the King''s bathrobe sleeve down my arm.

    When she''s done putting her tools away, she goes over to the bags on the floor and starts pulling things out. She brings me clothes without me asking and continues to work on something on her tablet once she feels I have what I need. I think it''s safe to say she''s the one who dressed me after I spazzed out in the dance studio.

    "I have a few things for you before I go," she says.

    "Sure," I nod slipping my undies on under my robe.

    "Jonas told me you made a joke about the obsidian sanctums," she chuckles as I slip into a pair of jeans. I pause and nce over at her to see her holding up a pendant.

    "You''re joking. This is what that''s intended for?" Iugh. She grins and sets it down on the table.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "It''s not forever, but it should help keep your abilities leveled for now. I also have this," she holds up a piece of paper as I pull

    a soft hoodie over my head. "It''s your evaluation slip forter today,"

    "Cool," I nod and drop into the seat across from her. It''s at six tonight. A tiny part of me ns on finding a way out of it. The bigger part knows that I''m going to be there early. Just like Crystal always made sure we were punctual. "Uh," she clears her throat.

    "You''ve been mom-ing me since I arrived, Oz. I think you''ve gained the privilege of speaking to me without reservations," I roll my eyes. Her nervous expression softens.

    "Do you mean that?" she smiles.

    "Wholeheartedly. What''s up?"

    "I think it would be beneficial for you and Jonas to take couples counseling,"

    "I expected a shit ton of things toe out of your mouth, but that wasn''t one of them," Iugh.

    "Was it too much? We can set boundaries," she waves her hands defensively.

    "No, it just caught me off guard," Iugh. "If he agrees to them, fuck it. Why not?" I shrug and continue to pull on my socks. "Is there anything new with Mackenzie?" "Perry," she groans. "I can''t just tell you stuff. Patient/Doctor confidentiality,"

    "No one is going to know. Not even Mack herself," I promise.

    "I can''t,"

    "You know," I flip open a shoe box with my big toe. "I

    can order you as the Queen,"

    "You wouldn''t," she sneers. "You would not abuse your power that way. At least not with me,"

    "You''d tell me if it were bad, right?" I ask taking the blood-red Doc Martens from the box. She''s wrong obviously, but I want her to trust me as much as I trust her for some odd reason.

    "If she refused treatment, yes. I would. So far, Kenzie has been very cooperative," she reassures me. "However, I would like to ask you to go see her. She''s very hurt by you sending her away amid a mission. She seems very tired for someone her age," "Yeah," I slip a holster on over my new favorite ck long-sleeve This fabric isfy. "Kenzie was born that way. Even as a baby, she was very aware. Her impatience and anxiety level her constantly. Then there''s her type of wolf," "Type of wolf?"

    "She''s a silverback. Born to protect the pack," I tuck my guns into the holsters. "It happens to high-rank second born in alpha and beta bloodlines. Jake is kind of like Ss. His family has bred some pretty cool betas. And I hear her mom was just as gifted," "That is very insightful information, my Queen. Silverbacks," she says going back to her tablet.

    "Jonas said that gray isn''t a verymon color to Lycans,"

    "He''s the first in many generations," she nods. "Not as unique as you, but still very powerful,"

    "Is there any context on it?"

    "Yes, I am working on getting you both so you can fill in some more shelves," she points back at them. "While I''m at it, would you like anything else?"

    "Yes, I have a list here," I reach for my phone. I share the list of books I think I going to need before I officially begin my studies. "I know it''s a lot, but I don''t like to be blindsided when I start a new project,"

    "I will get my assistant right on this. I believe some of these are already in the library," she grins.

    "You okay?" I ask.

    "I''m just-" she pauses looking up at me. "I don''t know a lot about you, my Queen, but I''m very honored by how serious you''re taking your new position,"

    "One thing you need to know is that I''m a very serious person. I know I cane off as a fuck head, but I wouldn''t have made it this far if I was aplete idiot,"

    "Noted," she nods. "I''ll see youter,"

    I face myputer and set my phone on the desk to call Alpha Tech Lockwood. The phone rings a couple of times before it''s forwarded to voicemail. I growl and leave a polite message asking him to call me back and leave my number. Saying I''m the Lycan Queen out loud is a little bit of mind fuck. How funny is that? Me. The Lycan Queen. I really messed up this time.

 Bait Novel 140

    Lockwood has to call me back, and soon because I want to bring in Allegra as fast as I can. Whatever she''s up to, I hope she''s doing it quickly and that it doesn''t warrant her a death sentence. I''m hoping the King grants her some kind of mercy so she can teach me how to

    sneak around the way she has. Maybe even hand down some sweet secrets.

    "Perry, do you want toe-" The King stops at the door when he catches me ying on myputer. I bet he''s just as weird about me being back here as I am.

    "I would, butter. I have stuff to do," Iugh when he doesn''t finish. He grins, and the tips of his cars get bright red. "What''s up?"

    "Would you like to have breakfast with Annie and me?" he asks.

    "Sure," I stand up, lock my screen, and reach for my phone.

    "Did I hear Oz in here?" he asks as we make our way to the elevator.

    "Yeah, she was checking in on me and asked if I needed anything from the library,"

    "The library"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Research for my sses in the spring. I have a few months to brush up on Lycanthropy basics. Do you have any rmendations?"

    "Do you have a list?" he asks. I hand him my phone. He scrolls through it and then adds some things. "It''s a good start. I''ve been reviewing some of the Lycan Tech funding programs. Think we can talk about it at the dometer?" "You have four meetings today. Will you have time?" maybe bailing me out of psych evaluation around si. Maybe?

    "How do you know that?" he smirks handing my phone back.

    "It is ourpany. It would make sense that I be made aware of what''s going on," I tuck my phone away. "I actually wanted to ask you something that Oz suggested," "Regarding your powers?"

    "No, regarding us. She thinks it''s a good idea for us to take couples counseling,"

    "Perry," he bursts intoughter. "I don''t know what I was expecting, but it wasn''t that,"

    "That was literally my reaction," Iugh. The elevator doors ping and then open when we touchdown on the first floor. Mackenzie and Andromeda stare between us.

    "Good morning," Andromeda beams.

    "Sup," Mackenzie says quietly.

    "Good morning," I greet them both.

    "Ready for school, Annie?" the King throws his arm over Andromeda''s shoulders as we make our way to the dining room.

    "You okay?" I ask Mack, letting them go up ahead. She stops me and lets out a heavy sigh.

    "I can''t just be here resting. I''ll blow my brains out," she doesn''t look up at me.

    Is she asking for my permission? I look her over to see that she''s absolutely serious. What was done to her in thatb must have fucked with her head more than she wants to admit.

    19.29

    C

    "Let''s have breakfast. Tshow you the workspace after. Yeah?" I offer. Her eyes light up and she nods wordlessly.

    Andromeda goes on about a project she''s working on with Bunny. She tells me she''d also like an apprenticeship. To which the King replied we''ll see. Neither of them brought up the former Queen or the progress made in bringing her back. She also asked Mack a couple of questions. Mack gave her lightly worded answers that made Andromeda revert her attention back to the King.

    "I''m going to check in with Dad before we go," Mack says and excuses herself.

    When she walks away, her shoulders are tucked into herself, and her head is bowed low. She even pulls her hoodie over her head before stepping out of the room. She only ate a few bites of her food but drank a lot of coffee.

    "I''ll see you after school, Jo," Andromeda waves at the King. "Bye, Berry Perry,"

    "Laters, Princess," I wave back watching her skip off.

    "Yes," the King catches my attention.

    "Hmm?" I hum turning to face him.

    "On the counseling thing. I''ll have Oz set it up," he nces at the doorway and then looks back at me. "How do we proceed with Mackenzie?"

    "I have to get a feel around her. If I approach directly, she''ll bail. Thest thing I want is to spook her,"

    "So, she''s a mini version of you?" he smirks.

    "Yeah, well you have a little female version of you as well. So, shut up," I roll my eyes.

    ""I''ll meet you

    at the dome at four?"

    "Sure," I agree. We stand in the doorway staring at one another for a moment. Would it be weird if he kissed me goodbye? Do I want that? "Blink," we both step away when Mackenzie pops up out of nowhere. The King mutters an excuse me and walks away shaking his head. "Ugh,"

    "You could have given him a minute to make up his mind," I re at her.

    "I gave you two like eight minutes. You just stood there. Not even blinking. Weird," she waves me off. "What are we doing?"

    She changed into something a little morefortable. A sunflower sun dress paired with an army green denim jacket and her usual ckbat boots. Her socks are yellow, and her hair is up in two messy buns. She''s got her holster on under the jacket. I can see the bats essorizing her revolver under her jacket.

    "Umm, we''re going to the dome. Roy is gonna be there. He''s going to be taking over some of the economic stuff. I just want to make sure he knows what he''s doing," I clear my throat.

    She groans and shifts ufortably, but she doesn''t say anything.

    The new norm is strange. Those who would whisper and gossip about me stand straighter as I walk by. They bow their heads for me. I''m grateful to get on the lift with Mackenzie who hates the attention just as much as I am.

    "Is it always like that for you?" she whispers when I slide the gating open for us at the bottom.

    "It''s different than before. They used to talk shit,"

    "And you let that happen?" she res at me.

    "The situation was different, Mack. I wasn''t the Queen to them. was the King''s ve,"

    "And you''re just going to let that go? Why? It''s not like you want to be Queen of the freaks," she huffs. The dirty res she gets make me growl at them. They avert their res but it''s clear they''re still listening.

    "I''m married and mated to their King. I have a responsibility to do that now. Regardless of how things came to pass. I chose this,"

 Bait Novel 141

    Chapter 141 "Perry-"

    "Mack," I growl stopping her in her tracks. "Nothing you say is going to change anything. In the same way nothing I say about your situation is going to deter you from what you want. Drop it

    "I just don''t understand why you would choose to stay. You were free the moment you woke up after that fuck murdered you," she shouts catching the attention of those passing by. "I asked him to kill me, Kenzie. He fulfilled his obligation to me knowing it was going to fuck his life up. You don''t get toe into my life after leaving for five years to question my choices. I went feral. Completely and I had to fight it off. I would have deteriorated sooner without him.

    "What is it that you would have liked me to do? What do you want? Because I know there is no real concern for me in these little outbursts, Kenz. What do you need from me?"

    She takes a step back. Her eyes are turning ck with rage, and I understand what she needs. It was the one thing I hated Darren for. When she would royally fuck up, he would beat the living shit out of her and keep her from leaving the house for days. She''d learn her lesson and wouldn''t repeat her offense.

    "I-" she stares back at me as tears fill her eyes. Frustratedly, she rubs her face and turns away.

    "I''m not going to fuck you up like Dare used to. That''s not who I am or how you should have ever been treated. You''re an adult now. That''s not how shit works, Kenz. I can get you help," I hate it when she cries. I wrap my arms around her. "can put your skills to work, but you have to want it. I''m sorry I sent you away. I just have a lot going on, right now. So much is changing really fast. Let me figure out how we''re going to move forward. I''m not going anywhere. Just bear with me for a little longer,"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "I feel sick," she cries and spins around to hug me. I tighten my hold on her. "In my head and my body. It''s all wrong,"

    "I know. That''s exactly how I feel," I whisper. I give her a moment topose herself and wipe her tears when she steps back. "We''re going to be okay,"

    "How do you know?"

    "We have to be. We don''t have a lot of options," Iugh.

    "Why are you so tall now? You dyed your hair?"

    "No, it''s the changes from the shift. It''s weird, right?"

    "A little," she looks me over. "But you are kind of hotter,"

    "Thanks. That makes me feel better," I say sarcastically.

    I point out some of my favorite vantage points as we get up to the dome. Her mood shifts when we arrive. She steps to me as Roy''s scent gets clearer as I walk her up the ramp. There he is in all his superficial glory. closer

    Royce Devlyn is a handsome man. His aura screams royalty and so does hismanding voice as he gives orders on the main floor. He pauses when he sees the two of us approaching. He greets me with a polite nod and then his eyesnd on her. I clear my throat, and he looks up at me.

    "Jo told me you would be stopping by sooner orter," he sneers.

    "Well, make yourself useful and show me what you''re working on." I meet his challenge. He grins and as he nods his head toward the mainframe table in the middle of the tform.

    "I didn''t change much. You-have a solid build here," he changes the tabs and pulls up the ns to get more domes up and running.

    Without hesitation, Mackenzie starts moving things around to her liking. He opens his mouth, probably to tell her to stop, but I hold my hand up.

    "Make your way around the ce. Tell me stylus.

    "Everything," she mutters and walks off.

    what needs fixing," I take my tablet from my desk and hand it to her with my

    "Show me the numbers," I urge him. He looks after her and then at me.

    "Is she okay?"

    "She''s fine. I''m going to ask you not to approach her politely. Will you grant me that?"

    "She''s mine," he growls lowly.

    "Thest thing she needs is for you to push her. Mack is different. More than I am and you''ve seen what I can do,"

    "Will you help me with her?" he asks a little defeated.

    I want to tell him to fuck off. I want to do what the king wants to do with me, but it''s not my business how Mack treats her mating. It''s not my ce to have a say even if I want her to have this connection. Even if Roy might be the key to her happiness. I won''t force her to ept this.

    "I can''t promise that. She''s in a dark ce at the moment. I know it''s not fair for me to ask you to be patient. But she''s my sister and what she wants is my priority. Jonas told me about Lycan matingws, and I''ll be sure to inform her of them. You shouldn''t get your hopes up, but if you''re willing to fight for her. I''d start preparing,"

    He stares back at me for a bit before he looks down at the table. He swallows hard enough for me to hear it over the noise around us. That''s a terrible thing to say to someone who has probably longed for this his entire life, but Mackenzie needs room to heal. Time to gather her thoughts and feelings about Hunter before he can pursue anything close to mating with her.

    "As my Queen, I trust your judgment and instincts. You have my respect and trust. So I ask. If you were in my position, would you stand down or would you fight for her?"

    "I''m not and have never been the kind of person that stands down. As her sister, I know exactly the kind of person she is. The good and bad. And I can tell you that the bad outweighs the good most days. But the good in her is worth every headache. She''ll sneak up on you. She''ll never lie. She doesn''t know how. And her truth is bones deep painful. She''s worth the war she wages, Roy.

    "You''re not getting some cute little she-wolf. Intelligence at her level is difficult to manage. More curse than gift. It''s lonely and consuming. If I were in your position, I''d watch her. I''d get to know all the creepy little details. That''s what she does. She then uses it as a weapon against you. Just make sure your arsenal is just as powerful as hers,"

    "Jo is easy to manage," he says bringing up the updated global charts for Obsidian Corp and Lycan Tech. "He''s never had real love or trust. He doesn''t know how to be cared for. Maybe it''s something you can help with,"

    "I know exactly what my King needs. I''ve known it from day one when he asked me to save his people without any regard to his own well-being. Who do you think helped raise your mate? Every bit of information is ammunition. I''m prepared for whates next. He''s not the problem,"

    Then what''s the problem?" he asks.

    "Me," I tap at the screen opening up the ount files to show him what he needs to be doing. "I''m the fucking problem."

 Bait Novel 142

    Mackenzie and I are sitting outside the cafe where Jake is flirting with the twins'' mother. Her expensively manicured hand is on his arm as she tells him about her day. He''s eating her attention up with equal enthusiasm. I call that progress. "Is that the bitch that wants her daughter to suck her other daughter or whatever the fuck Lillies and Bunny''s problem is?" Mack throws her empty coffee cup across the food court into the trash bin. She impresses some of the kids around us. "Yeah," I look down at my phone wondering when the fuck Techs going to call me back. I''m beginning to get impatient and that''s never a good thing.

    My evaluation didn''t go well. I was ready to rip my hair out by the time it was over. The questions asked were intrusive as hell and repetitive. Just because that asshole reworded them doesn''t mean I was going to reword my answer. I''m upset and I don''t know how to deal with it on my own.

    I can still see him writing shit down with his dumb Lightning McQueen pen. Disney adults give me the ick. Morgan''s mother was obsessed with it, and she would dance around the apartment singing princess songs. Her happiness pissed me off. It was fake as shit. "I''m going to the gym. Youing?" I stand up without looking where I''m going and m right into someone. I look up to see one of Jake''s co-workers. What''s his name again?

    "My Queen," he bows his head low.

    "Shit. I know your name. Thomas?"

    "Very close. Thompson," he grins.

    "Right. I am so sorry," I sigh and try to sidestep him. "Uh, carry on or whatever,"

    The tall older manughs and continues to walk toward the cafe without turning his back to me. Mackenzie notices but says nothing as I practically jog up the stairs leading into the courtyard. I stop when I get to the top to find Ss standing there blocking my way. "What?" Lgroan.

    "I saw youing. The King has been looking for you,"

    "He could have rang," I tap my phone. "Or thought it,"

    "It''s important, my Queen," he nces at Mack skeptically.

    "I''ll see youter, P-dawg," she smacks me right in the center of my back. I growl at her making her stumble back enough that she almost falls down the steps. Ss grips her arm.

    "Sorry," I groan reaching for the sting on my back. "Don''t startle me, I don''t have control of myself. I might as well be a pup," "My bad," sheughs and pulls her arm from Ss''s grip. "Laters Prince boy,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "Prince boy?" Ss res at her as she pulls her hoodie over her head.

    "What''s going on, Prince Boy?" Iugh. He grins motioning me to walk ahead toward the castle.

    "We have a bit of a situation," he sighs. "He''s in his study,"

    I groan and powerwalk to the elevator. It makes meugh when I see Ss struggle to keep up. He rolls his eyes as I hit the button on the eighth floor where the King''s study is.

    19:2

    "On a scale from one to ten, how big a situation we talkin''?"

    "Your psychiatrist wants to have you institutionalized," he says lowly. Iugh making him grin. The elevator pings and I can hear the King shouting at someone.

    The two of us walk into the study and immediately the Kinges over to me ring dagger at the Doctor who is standing away from him looking scared as hell.

    "I meant no disrespect, My King," he says patiently. "But the stress and trauma that Her Majesty is currently under is a lot. She is a danger to herself and others. I''m afraid if she continues this way, it''ll darnage what little progress she''s making, "You''re not going to take her from me," the King growls standing his ground in front of me.

    "Jonas," I reach for his hand. We both jump when the skin-to-skin contact sparks, but he doesn''t release me.

    "No," he says gently and turns to face me.

    "He''s not the first person to say that to me,"

    "Perry, I won''t let them take you there. Your reaction to the empty room still ys in the back of my head. No, he takes my hand and grips it tightly. "I won''t let him do that to you. There''s no fucking way,"

    Doctor Szar looks between us defeatedly.

    "Is there a way without me having to go there?" I offer because let''s be real for a moment.

    Yes, I don''t want to do that or therapy, but he''s right. There''s something wrong with me and maybe he can help. There''s no reason for me not to try. I promised Crystal that I would earn my ce by her side and our family''s. No matter how long it takes me to get to them. I''d earn it. And he''s worried about me. About my ce at the King''s side. That much is obvious. I don''t see many people willingly giving the King bad news, this definitely counts as bad news.

    "There will be medication and round-the-clock surveince. You need to be away from others. The King included. What you are going through is not something others can carry for you. You need to do this for yourself in a less chaotic environment. This isn''t about anyone else but you,"

    "Perry, you don''t have to do this. I''m all for you getting help, but not if it means you being afraid without me being there to help you,"

    "I understand what you''re saying,"

    "Please, don''t say but," he pleads.

    "Look at it this way. If I''m with him, I''m not out there putting myself at risk. You cane to see me,"

    ""No, he can''t," Dr. Szar says.

    "You''re not helping, Edward," I growl at him. "Same side,"

    "Edmund," he clears his throat. "Edmundo,"

    "Just let me bring in your mom and I''ll go," I add looking up at the King.

    "I don''t believe it''s that bad," he tries to argue.

    "Jo, I put a scalpel through my throat even after I identified you as my mate when I woke up," tears swell in my eyes. "I can''t even look at myself in the mirror. All I see is that monster. There is something very wrong with me. There always has been. It got a lot of people killed,"

 Bait Novel 143

    instinctual reactions to him. I don''t want them to but they still feel a little filthy to me. Disrespectful somehow.

    The King stares at me with panic in his eyes before he pulls me into a hug. Dammit, he smells amazing. All I want to do now is breathe him in. My impatience from earlier is starting to melt away and my thoughts are a little clearer now. I don''t know how I feel about my "None of that was your fault," he says after a long pause. A pause long enough for me to convince myself to step back, but his hold on me is tight.

    "Maybe it wasn''t, but the fact is that I''m carrying it and it''s really fucking heavy. I infected you once already. I don''t want to do it again," I don''t want to hurt him or be the reason why he turns feral. "Believe it or not, that''s progress," Dr. Szar says.

    "Shut the fuck up, Ed," the King growls. I hate that I think it''s hrious and I''m grateful that I am buried in the King''s chest, so the man doesn''t see meughing at him. "Get the fuck out," "My King," he bows. "My Queen,"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    The poor man all but runs out of the study. Ss finally breaks and bursts intoughter.

    "You have to give the man credit for that. The moment you growled the first time, anyone else would have dropped it,"

    "Get out, Sigh," the King res at him. He smirks at me and steps out shutting the door behind him.

    "Are you okay?" I ask him. He finally releases me and steps back. I wee the space because his expression tells me he''s not. "I''m sorry,"

    "What are you sorry for?" he shakes his head.

    "I don''t know. Stressing you out like this when you should be focused on everything else at court. I honestly feel like me being in the looney bin would help,"

    "Perry, knowing that you''re not okay isn''t going to help me worry less about you," he says frustratedly. It''s a good look on him. I''m d because there''s probably going to be a lot of that going forward.

    "I thought this would make you happy,"

    "It does and it doesn''t,"

    "I get it. I''m not too thrilled about the situation myself," I shrug and drop into the seat across from his desk. "Just the evaluation made me want to stab him with his stupid bright red pen,"

    "I don''t want this," he shakes his head. "You belong here with me. By my side. I need you,"

    His words stir something in my belly and I have to avert my gaze. He''s always taking so much. It''s hard for me to keep up. This is new to me.

    Darren and I grew up together in the same neighborhood around the same predators we were raised with. I knew that when he was being a piece of shit, it was called for. The King''s actions feel like overreactions to me. And thenparing the two seems really fucking dumb. Darren wasn''t a King or Prince. He was just...Darren.

    I''m trying to remain understanding, but a part of me just wants to tell him that he needs just as much help as I do. That''s a conversation that''s not going to blow over well with everything going on.

    "This isn''t about you," I say taking a deep breath. "Jonas, I''m no good like this. I''m the kind of person who is ten steps ahead of the world. I''m always in control of how I do things and right now all I feel is guilt and fear. That''s not a goodbo, 15:48

    When I''m afraid, I do things I don''t mean to.

    45

    "I''m really good at fucking up. I look at you and I see how bad I made things for you. What I did would have been terrible if

    shit. I did it to my mate. I did it to I had stayed dead. I don''t want to move forward with you if I''m going to keep destrovin Mackenzie and Jake. I did it to myself. I can''t do it to you too. I wouldn''t be able to live with myself. I''m barely living with it now,"

    "I don''t understand where all of this ising from. I consented to all of it the same way you did. How are you the only one at fault?" he kneels next to me. I smile shaking my head.

    "I''m not, Jonas. You''re just too distracted to see it. You have a purpose. A purpose great enough to kill for. That''s what I want,"

    "I can give you that,"

    "You already have," I finally look at him. "I just want to do it right. No more lies. No more sneaking around. We''re both so fucked. I want more than what we''re being forced to endure. For both of us. For those of us left. Mack, Jake, Annie. They need us to be better. I can''t help them if I don''t help myself first

    "You picked a hell of a time to grow a conscience," he groans.

    "I know. It''s funny," I flick his ear. He snaps his teeth at me barely missing when I pull away.

    "James is going to be in the same institution," he says after a while. "My mom might join when youe back,"

    "This just gets better and better," I sigh. He stands up to go around the desk. When he goes to say something, my phone throat to rings. I immediately scramble for it. "It''s him," I hold it up to show him the unregistered number and clear my answer. "Perry," "Aren''t you supposed to be fucking dead?" Alpha Tech answers. You rang me?"

    "Yes, to both questions," I roll my eyes. Who the fuck answers the phone like that? "Good afternoon, Tech,"

    0

 Bait Novel 144

    Chapter 14.4

    Ah. Perry Phurry could never. I suddenly feel all giddy.

    "What do you want, little girl?" he growls. The King looks up not liking his tone.

    "Don''t," I try to pull away when he lunges over the desk to take the phone. "Jonas,"

    "Is that how you speak to your superiors?" the King demands as soon as he takes the phone. "Your King wouldn''t deny me your head. Just ask Calvin Redwood,"

    "Jonas," I rip the phone out of his hand. "That was uncalled for. We''re supposed to be making friends. We promised, the Alpha King,"

    "Put it on speaker, Pernicious," he growls.

    I roll my eyes and do ask he asks. I set the phone between us as he goes around to sit down. Don''tugh, Perry. Do not reward his behavior, but holy shit. I want to. I probably will after the talk he promised we''d have

    "Please, tell me you didn''t hang up," I say into the phone after taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly to keep theughter out of my voice.

    "What can I help you with, Lycan Queen?" Alpha Tech says tightly.

    The satisfied grin on the King''s face has me trying not tough at Lockwood that much more. How ironic is it that the man who destroyed my life has to ept that I am no longer beneath the soles of his shit-kickers? Ten points for team Nelson, Daddy.

    "I would like to politely ask your permission to enter the city so we can meet face-to-face," I answer after attempting to calm myself.

    "I am no longer alpha of the city, Perry. You know that," he huffs. I love the way he said my name like it''s a really bad slur.

    "Right, but she''s your daughter and I''m not there to see her. I need to speak with you. Directly,"

    "When?"

    "Can we do it tomorrow at noon? You pick the ce. Somewhere not too public. I''m supposed to be dead,"

    "And this can''t be said over the phone?"

    "No, sir. You do not want your family to find out about this from my mouth. I know I wouldn''t,"

    "What is that supposed to mean, Nelson?"

    "It means you''re going to go through something with your family after I go in and make a request for the information I have. Do you understand what a sit-down is? Is this your first time?"

    "I should have fucking killed you when I had the chance," he growls. "Fine. Tomorrow at noon. I''ll send you a location. If you''rete, I will revoke your wee into Lockwood City and my wolves will hunt you down," "Thanks, man. I appreciate you," I smile and I get hung up on in return.

    "What did you do to him?" the Kingughs.

    "Nothing. My dad found Eloise when she had been missing for two years. Luna Bessa and my dad had dated for a while before she met him. Tech hated that his mate had to call an outsider to do what he couldn''t. @K 68% Chapter 144

    "When I was two, his sister used my dad of killing her mate, Peter Jamerson. Alpha Tech had always wanted a reason to kill my dad, but my dad was under the King''s protection. What he did was much worse. He blew my dad''s cover by putting a two-million-dor bounty on his head.

    "His beta broke into the Alpha King''s military archives and released his profile. That''s why my dad was killed. He was a knight of the realm and the Lockwoods served him up to all of the Alpha King''s enemies. Alpha King Savage protected my family as best he could until there was just me," "Why would you try to be civil with these people?"

    "Because I know what being a mate is. I also know that it isn''t smart to pick a fight with them. Lots of people love this family. Especially now that Eloise is Alpha. Also, I might be the Queen now, but I was born a beta. Even if I am the swiftest killer in the room. They are the alphas and they''re really fucking good at it. It''s hard to hate them,"

    "Would you like me to join you?"

    "And risk him calling the crazy one? No, thank you. Me and the twins have got this one. In and out. We''ll be back by four

    tomorrow,"

    "You really believe that?" he scoffs.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "Your mom isn''t stupid enough to fight me or start a war between us and Lockwood City. She knows we''d level every one to get to her. Also, I think I understand why Eloise is the way she is now. Her mom is half Lycan. Like Mackenzie. It looks like we''re going to have to make nice with the Triads so we can have Dr. Miller look at her,"

    "You''re worried about her,"

    "I am. Bet you fifty bucks I can convince her to join me in the looney bin so I can have backup against your mom and brother,"

    "I''m kind of wondering if I can ask Ed if he can modify a few things in there," he grins tapping my forehead.

    "That''s fucking evil. Please, don''t let him make me boring," Iugh.

    "I doubt that even getting lobotomized could change that. Cause then hey, you''re the girl that was so unhinged she needed a lobotomy to chill out,"

    "Is that going to happen to me?" I sit up. "Is that part of the treatment? Because then the answer is no. My King needs me to help him with some shit. I can''t be institutionalized. I''m the Queen for fuck''s sake,"

    "Rx," heughs. "That''s never been a thing for us. We heal too quickly,"

    "Dammit, I was warming up to the idea. I wonder what it feels like to be happy all the time. It doesn''t sound very pleasant though. I''m weighing my options in case it is an option,"

    The King sits back in his chair and just stares at me.

    "What?" I ask stupidly.

    "Other people can see you, right? I''m not going crazy am I?" he breathes out almost in relief.

    "Would it matter? Then you''d be the mad King. Bitchin,"

    His asking that is concerning, but it''s also kind of ttering. I would hate me. I do hate me. He should be angry at me. I''m

    angry at me.

    "No one says that anymore," he smiles. "What am I supposed to do without you saying dumb shit like that while you''re getting better?" 15:48 Thu, Nov 21 Bu.

    TOX 68%

    "I don''t know. Think of better pickup lines," I suggest.

    "I''d like your insight on something Rick said,"

    "Rick? You''re on cute pet names with the Alpha King? Cute," Iugh. He rolls his eyes. "Are you talking about Prop eighteen for the orphanage funds?"

    "Are we sure other people can see you? How did you know that?"

    "I suggested it thest time we partied together. I wrote the first draft on a napkin with a tennis scoring pencil,"

    "He did not tell me that," he reaches for the file in a drawer behind his desk.

    The light from theputer sets a reddish tint over his suit. Has it always been this dark in here or is the Lycan vision? I look around to take in the room. My eyes rarely take in the colors and details of my surroundings. Everything seems so vibrant. Is that because I''m no longer holding back a raging wolf? My sensory is very active and it''s starting to get to me.

    "What did he say?"

    "He wants me to take over the entire thing. To full

 Bait Novel 145

    Alpha Tech Lockwood used to be the most feared alpha in the Sites. He built Lockwood City from the ground up to the very top of the tower where his eldest daughter, Alpha Eloise Lockwood, was kept after she shifted for the first time. Feral.

    It''s hard to decide who is better known. The savage that is the father or the primitive that is the daughter. I can''t believe he agreed to meet with me. I guess it pays to be a ghost and the most popr topic in the media worldwide. You''d think I''d be smart enough to stay in the hole Lycans have been hiding in since the dawn of time.

    He''s not very fond of me. In fact, the man actually hates me for putting him on his ass a couple of years ago when I was trailing a deserter. It wasn''t easy and if his beta hadn''t shown up, he probably would have ended me. I baited him to do it and like many others before and after him. He failed. I''m a little more confident now that I''m a Lycan. My odds are a little more favorable. The King didn''t need to know that.

    Alpha Tech is a big burly man. Years of wolf wars and fending off rogues have kept him beautiful. For an old guy. I want to say he''s pushing sixty, but he looks like one of the models on the cover of some age-gap mafia guy nov. From the peppered magnificently groomed beard to the surly gunmetal blue eyes.

    He''s staring at me with them just like everyone else who thinks I''m dead one second and then I pass right beside them the next. It''s kind of funny. At least, that''s what it''s going to be for a while. Surprise bitch.

    The ce he chose for us to meet is both private and very public. Downtown Lockwood is not what I remember it being. An Alpha of Tech''s prestige wouldn''t be caught dead on this side of the city much less having brunch in one of its restaurants.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "I can''t believe some idiot went and made you an even worse monster than you were born to be," he growls when the waiter walks away with our order.

    "It''s good to see you too, Tech," "Alpha Tech to you," he sneers.

    "Only if you call me your grace," I reach for my water to take a sip. He doesn''t like that. Not very many alphas will, but I know I can get under this one''s skin and live to tell the tale. Despite his raging demeanor, he''s a fucking boy scout. It''s why the Alpha King favors his family.

    "Over my dead body," he sneers. "What do you want? What are you doing here?"

    "I''m looking for mother-inw,"

    my

    "She''s not in my city," he huffs. "I''d know if a fucking Lycan was here without my daughter''s authority,"

    "I know she''s not here,"

    "Pernicious," he growls a warning.

    "If you would stop interrupting me, I could get to the fucking point," I growl back. Bunny clears her throat from behind me and I take a deep breath. I blow it out slowly and clear my throat. Maybe a more direct approach would be better. "Archibald-" 0000000000000000

    "No," he tosses his napkin cloth on the table and goes to stand. Lillies is blocking his exit before he can straighten his back.

    "Sit. Your. Old. Ass. Down," I say through my teeth. "I called because this is important for you and for me. If you''re done with your little self-righteous bullshit, I''d like to have a conversation with you that won''t end in my mate burning down your city because of your father- inw''s stupidity,"

    His eyes are glowing red. He looks between me and Lillies and then takes a seat. I look around to make sure we haven''t caused a scene yet. No one seems to be paying us any mind. I give him a moment topose himself. Chapter 145

    The waiteres back and happily serve this alplin and then me Hook down at my BIT and suddenly a strange urge to make sure nothing is wrong with ites over me. Inspect it ind put it back together before taking a bite. What did he do

    It''s not my ce to give you that information,

    Can you at least tell me why you think he has your Mother-inw?"

    "Yes, I hold my hand out so Bunny can hand me a paper copy of my trace. How lucky was I that she called while I was there? 1 for sure thought I was going to have to wait for a while. "Sherwood Oaks. That''s the name of thendline she was using? "My mate''s father would never cheat on his mate," he shakes his head without even ncing at the paper. "What''s the connection?"

    "It''s not my ce to give you that information. All I want is your permission to get her out. I could have just gone in there, but I know how sensitive Eloise is. I also don''t want this to be a scandal between your family and mine. It would also be great if you kept seeing me to yourself,"

    "You have a lot of nerveing into my City to demand anything,"

    "I''m not demanding. Not yet. I''m asking you politely. A monarch to an alpha,"

    "Monarch," he scoffs. "Not even your King takes you seriously enough to be his Queen. Look at you, doing the footwork. That''s not a Queen''s job. But even that boy understands that you''re not good for anything other than this. Just like your useless father,"

    "My father is the only reason you have Eloise at your side. Your mate was smart enough to make the right call. You can hate me all you want. Say all the things we both know are true, but it doesn''t change a got damn thing.

    "So, I''m going to ask you one more time. Respectfully, allow me to drag my mother-inw out from Sherwood or I''m goin to call the King and he''s going toe down here. He''s not going to ask. That''s why he sent me," "Why is she here, Pernicious? Tell me it''s not your ce again and I walk,"

    "Your threats are cute. You''re not going anywhere,"

    "Tell me,"

    "Ally Prince is Archie''s true mate. She rejected him because she had been already promised to the former Lycan King. It''s Lycanw. She''s hiding in Sherwood because she fucked up big time and the King wants her home. Where she belongs," The man stares at me for a while before he reaches for his orange juice.

    "Take her. Immediately. Before my mate finds her there. I''ll let Bes kill her if she finds her," he growls angrily.

    It''s one thing for him to insult me but he has no right to say a single thing about the former Lycan Queen. Allegra isn''t on of us and for him to threaten her in any way is an act of war. Even if it is just me he''s speaking to.

    "If he had asked toe get her a couple of days before we were coronated, I would have called your mate directly to tell her the good news about her dear parents. She would have shown up and the former Lycan Queen would have ripped her shreds.

    a

    "You would then know what it would feel like to not only have failed your sweet little Eloise but your pathetic excuse of mate. And I would have watched as her son burned your City to the ground after you tried to retaliate. He would have gift you to me to do as I please. He''s very good at gift-giving.

    "I''m going to remember every word you said to me here today, Tech," I stand up. "And the food here is fucking garbage," I take a drink of water and wash out my mouth before spitting it on the table. "Don''t you ever threaten anyone in my famil

 Bait Novel 146

    Why would you let him disrespect you like that?" Lillies acks and immediately hops on her phone

    Who the fuck is she talking to all day like that? Is it Jordan I hope not. He''s supposed to be one of the best hunters as my shadow. "Because I''ve done far worse. What I said to him is going to stay with him for a while. He''s Luna Bes''s problem now. I''m already over it."

    A group of wolves stalk us until we leave the city borders. My maid goes back to the Nelson Knights Foundation project. Ther terms and conditions are more than satisfactory. Yet, the King found a few problems he wants to be changed before he signs off on it. He informed me that he wants Jake to run the whole thing. I can''t think of anyone better. Except maybe Vincent Wolfe, but he''s got enough problems if he''s calling Violet back to Magique City.

    "You''ve been quiet," Lillies says after a while. I nce over to her in the passenger seat.

    "Am I not always?"

    "Not like this." Bunny squeezes between the seats.

    "Seat belt," I growl at her. "I''m just thinking,"

    "Let us think with you," Lillies suggests.

    Im going to be put in the psych-ward when we return," I answer truthfully. The two of them shift ufortably.

    "The King knows?" Bunny asks.

    "Yeah, he''s not too happy about it but ultimately it was my decision,"

    "For how long?" Bunny asks.

    "I don''t know. I haven''t worked out the details. I asked for some time to bring Allegra back,"

    "Are you sure that''s the right choice?" Lillies asks.

    "I don''t know what the right choice is. I''m all over the ce. Maybe a change in pace will help clear the fog. I just need some time to process. To think. Outside of everything that makes me "Crazy?" Bunny leans closer to see me smile.

    "Yes, Bunny. I might be crazy,"

    "Crazy people don''t know they''re crazy. So, there''s the upside. You''re just overwhelmed. It''ll be fine," Lillies takes my hand. "I don''t see why locking down the Local Lunatic is a bad idea. We can keep it as a weapon for assholes like Tech," Bunny adds. "Thanks, guys. Jonas thinks it''s a bad idea,"

    "Given everything you guys have literally killed yourselves for, I can see why. He''s be dependent on your opinion and work ethic. Might be the only thing you two have inmon. You''re both driven by money, politics, and results,"

    "I kind of love that," I admit. "I just don''t want it to be the only thing we have,"

    "Sex isn''t enough? I heard you guys are very-" I growl cutting Bunny off.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The two of them giggle identically and it freaks me out. It''s like having a devil and an angel on my shoulders. Except these

    are real and apparentlyngus

    "No, sex is not enough. At least not for the. It was always on the Bible. No strings attached,

    Well attach them, Lillies sports.

    "How am I supposed to attach strings to him when I haven''t severed the ones attached to my dead mate?" I scoff.

    "Well, for starters. Darren is dead. Maybe wrap your mind around the fact that he''s nevering back, Bunny says and receives a smack to the forehead from her sister. I growl at the two of them when they begin to y fight. At least, I hope they were yfighting, "I quite literally devoted my life to making as many people as I could miserable for his death. If I could let him go, I would have done it already."

    "You didn''t have a reason to," Bunny sighs. I hear the seatbelt click. "Maybe you''ll never love Jo like that, but it doesn''t mean you can''t love him. From the bracelet, it''s obvious that the King mindful of your feelings. What do you people call thing?" "Common courtesy," Lilliesughs.

    "Right. It''smon courtesy for you to do the same. Married, marked, mated. There''s no way out of this, Your Majesty. There''s nothing wrong with letting him in,"

    That''s the problem, isn''t it? I let him in. I just didn''t think I''d live long enough to realize what it is I had done. Letting things go has never been part of who I am. I sure as fuck never once considered letting Darren go. In life or in death. He was mine and I was his. That''s all I have ever known.

    But the universe has spoken and I''m going to have to ept this moving forward. I just can''t get the image of him and the little boy he was teaching how to y on aptop in the middle of the front yard he curated himself for that exact purpose. It was just their back profiles, but my heart sank when I saw them and the guilt I feel is so real that I feel like I''m suffocating. I see them every time I shut my eyes.

    Sherwood Oaks is one of the funniest ces in the world to me. It''s where assholes like Tech move to when they retire. It''s basically Miami but without the Latino werewolves tearing shit up. I wonder if I''m allowed to request a honeymoon because I think the King would love to go down there to party with "Rick"

    "See, he quiet," Lillies interrupts my train of thought.

    "Are you worried about lobotomy? It doesn''t work on us," Bunny adds.

    "Yeah, the king beat you to that one," Iugh as I take the exit down to Sherwood. Lillies looks back at Bunny and then she

    turns to me.

    "You guys are weird," she proims.

    "You have to have been there, but be d you

    "Why?"

    weren''t,"

    "Because he was he mean to the Tech and I rewarded him for it. Vigorously,"

    The two of them both giggle like school girls as I stop at the massive gatedmunity made up of retired hellraisers who can probably still fuck shit up like the wild animals that they are. I take my new ID out of my back pocket and offer it to the guard at the front gate he looks it over and nods. "Take a right, here," he points at the first street. "Last house of the cauldesac. Can''t miss it. It''s the biggest house in themunity,"

    "Thanks, Tanner," I say reading his name tag. He gives me a confused look.

    Do we know each other

    "Fucking dogs. Bunny says from the back seatughing.

    Your name tag. I point at it. He looks down and opens his mou to say something but then just steps back and opens the gate

    ''Don''t call him that. He''s probably straight out of training. It takes a minute to get back into the groove of things," I defend him. He looks up at me embarrassed. "Bye Tanner,"

 Bait Novel 147

    45

    "Your majesty," Tanner says courtly as I pull forward. "I''m a fucking idiot," he whispers to himself. "Wow,"

    The three of usugh. If this mother fucker has the biggest house in themunity it has to be disgustingly big because the other houses are insane. The mansions are all very modern with a very Scandinavian-like build. "What. The. Fuck." I say to myself as I take in my surroundings. There are cars worth millions just casually parked in the driveways. I hit the brakes when I see it. The King''s fucking spaceship.

    "What is happening?"

    "That''s Jonas''s car," I point at it.

    "Was. He sold it for your cor," Lillies reminds me. I reach over to open the glovepartment by her knees. Inside is the box with the said cor in it.

    "I think this is worth way more than that stupid fucking car. Stay here," I pull it out and jump out of the G-Wagon.

    "Perry," Bunny growls.

    I run up to the front door and push the ringer rapidly. Which made no sense. The ringer ys Debussy. Why does that make me upset? The door is ripped open by the biggest wolf I''ve ever seen in my life. I step back looking up at him. "What?" he says looking me over. "You''re a Lycan,"

    "I am. I was just wondering who''s car that is in your driveway,"

    "Mine," he leans forward to take a look at it.

    "You fit in there?" Iugh and then take it back because he''s dangerously close.

    "That''s not why I bought it. Your King sold it to me for a stupid fucking reason and I''d like to keep it to remind him of it,"

    "This is the stupid fucking reason," I hold the box up and open it for him. "I''d like to trade you for it,"

    "You''re the wolf bait," he smirks. "Wolves finally infiltrated that shit show, huh? Good for you, little wolf," he steps back closing the door and for a second I think it''s going to stay that way. The door opens back up and he tosses me the stupid gold fob. "You like him?" "Yeah, he''s cool," I nod. He smiles.

    "Make sure you do right by the wolves they branded their ves. Keep it. I don''t need that thing," he waves me off.

    "I''m sorry.

    I didn''t catch your name,"

    "Knightly," he steps back. I ce my hand on the door.

    "The Alpha Knightly? The Feral One? Father of the greatest metal band lead singer in modern history?"

    "No, kid. That''s my son," he smiles. "And my grandson,"

    "Thank you, Alpha Knightly," I bow formally.

    "Take care of yourself, Little Wolf. Keep her clean," he motions the car and then shuts the door.

    "That was a very cool interaction. Holy shit," I say to myself and skip over to the spaceship. "Dude. Where the fuck have you been? The King misses you, stupid,"

    0

    I look up at the twins and point at the car with the key fob.

    "Did you just get that back for freezies?" Bunny shouts. ""Yeah," Iugh.

    "This bitch," she says looking back at her sister.

    477

    1 get in the car to find that the King''s scent still lingers. That old fart has probably been in here a handful of times because his scent is barely there. The engine roars to life when I ce the key in the center console.

    That just happened to us. How cool is that? The King is going to love this and I''m hoping it distracts him from focusing on his lying bitch of a mother being back and imprisoned for treason against the former and present Lycan Kings.

    I back out of the driveway and head down the street with Lillies following behind me. The street curves and behind the house at the end of the block is the craziest house, mansion, ss box, thing I''ve ever seen in my life.

    The entire building is made of dragon me ss. The best kind of ss needed for mirco-bots. He can probably change the shape of his house when he pleases. At the moment, it looks like an enormous royal blue ss tissue box. That is the coolest thing ever. If I am allowed I want to look it up while I''m being "helped".

    I pull up to the middle of the curved sidewalk and turn the car around so it''ll be faster to get the hell out of here. Thest thing I need is for the creator of Quick Howl toe after me and me having to kick his ass. I''ll do it, but if it can be avoided let''s not do that. Lillies does the same while Bunny hops over to me with the megaphone I insisted on bringing with me. I press the button and hold it up to my mouth.

    "I know you''re here. Alpha Tech has permitted me toe get you. Please, please, don''t make mee in there to drag you out. I am fully prepared for it, I just don''t want to disrespect you like that," I call out.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    "You''re supposed to be dead," her voicees out of the speaker in the door camera. I press the horn again.

    "I know. Crazy, huh? If you''re nice to me, we can catch up on the ride back. I won''t drug you,"

    "Who else is here?" she says with an audible sigh.

    "The twins but they''re riding in the big car where I''ll throw you if you make me drug you,"

    "Think the big car will fit my things?"

    "You have things? Can''t you have them shipped? You want me to work extra?"

    "Yes," she says annoyed. "I''ming out. Come get my things, girls,"

    "Aww, man," Bunny groans. "You should drug her. I better not break my nails, Perry,"

 Bait Novel 148

    0

    3

    The Queen was gone a handful of days. How the fuck did she acquire all of this in just five days? I check each trunk and bag that''s being loaded for the twins'' safety. Thest thing I need is for something in here to explode. How would I even exin that to Jordan?

    I hold up my special maic gloves for Alegra. She snatches them from my hand and I brace them around her wrists with my thumbprint once she''s slipped them on. "What the fuck is this?" she asks.

    "Well, believe it or not. You are not the first homie I am sent to hunt," I open the passenger door for her and shut the door once she''s secured. I go around staring back at Archibald. I want to fan girl, but I have to keep this professional. This is a mission. "If you in any way act up. I press this," I hold up the keychain I hung on my bracelet. "Those mas will do anything in their power to stick to one another,"

    "Let me see," she holds her hands. I press the button. She gasps when they m shut. "That is fucking cool,"

    "Thanks. I actually made them for the Rogue King. If your son lets me, I''ll put a base on the bumper of all our cars. I call that the drive-thru sequence," I release them and she sits back.

    "You''re a menace," sheughs and reaches to hug me.

    "You''re in a lot of trouble," I say when she sits back to put her seatbelt on.

    The twins drive up ahead when I give them a thumbs up. We drew a crowd. The neighbors are all making sure their rich buddy is all right. I don''t see any phones but who''s to say they didn''t catch me on camera?

    "How did you find me?" she asks calmly.

    "I didn''t. You led me to you. Although, I called it from the get go. You''re predictable,"

    "Fuck you," she huffs. "What do you mean I led you to me?"

    "I was in your parent''s house when you called them. I had just uploaded some spyware into their mainframe. Maybe tell them that it''s not a good idea to do everything from inside their very un-secure study and that their pack grounds are wide open," "Who would attack Lycans?" she scoffs.

    "Everyone. Literally everyone. Especially now that the King is going public," I re at her.

    "Why did youe in this thing?" she asks annoyed. After I went out of my way to make herfortable despite her position.

    "I actually just got it back. The King sold it to Alpha Knightly Senior for the cor he had put on me. He let me have it,"

    "Alpha Knightly? The biggest asshole on the West Coast?"

    "His dad. He lived right down the block from you for the past four or five days," I correct.

    "I thought that sadist was dead," she says gently. "You know, they''re very mortal positive on that side of the states,"

    "I know. They control the media and news. They also make it very difficult for humans to travel and when they do, a wolf is always with them. Poor suckers don''t know they''re ves,"

    "The perfect utopia. So, care to exin how the fuck you''re still alive?"

    "Beats me. I''m one of you things now," I release my ws. "Hey, worked this time,"

    47%

    "Because you''re in a good mood," she smiles. "That''s all this is. The more epting you are of your natural instincts. The better you function as a Lycan,"

    "Thanks for the tip. Your son forced me to shift,"

    "That''s how we did it with him," she says as if it''s not a big deal.

    It bothers me and for a moment, I consider using the dart in the side pocket of my cargos. Just for a fleeting moment. Keep your hands busy, Perry. One hand on the steering wheel the other one shifter. No room to shoot her with a sleepy time dart. However, getting her after James was treated with the same courtesy would be satisfying.

    "What you did to Jo and James was fucked up," I say after a long pause.

    "I don''t expect you to understand," she crosses her arms over her chest.

    "No, I get it. I don''t agree with you giving them both what they wanted, but your best option would have been not letting either have her. It''s a lesson we''re taught young where I''m from,

    "I know that," she growls lowly. "And so did their father,"

    "Jonas would have known what she did when the baby was born. What do you think Jonas would have done then?"

    "Jonas is a good man," she shrugs. "He would have handed her over baby and all. James still would have wanted to kill him for taking her in the first ce,"

    "There is a sharing option, I hear,"

    "Jonas isn''t the sharing type. James wouldn''t have cared as long as Eve was happy,"

    "Yeah, Jonas doesn''t like when you touch his stuff. Learned that the hard way," I shake my head remembering the sound he made when I tried to take his water paints. Sheughs. It''s genuine. "You don''t seem that upset,"

    "I never was. I was more afraid of what he was going to do when I confirmed his suspicions. I me you for that. He wasn''t that vignt before. He trusted everyone around him,"

    "You''re wee. That''s not a good quality for the King to have,"

    "We thought you were dead. I''d never seen him so empty. Not even when Evangeline died. Is he alright?"

    "No, he''s not. Neither of us are. Annie is a vengeful mess. It looks like the council treaty is about to expire. And the alpha of Magique is about to return. It''s been an eventful five days," I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. It''s been a long first week on the job. James? Have you gone to see him?"

    "Yeah, Anne''s always been vicious. And James? Have

    "And piss your son off more? No, thank you. He''s hanging on by a thread. A very Perry strong thread, but he''s moving forward with grace,"

    "You''re what? Half wolf, half lycan now?"

    "No, I''m full-blooded Lycan. Oz has been running diagnostics since I started healing in my casket,"

    "You turned?" she huffs humorously. "We have been trying for generations. What makes you so different?"

    "Maybe because I was marked by a half lycan before. Maybe because it was your son''s bite. We don''t know, but here I am. Creepier than ever," Mon,

    Chanter 148

    "And you''re pelt? Is it gray like Jo''s?" she asks. I shake my head. "Alpha then?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "White," I hold my hair up to show her how much it''s changed.

    "White?" she turns her whole body to face me. "White?"

    "White," I confirm.

    "What?" she says under her breath with disbelief. "Does the council know?"

    47%

    "No one knows. The funeral arrangements went on as nned. I''ve been held up in the castle with Jonas since visiting your parents. The vigers have been put on a no-post or gossip order. He wants to see who in the council will strike first," "The vampire," she clears her throat. "He''s going to get himself killed. That little hybrid bitch is going to take the covens by force. She scares me,"

    vion,

 Bait Novel 149

    I agree. I know she''s good at what she does. The maniptive snake that she is. We''re cut out for this. Groomed into it. Jonas is good at the logistics, but he doesn''t understand fighting. He''s never had to do it outside of training and believe me when I say, it''s never the

    same thing.

    Killing someone with your bare hands, and giving into the animal side we as a society are steered away from does something to us. Every single time. We say it gets easier, but the truth is that it doesn''t. What it steals just bes easier and easier to live without. I was never jealous of anyone in the position I find myself in, because truth be told. I was the weapon. The Falcon, the Alpha King, and my superiors were the ones who gave the order with no room for failure.

    "He could use you, right now. Fuck, I knew you did something fucking dumb from the start, but I didn''t think it would be this. Not until Jonas told me he suspected that Sofie wasn''t his after everything went down. Even if Sofie was his, I would have killed you in his ce," "Why aren''t you?" she asks. I look over at her to see she''s serious.

    "I''ve taken enough from him. I see it in the way he looks at everyone suspiciously. He snaps very Perry-like. I mean this is what I had intended. I wasn''t supposed to be here to have his back. It kind of hurts seeing that side of him," "Someone had to teach him, Perry. You''ve worked for the Kings. You know what it''s like for us. How we all are,"

    "Yes, but I''m going to miss soft-hearted Jonas. His fears are getting worse. I can feel it no matter how far or how close we are. It''s like his soul is pulsing. I''m just a stupid little girl. How the fuck am I supposed to deal with all of this?"

    I pull over feeling everything spin. I stumble as soon as my feet are on solid ground and everything I had for breakfastes up. Why the hell did I say that out loud? To Alegra Prince of all people.

    "Maybe it feels like he''s pulsing because you''re just as scared as he is," shees around with the water bottle I''m pretty sure was Alpha Knightly''s.

    "Of course, I''m scared. A few months ago, I was feral and on the verge ofmitting a mass shooting in the middle of a pack event. And now I''m mateless, sonless, and wolfless. Oh, and the Queen of all Lycans. I turn into a literal nightmare. I can keep going on and on. For at least twenty minutes,"

    "Perry," she says gently.

    "We should catch up to the twins," my phone rings just as I finish swishing water in my mouth. I spit and put on speaker. "I''m going. I got a little car sick,"

    ""You good?" Lillies asks.

    "Yeah, I''m fine," I hang up and get back in the car.

    "I can drive,"

    "Yeah, that''s not going to happen. Jonas would kill me," I start the car and continue. The dashboard lights up with the name King Mouth Breather on the center screen. I hit the green button. "Hello?"

    "I felt your anger. You okay?" he answers worriedly.

    "Yeah, I was just arguing with your mother. Say hello,"

    "Pass. Are you okay? She didn''t try to hurt

    you did she?"

    "Of course, not,"

    "What''s your ETA?"

    "An hour,"

    "Be careful. Don''t take your eyes off her. She can be sneaky,"

    "On it," I agree. I nce over at her to see her with her head low. He hangs up without adding anything else. I tip her chin and she looks over at me. "Queen''s don''t do that. You made a choice. The only way to get it all back is by owning up to it," "I figured I''d be dead by the time he realized,"

    "Me too. Thought I''d be dead. I knew he would have pieced it together after I advised him to kill you before you fucked up Andromeda too,"

    "That was a very cold greeting," she says after almost thirty minutes.

    "What?"

    "The phone call. Not your usual banter,"

    "I tried to kill myself when I woke up. I panicked. He''s put up walls,"

    "Shit," she sinks into the seat.

    "Yeah, it''s hard for him to let me out of his sight. I''m hoping us being institutionalized when we get back will give him a little bit of relief so he can keep working,"

    "Why would you need reformation?"

    "I don''t. I''m just fucking crazy,"

    "You''re going in willingly? I don''t hate it, but do you think it''s wise to leave Jo out in the open like that?"

    "He''s not out in the open, okay? Jake and Mack will back him up to theirst breath. So would Jordan and Ss. He has people he can trust. People I trust. Don''t worry about him," oh, sweet mother moon, did she strike a nerve? She did. Holy

    crap.

    "Why are you going in?" thank goodness she didn''t push it.

    "You''re kidding right?"

    "I''ve been institutionalized a couple of times myself. All it does is embarrass you and your family,"

    "Well, it wouldn''t be a first. I am quite literally a meme,"

    Sheughs again. Alegra always seemed cold to me. Elsa. But her guard is down. Completely. There''s a heavy sadness in her eyes. Maybe she''s regretting rejecting Archie? Maybe because she''s given up on the thought of getting away with treason?

    Who are we kidding? She''s getting away with it. The King is upset now, but as soon as he sees her, he''s gonna cave. He''s a big baby like that. I love that about him. He''s forgiving. I honestly, don''t understand it. Saying something insane and then trying to take it back does. I mean I do it constantly, but she quite literally hurt her entire family in the worst kind of way. Death. Death to everything she represents. That''s always been the Nelson way. That''s probably why I''m thest one left.

    There''s an entire armada of Lycans when we arrive. The King is exiting the castle as I pull up. He stops and stares down at the car. I hit the maize button as soon as Alegra removed her seatbelt. She res at me before I get out. "Nound it," I say as he approaches. "Alpha Knightly gave it to me

    "Did you check it for bombs?" he growls. That sweet old marshmallow isn''t going to stoop that low. He''s a Knightly.

    18.06 Mon,

    25N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    2000, 47

    "No," I shake my head. "He was a very sweet old man,"

    "What the fuck? Check this for explosives," he growls pulling me away from the car.

    "It''s clear," Jordan snorts as he and two other guards scan it with some kind of baton.

    "Perry," he grabs both my arms. "Are you out of your mind? He could have killed you,"

    "Jonas. He would never. That was Alpha Charles Knightly. If he wanted to kill me or you, he''d square up. The Knightlys were diators once upon a time. They''re also insanely controlling. If you''ve ever watched any action movie worth watching, it''s a Knightly Production," He leans back to push my hair back with both his hands.

    "Perry, promise me you''re going to be more careful," he says in his serious voice.

    "I promise," I say a little freaked out.

    He pulls me into him and kisses the top of my head before he orders the guards to get his mom to the tower. He doesn''t even look at her as she''s taken away and she doesn''t try to say anything to him.

    "Laters, Ally," I call after her and Ss. Heughs when she nces back at me with the angriest re she can muster.

    "You got my spaceship back," he smiles.

    "Do you love it?"

    "How?"

    "He lives down the street from your mom''s mate. I saw it in his driveway and was like hey that''s my King''s car, can I have it? And he''s like nice, the wolves infiltrated the Lycans. Here, it''s yours. Be nice to her and boom. Here we are,"

    "That is the truth. We were there," Bunny says from behind me. Theyugh along with the guys.

    "And you want to fix your charisma? Why? You''re absolutely perfect,"

    "I threw up on the side of the road," I ruin his mood. His smile falters.

    "Are you okay?"

    "No, I had a fucking panic attack in front of your mom. It was he embarrassing. Can you imagine if that happened in front of someone important? I''d have to kill them. I can''t have people going around spreading lies about me getting soft. Let the world keep thinking the Wolf Bait is an asshole,"

    "I''m really happy you''re back and that you brought my car back, but you''re really fucking annoying," he growls at me and snatches the fob out of my hand.

    "Rude," I scoff. He turns back to me with a smirk on his lips before getting in his car.

    "Are youing?" he asks rolling the window down. I nce over at the twins who are both swooning over the Jordan. Good for him. I''m going to go do the same thing to the King. Alegra is right. I am in a good mood for once.

    "Bye, guys," I rush out and get in the car. "Full circle,"

    "You just don''t shut up, huh?" heughs.

    "Where are we going?"

    "To have dinner and somewhere quiet before I fuck you and send you to the psychward for the criminally insane,"

    "Sweet, I''m starving,"

    SEN

 Bait Novel 150

    Dr. Szar''s Institute for the Criminally Insane is under the precinct where Jake works. Somewhere between the tower prison and the main castle. There are six others not including the former Queen and the prince.

    The King and I are sitting in a small waiting room surrounded by books. There''s weird elevator music ying. My eyes are focused on his bouncing leg. He''s on the verge of throwing me over his shoulder and calling the whole thing off.

    I''m oddly calm for someone about to be put in a straight jacket and tossed in a patted room. My mind is flitting around my skull worse than a crazed bloodthirsty vampire. One moment, I''m weighing the pros to this and the next I''m trying to talk myself out of it.

    I open my mouth to tell the King that if he''s going to get me the hell out of here, now would be the time but the door opens and Dr.Szar and Oz walk in. She looks between the King and me worriedly. Her eyes stop on me and she motions him to get out. "As soon as I walk out that door, there''s no going back," he turns to me, "Three months. No contact with the outside,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "If you let anyone touch what''s mine they''re going to have to drag me back here after I kill the person you allowed to y with what''s mine," I meet his challenge. He smiles my favorite smile and takes my hand to get me up oh my feet. "I''ll see you in three months, Little Wolf," he whispers and presses his lips to mine. His breathing bes ragged, and without another nce, he turns away and leaves with Oz.

    Two nursese in and they ask me to strip out of my clothes. I''m thoroughly checked for weapons or what they call banned items. I''m handed a soft gray uniform. Cotton top and bottom. White slip-ons and a single white scrunchie. "You don''t get another one. So, don''t lose it," the nurse says.

    I barely listen to the doctor as he gives me a tour. All of my senses are on high alert now that I quite literally have nothing but my teeth and ws to protect myself.

    This ce isn''t the strange fluorescent white space I thought it would be. It''s elegant like an old manor. The Kind where money hasn''t been an issue for generations. The walls are all paneled with pretty red oak and expensive dark red wallpaper. The floor is carpeted. Not the super soft kind, but definitely elegant.

    There are frames with patients who have been housed here. Under is a que of their aplishments and diagnosis. It''s no surprise that it''s people with high IQs and esteemed academic records. Minds that house too much information. Minds like mine that never stopped working until theirst breath.

    "This is your room, mydy," Dr. Szar stops in front of a pretty wooden door. "You are free toe and go as you please within the manor, but you are to be in your room before nine. That is when curfew will be enforced. You don''t want to get caught outside of your room here,"

    He pauses, perhaps to see if I''m going to ask what happens but I rather not know. If it''s anything like other ces I''ve been reformed in, I want it to be a surprise if I ever break this rule. He nods and turns the fancy copper knob to push open the door for me. Dammit, this room is beautiful. From the Victorian canopy bed to the walls lined with books, nts, flowers, andmps. Old-timeymps give this room a very cottage-like feel. The room itself isn''t huge, but it''s not qualified to be a small room.

    To my surprise, there''s a huge window across the room. I go to it and find that I can see what looks like a huge ballroom at the bottom of a cave. Not too far up from where I am is a pretty rainfall chandelier. Behind it, the light from the chandelier is reflected beautifully by a natural cascade. I sit at the nook and nce back at the doctor. He approaches me with a small medicine cup with several pills in it. There''s a bright blue one and I immediately know what it is. After all, I brought it here to help James. I take it and empty the pills in the palm of my

    hand.

    "I was addicted to three of these as a teenager," I inform him.

    10¡Á47%

    "I''ve seen your records," he nods. "You''re not a wolf anymore. You''ll find that you will react differently to these because they were made for the breed you are now,"

    "You won''t let me go back there, right?" I ask as my eyes fill with tears. He smiles gently and sits next to me with a ss of water in hand.

    "You''re safe here, Perry. I''m very good at my job. Maybe not as good as you are at yours, but I swear to you, My Queen. I will do everything in my power to help you get better," "Grassy ass, Edmundo," I wipe my face with the back of my hand.

    "De nada, Reina," he holds up the ss. I toss the pills into the back of my throat and take the water. I open my mouth to show him I''ve taken them properly and hand him the empty ss back. "You have the rest of the day to settle in. Dinner is at seven. Someone wille for you so you can join the others. We''ll take this one day at a time. Try to rx. There will always be someone outside of your door for your protection,"

    All I can do is nod. He stands and exits the room. There''s a woman outside. He tells her to give me some space. She''s a wolf. When she turns to look at me, the light from behind me reflects them and the red shines through. An alpha female.

    re aren''t any marks on her. Her caramel skin is wless. She built the way a woman of her status should be. However, her inity shines in the way she''s cleaned up. She''s wearing a touch of makeup. A golden glimmer that just makes her honey- Down eyes pop. Her dark fullshes are curled and lightly coated with mascara. She has corn rolls and her baby hairs frame her round face perfectly.

    The door shuts and I couldn''t take in any more of her. I stand up and move around the room. A smile breaks across my face when I see that the books I asked Oz for are here along with some more advanced stuff. Law, economics, civil rights, traditions, Lycanian for beginners, medicine, and tech advancement. Lots of history. I take a couple of them off the shelves and set them down on the study tables.

    I stare at them for a while. I feel the medication kicking in and I try to talk myself through it, but as my body starts to feel heavy panic begins to set in. I step away from the table and look around until my eyesnd on the bed. I crawl into it tucking one of the two pillows provided between my legs and tucking the other under my head.

    This is going to be hell. Solidarity has never been my strong suit, I couldn''t do it in the house my mate built for us and I doubt I''m going to be able to here in a ce where there is no scent. A ce so unfamiliar that it will no doubt drive me insane.

    Tears slip from my eyes with ease. I can''t believe I''m here. I can''t believe that after everything I''ve done, I''m still alive and moving forward as if I didn''t deserve everything I got. There''s not a single ce on earth where I can run away from the consequences. Death has made it quite clear that I''m not wanted anywhere else but the hell I''ve created for myself.

    I want everything spinning in my head to stop. For a moment. I want to close my eyes and not see the faces of everyone I''ve hurt. Everyone I''ve killed. Just a single night of nothing. I''m not even asking for peace. I just need silence. This once. Please.

 Bait Novel 151

    Jonas

    This floor is empty. Without Perry in it, I find that I''m not enjoying being away from everyone the way I used to. I want nothing more than to go back there and beg her toe back. Maybe drag her back even if she were kicking and screaming.

    I was fully prepared to let her go the moment my fist went through her. The changes she''s going through have me in a spin. I both love the shape she''s taking and mourn for the wolf I had fallen in love with. The destructive maniac that would rather I hurt her than hold back anything she put in front of me.

    Neither of us was prepared for what''s happened.

    As usual, Perry is the one taking the hit. It''s the only reason why I agreed to what she wanted. She deserves better.

    Before I can think ofying back my phone rings. I immediately reach for it in case it''s Ed calling to tell me she changed her mind. No such luck. Godrick Savage''s name pops up.

    ""Prince," I answer.

    "Hey, man. Calling to let you know there''s a meeting in the morning. I know shit has been wild after the funeral, but you have to get down here,"

    "I''m heading out early in the morning. I was just taking care of a fewst-minute things. What time is the meeting?"

    "Ten,"

    "I''ll be there way before. Thanks for putting everything together for me,"

    "No problem. Goodnight, Jonas. Drive safe," he says and hangs up.

    A meeting means someone called it. He would have said if it were him. It''s between the Vampires and the witches. My instinct is to call Perry and ask for her opinion. She''d give me a run around about how they all suck only to tell me that it''s most likely the vampires who are trying to start something now that Lycans are on the table.

    I sent Lilithian a text to show her I received her gift this afternoon. I look over at the crystalized obsidian I asked for Perry. She immediately texts back. It''s the location of the newly built council hall near Nova. Along with the time the King gave me. I call her. "You were invited?" I ask when she answers.

    "Of course, not," she scoffs. "I''m just a baby. I wanted to be sure you made it. My father will be there. He says the King has been locked in his room for a while. Do me a favor. Make sure nothing happens to him,"

    "I''ll do my best. Will you be on standby?"

    "Always, Lycan King. That''s what I live for," she says and hangs up

    "Jonas," Ss knocks on my door. I stand up and pull it open for him. "We''re ready"

    "Good," I say pushing past him. "Lily called. She wants us to look out for her dad. He''s the Vampire King''s hand,"

    ""He''s a traitor?"

    "No, the King just isn''t fit to be in his position anymore,"

    "Why are we in Perry''s study?"

    "Toys," I answer going over to the trunks she keeps her incognito weapons.

    "Holy shit," he says as I start cing them on the ss table.

    3

    Her scent is everywhere. Not just the wolf, but Perry''s new scent. And as my mate, I''m having a hard time being around it knowing I can''t just go to her when I want. Three months is a long fucking time to wait for what I can have in my arms now. "How are we going to carry all of this? Leave it in the trunk," he says holding up the tiny trackers. I take them from him.

    "All of this fits in a belt. This is Perry''s shit. I don''t want to take what I don''t need,"

    I pop the bottom and take a stack of hundreds out. I take what I need and put the rest back. I roll out her utility belt and start hiding everything in the little pockets the way she taught me. I stop to take a deep breath just needing her more than ever. "You okay?"

    "I''m fucking pissed," I growl. "I have no right to be, but fuck,"

    "Jo, she needs this,"

    "I know she does. I also need her to be the pain in my ass she''s been since I bought her,"

    "She was dead, Jo,"

    "And now she''s not," my head swims. "She''s not dead, Ss. I''m going fucking insane. There are times when I don''t even know what is real. I have no one to help me anymore. My mother got in the fucking car like she could give less fucks if I rip her apart and James," my fist breaks through Perry''s ss desk and it all shatters. "She''s all I have left and it''s killing me,"

    "You have me, man. And I know that as soon as she gets her shit together, she''s going to be fucking shit up with us. You''re not alone. We just need to take this shit one step at a time," he holds her belt up and smiles. "I can''t believe you fit all that shit in this little thing. That girl is organized as hell,"

    I take the belt and look over at the massive Hello Kitty plush she likes toy in.

    "Jonas?" we both look up to find Mackenzie standing there. How the hell did she get up here?

    "Mackenzie. Perry isn''t here,"

    "I know," she smiles and holds up a piece of paper. "She sent me,

    "Uh, I''ll have someonee rece her desk. Hope you didn''t break anything important," Ss turns around to pretend he''s busy. I set the belt down on the plush and go over to take the paper.

    "A shadow mandate?" I look up at her to see her smirk. "You''re fucking kidding,"

    "Nope. I''m not exactly happy about this either, but she signed off on it and my dad says it looks legit to him,"

    "Because it is," I groan.

    "That makes me your official shadow, Lycan King," she tucks her hands behind her back and rocks back and forth in her boots.

    "You''re half my size,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "I know. That''s why it''s so funny," she grins. "Here is a notebook," she says flicking her hand between us. A little handbook slips into her hand from under her sleeve. I take it. "Just some keywords to get me toe closer or if you feel threatened. You will not see me but I will see everything you do at all times. Also, if you need anything let me know. She included personal assistance in your package,"

    18:06 Mon, Nov 2500.

    "She''s paying you?"

    "Top dor," she reaches into her leather jacket and holds up a small gun.

    "What is that?"

    "Ourmunications devices. I will inject it here," she taps the spit right above Perry''s mark. "Once our contract is fulfilled, I will remove it. But henceforth we are best pals,"

    "And if I refuse?"

    "She said you''d be cooperative," she says looking me over skeptically.

    "Fine, but if you annoy me I will rip it out and tell you to fuck off

    "You won''t even know I''m there. No one ever does," she smiles.

    "That got creepy fast," Ss says from behind me.

    "I don''t trust you," I inform her.

    "That makes two of us. However, Perry is my sister and the only family I have left outside of my father. For whatever reason, she''s in love with you, and as much as it kills me. You''re part of the family now. That means we''re all we''ve got until mama bear tightens those loose screws. Yeah?" she offers me her hand.

    "What makes you say that?" I shake her hand. She wipes it on her dress when she pulls back.

    "It''s an unspoken rule. Perry and I tear each other up, but that''s who we are. No one else gets to do that to us and live,"

    "I got that," I smile. "I mean the part where you think she''s in love with me,"

    "Come on, man," she huffs. "It''s obvious. Maybe it started as respect. Which is a really big fucking deal to someone like Pernicious Nelson who literally disrespected society for a living.

    "Look, I''ve known her since I was two. The only two people she ever looked at the way she looks at you were my brother and that stupid bitch Morgan. Perry is a provider. She will never ask you for anything in return. It''s why everyone including me takes advantage of her. "I''ve read her reports of her time here. I guess I''m thankful that you''re not using her the way others have. My brother did. Perry thought the sun shined out of his ass, but before he knew she was his. It was all business.

    "He wasn''t worthy of the thing he held in his arms and you sure as fuck aren''t any better. People like Perry aren''t meant for this," she waves all around her and at me. "All you suits do is take Bots incapable of knowing what loving someone truly is,"

    I growl when she injects me with her little gun. She then does the same thing to herself and tosses me the little gun. She pulls her hoodie over her head and walks away. When I lean forward to see her go into the elevator, she''s gone. I step our and rush over to my room and then Perry''s. Nothing.

    "Huh, shees off as a spoiled brat sh lurking weirdo," Ss says from behind me. "She just owned you and then vanished into thin air. Roy is going to have the best fucking time with that thing,"

    C

 Bait Novel 152

    The stages of grief begin with Denial. And no, that''s not just a river. I went through this before I rejoined the academy. I had to be evaluated and I staged it. I was put on the field because I took a couple of online courses to give me the answers along with the given

    responses. Added a few drugs to give the proper chemical response and boom. They put me on the force.

    I kept telling myself that my being able to logically go around the set system proved that I was fine and I ignored the beginning stage of Crystal''s feral spiral. Everything I did was an excuse I used to justify how fucking terrible I feel about the way everything happened and how I handled it. Even after all that, here I am once again. Step one.

    I am sitting in a room with James, Alegra, and some guy. I don''t even know his name yet. We''re new so they''re keeping us together. Alegra is dressed the same as I am''and she''s seated between her son and me. Dr. Szar is sitting across from me writing shit down with his stupid fucking Lightning McQueen pen.

    "Good morning," he greets us. No one says it back. He smiles and writes something down. I see James shift in his seat from my peripheral vision. "All right. How did you all sleep?"

    No one answers again. His eyes sweep the room and just as he''s about to write it down I clear my throat.

    "Not well," I answer truthfully. He takes a deep breath and nods.

    "I can only imagine. This ce is not familiar,"

    "And it has no scent," I add.

    "Why is that?" James asks.

    "Each room is sterilized daily. Often we have lycans that have a very strong scent. Letting the scent of grief and fear linger in a room can turn any of us ravenous," he exins. "Why don''t we go around the room and introduce ourselves? Let''s get to know one another a little more. Why don''t we start with you, Perry? Introduce yourself,"

    "Um," I clear my throat again and try to sit up straight. I stare down at my hands not sure how to begin. Am I Pernicious Phurry or Prince?

    "There are no titles here. No politics. Just tell us your name,"

    "My name is Pernicious-" I take a deep breath. "My name is Pernicious Nelson,"

    "Good," he smiles and then turns to Alegra.

    "My name is Alegra Prince," she answers quietly.

    "James Prince," her son says.

    "Endo Graham," the other guy finishes.

    "I am Edmundo Szar," the doctor introduces himself and then turns to me. That''s what I fucking get for taking pity on

    here?" him. I think he''s about to question me but then his eyes turn the James. "Mr. Prince. Why are you

    "What?" James asks as if the doctor were insulting him.

    "Why are you here? Or maybe try, why do you think you''re here

    "It''s court-ordered," he says.

    "No other reason?"

    "The King sent me here," he growls. He writes that down and it makes James angry.

    18:07 Mon

    "Don''t," I say calmly when he tenses up. James''s re shes with mine. "Just don''t,"

    He huff''s rolling his eyes before averting his gaze.

    "Perry, why are you here?" Dr. Szar asks.

    "Obviously, my brother wanted his wife out of the way," James scoffs.

    "I asked to be here," I answer. "Well, you suggested it and I think it''s a good idea,"

    "Why would you choose to be here?" James asks. The doctor looks from James to me.

    "Yes, why would you choose to be here?" he asks.

    "I did something bad. Maybe the worst thing I''ve ever done and I stop feeling my throat swell.

    "And?" the doctor presses.

    "And no one is punishing me for it," I look down at my hands not wanting to see him write that down. "Do you think you deserve to be punished?"

    "Yes," I nod.

    "Okay, why?"

    "It''s what I was taught. You do something bad and you''re punished for it. Actions have consquences,"

    "If you believe that, why did you break this rule or why did you do this thing you haven''t been punished for?"

    "At the time, I thought it was the right thing to do. I told myself it was, but I''ve never been able to tell the difference,"

    B

    "Between what?"

    "Right and wrong,"

    I almost growl at him when he writes that down.

    "What kind of punishment do you think you deserve?"

    "Death," I say without hesitation. Everyone in the room turns to look at me. Even the two guards and the nurse.

    "What could you have possibly done to deserve such a punishment?"

    "I''ve lied, killed, exploited, and stolen from a lot of people including my friends and family,"

    "You mean this quite literally,"

    ""Every word,"

    "When did you start to notice that something was amiss in your actions?"

    "The very first time I pushed a hunting knife through a boy''s throat. I was thirteen,"

    "Why did you do that?"

    It''s been a long time since I''ve thought of Reginald Barkley. He was sixteen at the time-one of Calvin''s best friends. Calvin often got verbal with me growing up. He''d call me names and had othersugh at me, but he never put his hands on me. Reggy, however, got off on hurting others and got rough with Morgan. Tried to force her shorts down her legs in the girl''s

    locker room after school.

    The knife belonged to our gym teacher. He was always peeling the skin off his apples with it as he had us running around. At the time I was wearing my archery gloves. I panicked and I took the knife without thinking and pushed it right into the side of his neck.

    I remember the way he stumbled. The sound that Morgan''s head made when it hit the locker in front of her. He pulled it out spraying us both with blood. I don''t remember regretting it. I don''t regret it now. I went as far as walking up to him as he tried to cover the wound. I was thest thing he saw.

    Morgan pulled me to the showers behind him. We washed off the blood, stole some gym clothes, and went home. Coach Starling was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She didn''t say a word and neither did I. Ever. Not until now.

    There were times when I thought I had dreamed it, and I left it at that. I never addressed the relief I felt after. The annoyance that boiled in my blood as everyone mourned the loss of one of the biggest pieces of shit in our school was the only thing that reassured me it had happened. It was the first time I took a life and it wasn''t an order. It was to save the girl I thought would be my best friend for the rest of my life.

    "Because he tried to force himself on my friend. I knew that even if we had gone to the principal or the alpha he would have gotten away with it. Out of every oue that ran through my head, that was the only one that ended with us on top," "Is that what you think right is?"

    "No, it''s what I was taught. I had to be the best at everything I''d ever set out to do except the alphas,"

    "Who taught you this?"

    "My father. He engraved it in my head from a young age,"

    "How so?"

    "By example and when that wasn''t enough. Discipline,"

    "Okay, when you say by example. What do you mean by that?"

    "I mean just that. My father was a Knight of the Wolf Realm. An assassin of the Alpha King,"

    "And when he disciplined you?"

    "Yelling,shing, intense training, and the box,"

    "The box? What is the box?"

    "It was an armored box that my parents used to store money and drugs in. When I fucked up, he would make me go in there. For hours. There were times when he would let me out to use the bathroom and eat only to make me go back inside," "What did you do to warrant that kind of punishment?"

    "I would stand up for others. I''d fight for things that weren''t always any of my business. He would say that it wasn''t a beta''s ce to stop what is an alpha''s ce to regte. There were times when I spoke to my superiors out of term. Times when I surpassed things the alpha''s son could do,"

    "Why?" James asks. "You were better,"

    "My father was taking refuge in Redwood City. He had been burned and we couldn''t be stronger than the alphas employing us. Every time I fucked up the other betas and the alpha would remind him why he was in the position that he was. The more attention I invited to our family who was supposed to be hiding out, the closer those who were looking for him would get,"N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

 Bait Novel 153

    Jonas

    A re shes in my eyes from a distance. I look around trying to find where ites from only to hear a lowugh from the thing in my neck. I spot a shadow move in the trees up ahead. I don''t know why I feel relief knowing her position. I can''t tell if it''s because I know where she is or because she''s here on Perry''s orders.

    The packnd''s neutral grounds are beautiful. There are six buildings connected to a seventh in the center. The middle tower is where we all meet. I am in what is referred to as the Lycan House.

    I can''t stay here, it''s just a meet-and-greet location, but it''s nice. The building itself has a modern Greek build. High ceilings. and white marble columns. Lots of open space. The inside is decorated with printed pictures of old Lycan Kings and old newspaper prints. Some of this stuff is actually authentic.

    "The Alpha King is approaching," Mackenzie informs me. "Six guards and his baby sister,"

    "Thanks," I whisper.

    "Hmm?" Ss looks up at me from a book he picked up. I shake my head and order our guards to spread out.

    "Jonas," the Alpha King walks in with a little girl behind him. She''s tiny and I want to say she''s five or six but with wolve always hard to tell.

    "Rick. What''s going on?" I offer him my hand the way Perry insists. He smiles and takes it.

    "No fucking clue, man," he sits down.

    He looks nervous. The little girl stops in front of me and looks up. She''s cute. Big blue eyes, her hair is pulled up in two pigtails, and she''s wearing all kinds of pink. She steps back when I take a knee in front of her.

    "Hi, I''m Jonas," I introduce myself.

    "Melody," she says in the sweetest voice. "You''re really big,"

    "Yeah," I smile. She leans in looking at my teeth.

    "So, sharp," she giggles and then turns to her brother. He holds out his hand and she jumps into hisp.

    "This is my little sister. My parents are out of town,"

    "Jo, where is-" speaking of sisters. Andromeda walks in with an armful of snacks and toys she probably got at the gift shop.

    "I feel you, Kid. That''s my sister," I say. "Andromeda, this is the Alpha King, Rodrick Savage. Rick this is my little sister, Andromeda,"

    "Pleasure," the Alpha King stands with his little sister in his arms to shake Annie''s hand. She looks around panicked and chooses to drop all her treasures onto Ss''sp.

    "The pleasure is all mine. I just finished reading your prop-nine profile and I just want to say, wow. You''re like he pro- women," she grips his forearm and shakes his hand the way Lycan Monarchs do. The Alpha King grins but returns the gesture. "Bro, your arms are jacked," "Thank you?" he says unsure. "I actually didn''t write prop-nine. My brother Ace did. If you ever meet him, you''ll be able to tell he''s he pro-women," my sisterughs. "He handles civil affairs,"

    "Me too. Well, I''m studying for that. I still have two years before Jonas lets me start working for real,"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    LS

    III

    B

    "How old is she?" he asks. "I can never tell with your kind,"

    "She''s seventeen,"

    "Well, I can''t wait to see what youe up with," he smiles at her.

    "Did you need something, Annie?" I ask.

    "I was looking for Jordan and the twins. I lost them in the shopping center," she grins at Melody. "And what''s your name?"

    "Melody," she giggles.

    "I bet it sucks being stuck with your dumb big brother all the time," Annie twirls her hair.

    "Yeah," she nods.

    "Me too. Want to make the guards panic,"

    "Please, Ricky. Please. You never let me do anything," Melody starts kicking up a storm. He looks between the two of them as Melody reaches for Annie. "Andromeda is trained. And Perry''s former shadow is watching her,"

    "n," he calls out. A guard from outsidees in immediately. Watch them. No one goes near either,"

    "My King," he bows. Annie finally takes Melody and offers her a pastry.

    "I can show you where the bestest ones are. That way," she points

    "I love you. Never leave my side," Annies says and takes off with her. "We''re going to try all the snacks,"

    The Alpha King shakes his head when his baby sister lets out a feral giggle.

    "Mel is definitely going to get her in trouble,"

    "Not if Annie beats her to it," I sit down while Ss puts Annie''s things together. "Perry informed me that you''re all having trouble with the Vampire King,"

    "Yeah," he sits down. "The King has been reporting missing humans along the west coast. Knightly is pissed and when that fuck is pissed we all suffer. The vamp has been having these parties near Dartmouth. Alpha Lewis is in charge of the school and he''s requesting backup. My brother Quinn is going down there with a handful of guards, that''s the best I can do without poking at the treaty,"

    "I can assist. I have Lycans up there. They don''t like to poke their heads in on anyone''s business but if I ask they would jump at the chance of doing their King a favor,"

    "I want Quinn to see how bad things are before doing anything, but thanks for the offer. I''ll let you know what he reports," he looks me over. "How are you doing?"

    "I''m busy," I say honestly.

    "Besides that,"

    "I don''t know. I haven''t had time to think," I rotate my shoulders

    "That''s good. For now," he nods. "Let''s focus on the vampire. You hear anything?"

    "Just the same shit we talked about. He seems a little off. I heard he''s been held up in his chambers,"

    111

    r

    4

    "He''s losing it. Calling this meeting is a power move. We could really use Perry, right about now. Wilde has gone MIA," "She said she had some business back home at Perry''s funeral,"

    "Really?" he scoffs in annoyance. "I didn''t know she was headed back to Magique. She hasn''t been there in a long time," "You know her?" Ss asks.

    "I knew her. A long time ago. Back when she first went rogue. She was all kinds of angry,"

    "Still is," both Ss and I say at the same time. He grins.

    "Figures, but she hated her father with a passion. I honestly believe she''s going to kill him one day. Wolfes are just nuts,"

    "So I''ve heard,"

    45%

    "Vampires," Mackenzie''s whisper catches my attention. I stand up and get to the door. In the distance, I spot three cked-out SUVS headed toward the Vampire house. The Alpha King joins me.

    "You felt that?" he asks skeptically.

    "Lie," Mackenzie offers.

    "It''s hard not to,"

    "I''ll see you inside,"

    The Alpha King searches my face for a very brief second before he nods. With a wave of his hand, his guards fall in line. They go after him. Ss and I watch him walk to the Wolf house

    "He''s friendly, but he doesn''t like when he''s not the baddest bitch in the room," Ssughs.

    "That''s for damn sure," Mackenzie agrees. "Little sisters in the courtyard. Let me know if you need me inside. Make sure you''re locked and loaded before leaving that house. You''re not his friend. Remember that. Especially in that hall,"

 Bait Novel 154

    G

    Chapter

    154

    The ballroom area is used for what they call free time. I am leaning against the veranda near the cascades listening to the water roar. I like the way it sparkles against the light of the chandelier. "Your father did what was best for you," James''s voicees from behind me. I nce back at him as hees over to join

    1. me.

    "I know he did,"

    "Why are you here, little one?" he asks.

    "I''m pretty sure I answered that one already," I step away from him.

    "I''m not going to hurt you,"

    "You wouldn''t be able to even if you tried. Oh, wait. You already tried. Several times," I smirk at him. His eyes sh red before he turns his attention to the waterfall.

    ""You could have killed me,"

    "And you had more than one opportunity to kill me,"

    "I wanted Jonas to kill you,"

    ""He did. It was beautiful,"

    "You''re a very strange girl," he scoffs.

    "Why did you tell him I was your mate?" I ask him. He grins.

    "You''ve been in love before, yes?" he tilts his head in my direction. "It''s a stupid fucking emotion. You both hate yourselves for wanting something so badly that it starts chipping away at who you really are. You''d do anything to be the one for her and it still isn''t enough. Not for you and not for her.

    "I wanted him to feel that. I wanted him to think that no matter what he did or said to you. It would never be enough to save you from him or me. I wanted him to see us and absolutely lose it the same way I did and then end your miserable existence in the worst way possible," "You''re an idiot," Iugh.

    "You really think that?" he smirks.

    "Yeah, I do. All you did was bring us closer. So, thank you for that I guess,"

    I push off the veranda and start heading back inside.

    "What do you see in him?" he calls out to me. "He''s an entitled asshole with a mommyplex,"

    "He''s an entitled asshole," I agree. "But there''s more depth to him. I assure you that it has nothing to do with your mother or father. He doesn''t have stupid insecurities like us. He trusted your mom, but that''s the extent of it,"

    "I don''t have insecurities,"

    "You wouldn''t be so fucking mad at the world because he''s your parents'' favorite," Iugh. His eyes turn pitch ck. "You feel that, that''s called jealousy," I shake my head. "You really are a fucking idiot. You should think about how he''s keeping you alive knowing damn well that he should have killed you. You should be in that ss box. Not living it up in this weird reformation spa. But here you are. All entitled to your rage and shit,"

    III

    "You think you know him," he scoffs.

    44% +5

    "I honestly don''t. I know he''s a good King and that''s what I see. That''s what I want. A good King means a stable house. A stable house means we can work through all the other shit together. Even the shit we disagree on. But you wouldn''t understand that. You only ever think about yourself and what you want. It''s why your efforts go unnoticed. You''re not trying to help. You''re the fucking problem,"

    "You don''t know anything about me," he growls.

    "Right, because I''m not in the same spa with you for the same exact reasons," I roll my eyes. "You''re notplicated, James. You should know you''re a suburban statistic. The fact that we''re on the same boat should tell you that. None of the bad shit that has happened to you is because of your brother.

    "You should be more understanding. He was groomed to be something he probably never wanted to be. He didn''t have choices the way you did. He did what a good son does in his position. He became the man your father needed him to be. Just as you did. The difference between you and him is that he didn''t let what your father taught him break him.

    "You broke him. You betrayed him. Not when you identally married his mate, but when you fucked her while they were mated. You killed her, your father, and your daughter. And while you''re sitting here drinking smoothies and talking about how your asshole brother ruined your life. He''s up there ming himself for all the bad shit thatnded making his father proud. Still being a fucking King. I don''t feel sorry for you. I''m actually embarrassed

    1. p. Still

    1g,"

    The darkness in his eyes fades and I turn away not wanting to deal with him anymore. I said what I had to and now he knows my opinion of him. I pause at the doorway and look over at his mother. She doesn''t say anything and for once I have nothing to say to her either. "I''d like you to refrain from interacting with the former Queen and her son," Dr. Szar says when hees into my room to give me the medication.

    "Sure. Maybe ask them to stay away from me as well," I agree and take the pills. He looks over all of my research.

    "You''re a very diligent researcher,"

    "I''m not researching. I''m learning. I need all of this information I brush him off.

    "Why?"

    "Lycan Queen, remember?"

    "Do you want to be the Lycan Queen?"

    "I don''t have a choice,"

    "But if you did, would you still remain on this path?"

    His question makes me angry. Not just at him but at myself because I''ve been living in the what-ifs for thest five years and

    it literally drove me feral. I turn around in my seat to see that he''s actually expecting me to answer.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    "There is no but if. I am the Lycan Queen. I''d like to be left alone now," I growl at him.

    "Of course," he smiles. "Beatris is just outside your door if you need anything, Your Majesty,"

    I turn back to my notes and then push them away because I suddenly feel tired again. I must admit that I have been feeling a little more like myself this past week. I''d been denying that there was something wrong with me all this time.

    I''m angry at myself for taking so long to get here, I''m angry that it took losing my wolf to ept that I''d been the problem. all along. I''m angry that the King isn''t mad at me for what I did to him. I''m just really fucking mad at everything. Even this stupid book that''s taught me to say bad words in the Lycannguage.

    D

    44%

    I''ve always been good at being angry. It''s all I ever really had growing up. Iy on the floor between my study desk and the bed and start counting down sit-ups from fifty. Even as tired as I feel, the anger always gets the best of me and my only outlet has always been running around the city. Exercising. Exhausting myself before workouts with the other pups so I wouldn''t be able to take them.

    What would my father say if he were alive? Would he be upset with me for taking this path or would he be proud? I stop turn onto my bellyughing at myself. I haven''t spared the old man a single thought for years.

    and

    All I''ve been thinking abouttely is him. How he taught me to survive. How even in my darkest moments it''s his lessons that have gotten me out of my head. I''d been ming death for not taking me but in all honesty. I''m just really fucking good at surviving because of

    him.

    Iy on my belly after a set of pushups and stare at the darkness under the bed. I hate empty spaces. It''s not the fact that they''re small or dark. It''s because there''s nothing around.

    Nothing to be afraid of. Nothing to protect myself from. It''s just empty and it scares me because that''s what I''ve been running from my entire life. The emptiness thates with being a Nelson.

    I remove my top and stare down at the King''s mating marks on my shoulder. I trace them one by one and I strangely find

    I under the that I miss him as much as I miss my crispy. I rub my shoulder against my cheek and take a deep breat bed and try to stay as calm as I can.

    Even in this darkness. Even if there was nothing around. I guess inside of me, it''s not as empty as I thought. I want to stop taking the things that fill the void for granted. There has to be more than this ache that never goes away. I want to get there so that the thoughts of hurting myself and those around me stop. There has to be something more because making up for the things I''ve done sounds like a first st

 Bait Novel 155

    Jonas

    It''s been weeks since Ist held my mate in my arms and like a fiend I''m desperate to see her. I''m currently standing in the nightmare apartment she''s kept from the world. Perry''s wolf scent is everywhere. I mean everywhere and there''s nothing else because this loft is air-sealed and maintained at a certain temperature to ensure that the things inside don''t get damaged.

    Knowing what I do about Perry, I expected something crazy, but this just takes the cake for all the other insane shit she''s revealed.

    The loft is three stories high. The walls are all white with pretty blue stripes and Hello Kitty bows. Upon entering, the first thing that greeted me was the Hello Kitty-shaped high-back sofas that look expensive as hell. The center of the room is framed with a giant red bow and in the center is a mirrored coffee table in the shape of-you guessed it a fucking bow.

    I drop some of the things I''ve found on the table for her to open when shees back and sit down to take this madness in.

    I don''t know how this fits into Perry''s personality. It''s so well hidden that even as I look around to see that even the floorboards are Hello Kitty themed, I can''t see her standing here in love with all this shit.

    The Kitchen is insane. The fridge is pink and covered from top to bottom in mas. I open it to find bottles and snacks inside. In the freezer, the ice ia shaped like bows and other characters. There are ice pops and limited edition ice cream xes. I shut it and open the cupboards. Mugs, sses, tes, bowls, more snacks. The sink knobs are Hello Kitty head d one blue.

    As I go up the stairs, I find pictures of her in other Hello Kitty-themed locations. In all ages. It''s just her. I take the very first one from the wall. Fuck, she can''t be older than fourteen in this. For the life of me, I can''t imagine Andromeda out there doing half the shit she''s done all alone with no one to protect her. I love the way she''s smiling. She looks like a kid having the best time and I love that this bat shit crazy crap gives her that.

    Each room is something out of a kid''s wildest dreams. There are shelves with little figurines, themed lunch boxes, school supplies, purses, shoes, and skincare products. The bathroom is just as crazy.

    When I get to the master bedroom on the third floor, it''s more than obvious that she never had a chance to finish this room. There''s a huge shelf hung in the middle of the wall in the shape of the cat''s head. In front of it is a gaming setup. All pink and to the theme. But the books on the shelf caught my attention. I step into the room and the lights alle on.

    It''s not that she never finished this room, it''s just that she uses it for more than the jabs at her childhood trauma.

    On the wall next to the desk is something right on point with Perry''s entric personality. The houses at court. Each one isbeled and properly researched. Information upon information of the Kings and their closest confidants. Numbers, locations, bank statements, and abilities.

    "Pernicious, you little fucking terrorist," Iugh.

    "I can''t get anything on your location. What did you find?" I hear Mackenzie in my ear. I forget she''s here.

    "If she hasn''t shared this with you. I doubt I should," I say and it reminds me of what she once said to the wraith. If you can''t. get in, you don''t belong.

    "Look at that, Lycan King. You can be trained after all," she scoffs

    I ignore her and take Perry''s phone from my pocket to take pictures of everything on the walls. I can''t stay here in fear of blowing her safehouse''s cover. I freeze when I move past her desk. In a little heart-shaped frame is an ultrasound picture. There''s a tiny bean in the circle right in the center. She wrote the date and six weeks around the frame with a gold marker.

    I identally move the mouse when I set it back down and the three pink screense to life. The top one shows a whole

    lot of bank statements. Hers and maybe Darren''s. The bottom left side is just code, but the main one. Holy shit the main one are ns.

    The picture of the man that crashed our coronation is at the top along with names upon names of associates. Locations and trackers that are still active now. I scroll down and then switch tabs to find the locations of explosives and high-powered

    weaponry.

    I take a seat in her chair and look over at the picture of the ultrasound realizing what it was she was nning to do here. My heart aches for her. No matter how I try to piece her together the fact is that Perry has always just been a little girl with hopes and dreams she never got to fulfill. She wanted out. Not for herself or her mate, but for the little life growing inside of her.

    This monster took that from her. He turned her into the savage she became to rece the one that slipped through his fingers. The Rogue King. Sure, he used the Redwoods to steer her rage in the direction he wanted, but I think Perry knows better. Calvin and his stupidity were just pawns to get her to be more.

    I look around her things until I find what I need. A USB. She''s going to be mad at me for this but there''s no way I can leave it here for just anyone to find. I download everything onto this drive and wipe it. After linking the Hello Kitty toy to my key fob, I bring up a bunch of coloring pages and game log-ins she has on here and put theputer back to sleep.

    After thinking better of it, I take everything on the walls down and neatly put them into one of the many bags she has lying around. I go to get another in the closet and just stay absolutely still for a moment.

    ing hell," I clear my throat and flip the light switch.

    ay?" Mackenzie asks.

    "I think I just fell in love with Pernicious all over again," I admit.

    The walls of her walk-in closet are lined with weapons beyond my wildest dreams. There''s a string right in the center of the closet. The kind used to pull down the stairs to an attic. I pull it down, but no stairse down.

    "I''m getting static on my end. What''s going on?"

    "I think it''s a blocker. Give me a sec, I want to see what''s up here

    "Shit. Be careful. I don''t want to go in there if I don''t have to," she growls.

    "All right,"

    I hop up to grip the sides of the opening and pull myself up. As soon as I sit, lights along the floor begin to flicker on. Iugh. watching as the small space turns into a fourth floor. There is money stacked along the walls. Bundles of various types of narcotics. Paintings, sculptures, and artifacts are all wrapped and ced in no particr order.

    There has to be millions in here. Not just in money, but artifacts and Hello Kitty memorabilia. Yet, she''s not the kind of girl that shows off. Now that she can dress herself. She likes keeping it simple. Sexy, but simple.

    I jump down and look up hoping those lights turn off on their own. I shut the hatch and look around loving that I got to see a little more of the asset that she is. I find another bag take a couple of guns and the rest of the information on the walls before closing everything

    up.

    "Can you

    hear me?"

    "Yeah," Mackenzie answers.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    I''m heading back to the house,"

    "Good. Stop making me stalk you. You''re oddly as good as she is at avoiding guards,"

    16:18 Wed, Nov 27BB.

    6

    56%

    I take it as apliment and start the drive back to Nova. I know what I''m going to do with the information on the Kings, but I have yet toe up with something for that wraith piece of shit. One way or another, he''s going to pay for what he''s done to Perry. Even if she refuses to assist me.

 Bait Novel 156

    "Are we alone because of what I said to James the other day?" I ask Dr. Szar.

    "No, this part of your treatment is personal. Group therapy doesn''t go as deep as one-on-one sessions,"

    "Oh," I nod. "What do you want to talk about?"

    "All right," he smiles. "I''d like to ask how you''re feeling. We''ve been working together for a bit now. How do you think things are going?"

    "It''s been twenty-six days," I say.

    "It has," he nods.

    "I feel well rested. My mind is a little clearer,"

    "Good," he writes it down. "Now that you''ve had some time to think. What is it that you want to achieve in your time here?"

    "I want to get better,"

    "You''ve said that, but what does that mean to you? When you say I want to get better. Better at what?"

    "In general. I guess,"

    Exin," he encourages. I don''t know what to say. I end up just staring back at him and shrug. "All right. W somewhere small? Was it something someone said or did that made you realize that who you are now is wrong:

    "I guess it started when I was sold to the King," I shrug.

    "Okay, tell me about that day,"

    "I had just gotten released from the precinct I worked at,"

    "Were you there working?"

    "No, I had gotten arrested for telling the Alpha and Luna off the night before. I had been really drunk,"

    "Continue,"

    t we start

    "Jake, my father-inw, drove us home. Beta Tyler was waiting for us when we arrived. He asked me to get presentable because he was escorting me to the pack house,"

    "Were you

    and Tyler close?"

    "Yes, and no. He was friends with my mate. We all went to the academy together for beta training. I know his mate and his family, but close isn''t something anyone was to me in that pack "Then what happened?"

    "I showered, brushed teeth, and

    my

    dressed to go to the pack house. I got in the truck with him and four others. He told got -me I fucked up and that the Alpha was no longer going to tolerate my disrespect. Upon arrival, I was dragged into the pack house where I was informed that I was being sold to the Lycan King,"

    "Did you struggle?"

    "I tried to, but I hadn''t slept in a while and I was probably still drunk. I was also aware of Jake''s presence, I didn''t want them

    to hurt him,"

    "You said you told your alpha and Luna off. Why?"

    56%

    "The entire acting Redwood staff was invited to the pack house to celebrate the announcement of the Luna''s pregnancy,"

    "A momentous event in a pack''s history. What about that bothered you?"

    "All of it. The celebration. The announcement. The Luna. The Alpha. All of it bothered me,"

    "Why?"

    I stare at him for a while. Many answers swim in my head, but choosing the right one is a challenge.

    "Why did their joy bother you, Perry?" he asks.

    "Because they didn''t deserve it," spills from my mouth, and as soon as it''s out there, a flood of guilt just washes over me. The part of me that loved Morgan wants to take it back and I have to fight the tears that threaten to slip. "Why didn''t they deserve it?"

    I don''t have an actual answer. I remember the way Morgan was treated in the years after Darren''s death. The changes to her person Calvin made. The modifications she went through. The fake tits, the long hair, the makeup, and the pathetic princess dresses she''d never be caught dead in.

    She dropped out of the hunting program despite being top of her ss. She stopped going into the city to visit her parents.

    her family. ike Darren who took his family out of the shit hole we lived in, Calvin never even considered helpin

    Their restaurant closed because neither Morgan nor myself was helping them get by. Her siblings were rejected from the academy and forced to go public. I see now that the hell she chose to live in was just as fucked as mine because Calvin bought her the same way the King had bought me.

    The difference was that Calvin was her actual mate. Had he looked past the superficial he would have known that Morgan had been born to lead. Before him, she had been kind, loving, giving, and fierce.

    I admit that I was often jealous of her. Yes, we both lived in poverty but she had this special aura that drew people in while I pushed them away. It was why I''d do anything for her. Maybe my instinct as a beta always knew she had to be more.

    Calvin fucking Redwood ruined us both. She didn''t deserve what he did to her. She didn''t deserve what I did to her. Hot tears stream down my face. Dr. Szar offers me a tissue and I sigh when I reach for the box to see it''s fucking Lightning McQueen themed. "Why didn''t they deserve it, Perry?" he asks again. More gently this time.

    "He didn''t deserve it. I guess I wasn''t thinking about her. Not in a general sense. I only saw the betrayal I felt. I still feel it. Every time I think of her. Every time I think of how I lost everything. She''s included in that,"

    "Your Luna. You were close to her?"

    "She was like my sister. My best friend. We''d been through everything together. She lived on the floor above the apartment my mom and I stayed in after my dad died. She and her siblings helped us move everything out of our moving truck the day we arrived. That''s how we met,"

    "I see. Let''s talk about her. What was she like?"

    "She was the sweetest person I''d ever met. A lot like Oz. She was always looking out for people. Me in particr. I''ve kind of always been an asshole. I was smaller than her. Younger by two years. She was always smiling and going out of her way to help anyone who needed it,"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "And you liked this about her?"

    "I loved that about her. I was never the kind of person who needed help, but she was always there to pick up the pieces I left behind. When my mom would disappear and I had no money for food or hygienic stuff. She''d take my clothes in her backpack and wash them with hers. I''d wake up with a freshly folded pile of cleanundry and a leftover tupperware. "When I learned to hack the ATMs, she was the one that kept me from emptying them. At first, she was pissed but after sleeping on it she knew that there was no other way. I was eleven and no one was going to give me a job because of who my parents were. She was my lookout. Literally, anything that''s redeemable about me can be traced back to a scolding from her,"

    "Were there changes in her attitude leading up to your mate''s death?"

    "No," I shake my head. "We were really excited the night before. She had a date and I had just given her what I thought was the best fucking news there could ever be," "What was the news?" he smiles.

    "I had gone on a mission a couple of weeks before. I felt a little sick just before leaving. I was home alone so I took the opportunity to go to the doctor since Darren always made a huge deal out of everything. I had just found out I was five weeks pregnant and she was the first person I told. The following week she went with me to get an ultrasound and I asked her to keep it to herself until I got back. She said that everything was going to be perfect.

    "When I returned I told my mate. I was a little scared because we were neen and barely on track to where we wanted to be but I was scared for nothing. He was so happy. So, I called her and told her. We were both delighted and she told me she was going out with a visiting Beta from Gorgon. We promised we''d meet up after her date,"

    lidn''t happen,"

    "No, I went to ss that morning and on my way back home the sirens for a rogue attack red. I backtracked and headed towards the pack house where Darren was stationed. I was two minutes away when he was killed.

    "When our connection shattered, I swerved into oing traffic. A pickup truck mmed right into my car and my wolf put us into hibernation to try and protect our baby. I was in aa for six months.

    "Morgan was there when I opened my eyes. She told me what had happened and then she told me that we couldn''t be friends anymore. She said that I would have to go through her to get to Calvin and that she would never allow me to kill him,"

    "What did you say to her?"

    "My wolf had just started to go feral and if I hadn''t been cuffed to the bed I was in. I probably would have killed her then and there. I promised her that without me all she''ll ever know was pain. I told her he would never love her and I hoped he ruined her just like he ruined everything else,"

    "Do you regret saying that to her?" he asks as I wipe my tears again.

    "I regret not killing her then and there. I think it would have saved us both a lot of pain,"

    "You think death is a better option than dealing with what''s in front of you," he states.

    "It has to be,"

    "Death is the end, Perry. To everyone else, there is no more Perry the same way that there is no more Darren to you,"

    "There was no one who would care if I lived or died," I shrug. "Even if there was, what did it matter? There was no other way, Ed. No moving forward. I was going feral. That means that at some point I was going to shift into my wolf and then stop existing leaving behind the animalistic part of me to kill anything that moved. It was the end the slowest most painful way a wolf can die in,"

    "Yet, here you are, Your Majesty. Alive and well. Well rested even You survived that. All of it. You couldn''t stop your

    16:18 Wed, Nov 27BB.

    inevitable demise into the darkness that is your feral wolf spirit. You''ve evolved. The same way you did when you were sixteen and shifted for the first time. This is how things work. All you can do is ept that this happened and move on.

    00%1

    "You can''t change what you said to Morgan the same way you can''t change that she chose to be with her mate. She chose this path and things havee full circle. They''re dead and you got what you wanted. To be the one toe out on top. There is nothing wrong with being thest one standing. That is your natural instinct as a wolf and now a Lycan. Embrace that as a positive thing,"

    4:

    0000 0000 000000 ????? ???

    0000 0000 1 how 000000 000000000!

    000000000 0000000

    0000000000000

 Bait Novel 157

    Chapter 157 4.70%

    One-on-one sessions are weird. I always go back to my room wondering who the fuck is crazier. Me or Edmundo Szar who is just stroking my ego in a way that he probably shouldn''t be. The definition in my muscles is starting to show. My abdomen is rock-hard and I feel great. He''s even cut my medication in half. I''m only taking three now.

    I have a few days left and I''m finally allowed to join the others for dinner. It was just breakfast and lunch before. Nine pairs of eyes look up at me when I enter the room. Beatris has not answered a single one of my questions. She simply stares back at me amused when I crack a joke or talk her ear off. She guides the to the line where the trays are.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    Her eyes stay on me as she takes the tray and starts setting the tes and bowls on each section. When I reach for my own tray she puts her hand out stopping me.

    "You''re not allowed to touch the metal weapons you can potentially kill someone with, Your Majesty, she says and motions me to walk up ahead.

    I look down at the tray and understand why I wasn''t allowed down here when the moon is up. I point at what I want and she gets it for me. When I spin around to see where I''m going to be sitting, I find three tables. Two are taken and the table in the back the table avable is housing my inws and my inws only.

    I snatch my bottle of apple juice before Beatris can react and growl at her when she tries to take it back. I take a seat and she ces my tray in front of me and takes a few steps back. I look back at her wondering if she''s going to breathe down my neck. "You can watch her just fine from the doorway," James growls at her. Her eyes snap to me.

    "Not to take his side but he''s right. I''m fine," I reassure her. She takes a deep breath and backwalks to the far wall of the dining room. I turn my attention back to them. "Thanks,"

    "Why are you being so guarded?" the Queen asks.

    "I''m not. She''s here for your protection," I say annoyed at the stic spoon I was given instead of real silverware like everyone else.

    "You look better," she adds after a while. "Rested and ready to get the hell out of here,"

    I look up at her and my heart breaks for her a little bit. She doesn''t look well-rested. Her once silky hair is a tangled mess. The dark circles under her eyes are proof of her sleepless nights. Her skin is a little dry, and I can smell the distress she''s going through. James looks well actually. Better than he had thest time I basically called him a bitch. Well rested, his hair is a little longer than it had been and he''s eating a lot more than the Queen and I are. He also looks like he''s been working out.

    "You''re notmitted enough," I tell her. Her eyese back up to me.

    "Excuse me?"

    "You''re not listening to Edmundo. It''s why you can''t sleep. Your skin is dry from sitting under the hot water for long periods.

    you do. Your son seems to be on board," Try sitting away from the bed to brush your hair. Fake feeling better until

    He smirks at his mother and tosses me his fork when he sees me struggle with my pasta.

    "Don''t," I growl at Beatris when she tries toe take it from me. "I''ll use it on you,"

    Jamesughs when she goes back to her spot. I look up at the two of them and continue eating. Dammit, I miss Jonas''s food. Everything else tastes nd to me. He did that. He spoiled me. "How long do you have?"

    16:57 Thu. Nov 28 BB.

    "Three days You? Tahmostugh at the re he shoots me "What have you been working on

    the Whyouheon

    "I''m not allowed anything in my room I can use to escape. It''s just me, the bed, and the electric firece on the wall for ambiance he clears his throat

    "I have a fully stocked library on Lycan education in mine.".

    Learn anything?"

    "Yeah, how to tell people to fuck off," I say in Lycarian. The two of themugh. "I requested your entire work profile."

    "Why the fuck would you do that?"

    "Jonas and I decided that I would stay under the radar. The Vampire King is nning a coup against the rest of us. I think we should take him out before he breaks the treaty. Let them battle it out until we get someone who can y well with the rest of us." "The old man wanted him alive," he shakes his head.

    "I can give less fucks about what the old man wants anymore. If you haven''t noticed, he''s forgotten about you. That''s how little we all mean to him,"

    "He ever show you the game room?"

    "I built the game room. Darren and I designed all sixty safe havens and the theater room. You scratched the surface of the KNAVE. Did you even go through conditioning?"

    "I didn''t have to,"

    "You really are an idiot. He never expected you to get very far. I had training when I joined and I still went through four rounds of conditioning because my father''s training was a little too deep for his liking. Then he set me and Vy up to be trained by the Rogue King. He was setting you up to get to Jonas. He''s noting back for you. He knows Jonas has information he wouldn''t like to be leaked,"

    "How old were you when he took you in?"

    "Thirteen. What did he want the Vampire King alive for? Reproduction?"

    "How do you know that?" he asks.

    "Like I said, you just scratched the surface,"

    "If he wants to make more Wraiths, what would he need with a vamp? He''s not a shifter,"

    "Wrong. He is a shifter. Just not like us. The Vampire King is a rare breed, His bloodline goes back millennia to the first vampires,"

    "Gargoyles," the Queen gawks at me. "He''s a gargoyle?"

    "A special breed of them," I nod. "He''s been alive a very very long time. Not easy to kill but not impossible. If the old man wants him for breeding purposes it''s not to create more Wraiths. It''s make more gargoyles,"

    I sit back mulling over the information I just received. My skin crawls. That fuck is just trying to resurrect something that was eliminated for a reason. The Vampire King and the Wraith are both relics of the past and that''s what they should stay.

    "You can''t possibly be thinking of going after him," James growls "You''re the Queen now. Not a fucking soldier. You die and Jonas follows you into that grave. Everything you''ve been praising him for goes to shit when the alphas and the councilmen go to war to take his ce. You need to get this heroplex out of your-"

    16:57 Thu, Nov 28 BB.

    "I didn''t ask for your opinion," I cut him short. "Do you really think your brother would allow that? You fucked him up and as soon as I step out of here I''m likely to have an entire team of Lycans around me at all times. There are other ways to prevent the old man from getting his way. I just need to get to Nova

    "My question is if, you want to help me? You''re a soldier and you seem asmitted to being a little shit as I am. Help me do this for all of us and maybe I can convince your brother to exile you instead of keeping you around like an exotic pet,"

 Bait Novel 158

    Dr. Szar had Beatris pack up my books and notes. Jonas had clothes, my essentials, and shoes sent over along with my phone and my bag. I can''t use them because there''s no signal down here, but just holding my phone in my hand makes me feel like I''m closer to getting out of here.

    "Onest deep dive?" he asks as my things are taken out of the room.

    "Sure," I agree sitting on the edge of the bed.

    "You once told me that your father taught by example. Do you ever remember a time when you thought, he was right? A time that really stuck with you?"

    "Yeah," I nod looking down at my phone. "I think it''s my earliest memory. I remember my parents fighting. I don''t know why but they likely fought because he took a mission from the King. He left and he was gone for a long time. My mom woulde home from work. She''d clean and cook exsessively. As if she were trying to distract us from how long he was gone.

    "She was at work and I''d been home alone all morning when my dad walked through the front door of our house. He was covered in mud and blood. He trailed the mud all the way to the kitchen where he sat down and just stared nkly at the cupcakes mom had made. "I wanted to tell him that Mom was going to be so upset when she got home to the mess. he made, but I couldn''t. He looked so sad,"

    "What did you do?"

    "I cleaned up the mud on the floor and I started him a shower. He growled at me when I took his hand and led him to it. He could barely walk. I saw wounds and scrapes. I helped him out of his boots and his jacket before he pushed me toward the door. I finished cleaning up as best as I could.

    "When he was done he walked out of the bathroom and stood at the doorway for a while. I was going to go in there to put his clothes in a bag so Mom could wash them because I didn''t know how to work the washer. He stopped me. He said I got it and then he patted my head and called me a good girl. It was the first time and the only time he ever praised me that way,"

    "What did you learn from that?"

    "That maybe he wasn''t as indestructible as I believed he was, but that no matter what was put in front of him, he''d get through it. He just needed to know that there would always be someone there to catch him,"

    "As dark as that memory is, it''s a good one. You have to remember that you are not alone anymore, Perry. You have friends and family who love and care for you. You don''t have to do anything on your own anymore. You''ve been silent for too long. It''s time for you to speak up and be heard even if you have to use the voice we''ve practiced,"

    "I''m not sure I''d ever be confident enough to use it," I admit. He grins and pats my hand gently the way he always does.

    "I''m sure you''ll find the time and ce for it, My Queen. It has been an honor serving you and listening to everything you''ve ovee," he takes my hand and leads me to the mirror in the bathroom.

    My once dark hair is white now. It matches my new skin tone and the violet shade in my eyes. Over thest three months, I''ve been practicing shifting in out, and out of my pelt. With each shift, I lost more and more of the wolf I used to be, but I''vee to embrace it. The changes don''t bother me anymore. I''vee to understand that maybe there was a reason for me to be what I have. Instead of worrying about the things I can''t change, I should worry about the things I have to change. The things the King needs my help with and Mackenzie.

    "Thank you," I say meeting his gaze in the mirror. "For everything. I know I''m difficult and say a lot of dumb shit to steer the spotlight away from me. It couldn''t have been easy on you,"

    <

    16:57 Thu, Nov 28 BB Chapter 158

    "You wanted this," he smiles. It''s not every day someone takes a good look at themselves and decides that they no longer like what they see. Much less want to do anything about it. This is the only thing I''m worried about," he points at the mirror. "It might not be the person you want to see looking back at you, Perry. Just like that little girl who wanted to be as important as her father hase to pass. You''re more now. It''s okay to feel low sometimes. It happens to the best of us. Take good care of yourself. We need you. More than you

    think,"

    "He''s here," Beatris says from behind us.

    Dr. Szar excuses himself and I''m left alone to gather myself. A part of me is very excited to see him again. The bigger part knows he''s mad at me for stepping away. I still firmly believe that this was the right choice for me. I still feel sick, but my mind is no longer clouded by everything the way it was when I woke up. I feel like I can focus and give more than I would have after what happened with my wolf.

    Calling it a vacation is a little bit of an understatement. I''d never taken the time to slow down enough to really see what I''d been trying to cling to my entire life. One mission at a time wasn''t right and the more I added to the destruction I raged, the more I wanted to be my father''s daughter. I didn''t realize that I had surpassed that long before I even met the King.

    The Alpha King, the wraith, and Calvin all know and they kept me in this little bubble that served them. I don''t answer to any of them anymore. I don''t answer to anyone other than my King and I want things to stay that way. I don''t owe anyone a single fucking thing, but I do owe him. Everything. Moving forward I want to show him that while I meant he couldn''t save me before, I don''t need him for that anymore. We don''t need to be saved. We''ve already crossed that bridge together.

    The King is standing in front of his spaceship with a phone to his ear. He''s arguing with someone. His back is to me and it''s kind of always been impressive. I expected a suit. I wanted him in one actually. But he''s wearing dark blue jeans and a ck jacket with a hoodie underneath it. His hair as usual is slicked back. A smile crosses my face when I see the ck leather Docs on his feet.

    I stay at the bottom of the stairs to give him time to finish his call. I''m pretty sure it''s Roy on the line. He growls when he hangs up and lets out a heavy sigh.

    "It''s not like you to be this frustrated, My King," I say in Lycarian. His shoulders visibly tense up and he quickly turns around

    "It''s been a long three months, My Queen," he answers me properly. "You learned Lycarian in three months?" he asks in O English. "What else did you learn in there?"

    "I few things you might like," I shrug, tucking my hands behind me to let him set the pace.

    We stare at one another for a moment and I see the instant when he snaps and closes the distance between us. With a growl his hand is around my throat and the other is around my waist.

    "You''re never doing this to me again, Pernicious. Do you understand?"

    "Loud and clear," I smile. He doesn''t like it. The anger in him blooms in my chest and I can''t get enough of it. "Did me?"

    you

    miss

    "Did you?" he leans in breathing me in. I push up on my tiptoes and slide my hands up his chest until they''re around him. "You have no fucking idea," I say and press my lips to his.

    It catches him off-guard for a moment, but when he sees I''m serious he gives in pulling me closer, deepening our kiss. I''m a little lightheaded when he pulls away enough to let us breathe. "Did it work?" he whispers. "Do feel better?"

    "I do," I nod. "How are you feeling?"

    "Angry," his upper lip twitches slightly and his pupils widen a bit before he settles down.

    "Me too," I agree stepping back to take more of him in.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

 Bait Novel 159

    Jonas

    I keep ncing over at her. Her hand is firmly in mine and when I go to shift she keeps her hand over mine not wanting to break contact, I had been informed that she was practicing shifting and exercising properly. It was one of my biggest concerns because she was so

    scared and upset when it finally happened.

    To say she looks different is an understatement. She''s wearing an outfit the twins picked out from her wardrobe. A ck pleated skirt with a silky red button-up. The vest over her top matches the skirt and the boots she''s wearing. Her pale white hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail and the length is braided resting over her shoulder. I can''t get over her not wanting to let go of my hand as she strategically goes through everything she missed these past three months on her phone. "How is Andromeda?" she asks setting the phone down to give me her undivided attention.

    Her eyes roam my body and having been so far from her so long and early in our mating it feels like velvet on my skin. She asked me something and all I can think about is touching her. Taking her in. Getting reacquainted with all of her like before. "She''s going through a phase," I try to keep my eyes on the road.

    "Are we going straight to Nova?" she asks.

    "Yes, I know it''s a long drive. We can stop for food in a bit so you can stretch your legs and start getting familiar with your nose again,"

    "They tell you about that?" she grins.

    "No, it''s a conditioning thing they teach us to help us improve our hunting skills. My dad had my room sanitized every morning. Another reason why we don''t keep our things in our rooms and why we need new clothes each day,"

    "That makes sense actually. Once I got all the scents cleared it was easier to focus on one thing," she looks out the window.

    "I was preparing myself to argue how barbaric it is," I admit.

    Her smile turns into a full grin and I have to fight the urge to stare at her teeth-the teeth of a fully blooded lycan. I mean I know. I''ve known, she just rejected it badly, the idea refused to etch itself into my head. And here it is. in as day. Perry is now one of us. "I''ve learned a lot about Lycans," she shrugs. "Now that I am one and that I''ming to terms with it. I see the need for certain extremities,"

    "Is that really Perry?" Mackenzie snaps me back to reality. I see Perry''s attention snap to me. Not to me but to the spot in my neck where Mackenzie injected me with themunications device.

    "I forgot she was here with us," Perry smiles. "Tell her I said, hey,"

    "Tell her I said, sup,"

    "Sup," I repeat.

    "How are you two getting along?"

    "Tell her you are literally the most boring client I''ve ever had and that you suck,"

    "She said fine. Whatever," I lie.

    "Sounds like her," she tilts her head toward me. "And you?"

    16:15 Fri, Nov 29 B BO

    "Fine, whatever," I shrug making herugh.

    "Tread lightly, Lycan King. That''s not Perry. You have no fucking idea what they did to her in there," Mackenzie whispers.

    In no way do I feel threatened by her. Her aura is calm almost soothing. Her scent is neutral. I can''t get enough of it. It''s something floral and dark. It''s been cold out and turning on the AC only serves to intensify it.

    "You weren''t hurt, right?" I ask her. Her attention snaps to me. "Nothing too strange happened?"

    "Other than Ed hyping me up, no,"

    "What do you mean?"

    "I don''t know. I mean he took the things I was ashamed of and now they''re strengths. Things that brought me to this point. If that makes sense. It''s just the way he went about exining things I''ve been trying to bury for too long," "That sounds a lot like she was brainwashed," Mackenzie scoffs.

    "I''m d you''ve got a new perspective,"

    "Thank you," she says politely.

    "I have a bad feeling about this, Lycan King. Pernicious Nelson does not do polite and pretty," Mackenzie adds. "She''s a monster More than you want to admit,"

    "Shut up," I growl lowly.

    "Hmm?" Perry nces up at me.

    "Nothing. Mack''s just being cynical,"

    The smile she gifts me is sincere. She doesn''tment or ask what she said. She just continues to watch the scenery pass us by. I stop near Redwood City. I should have taken Alpha Scofield''s offer to use the helicopter, but the way Perry''s eyes lit up when I stopped in front of the burger stand we ate just before her buddy Tyler chased us out tells me I did the right thing.

    The boy from before greets us, but he doesn''t recognize her. I see the disappointment in her eyes but also the way she smiles when she sees the picture she autographed for him. There''s a veranda decorated with little wood carvings of wolves and candles. Behind them, there''s a newspaper clipping of the Local Lunatic and another of Darren Phurry.

    As we eat, her eyes scan the room, and she inhales taking in the scents around us before she leans in and sniffs her burgers. The wolves around us watched her devour all three burgers and therge order of fries she had gotten as if she hadn''t eaten in days. "Foods not going anywhere, Perry," I grin.

    "I am starving. I''ve been starving for thest three months,"

    "I hear Ed has the best cooks for his institution,"

    "Someone lied to him or they''ve never been given the Wolf Bait treatment," she smirks popping another fry in her mouth.

    Thepliment is regarded with a pinch of guilt. It did the moment she realized that, I was making her food from the start, but this is different. I always figured she was just trying to soften the blow of me having to kill her. I don''t know how to react to how calm she is. Where is the girl that wanted to burn the world down?

    Thank you for

    your reports, Mackenzie. I''m going to be taking the pearl out of the King''s neck," she says after a moment.

    "You''re not back yet," Mackenzie tries to refuse.

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    "Do I get a say in this?" ask Perry.

    "Did you get one when I sent her your way?" she asks. Her eyes change. They get darker. Not dark enough for a challenge but dark enough to show me she doesn''t like my resistance. When she sees my hesitation, she sits back. "I just want some privacy. She doesn''t need to be listening to what we''re doing," "I''m not gonna argue that, Lycan King. I''ll see you around," Mackenzie clears her throat.

    "Fine," I agree.

    Shees around releasing her ws. I don''t flinch when she cuts into my neck and then scoops the device out. She wipes the area with a napkin and licks the wound shut. I tilt my head to look back at her. Her eyes are filled with emotion. She ces the small white pearl on the table in front of us and ms her hand down. It shatters.

    "Tell me what you''re thinking," she whispers gently.

    "I never expected this much of a change," I admit. Her armes around me and she presses her forehead to my shoulder.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    "I did this for us," she says after a while. "Reformation starts with this," she holds up a little blue pill and crushes it in her hand. It looked like liquid but it turned into dust in the palm of her hand. It''s only then that I see what''s happened. The blue monkhood she got for James was used on her to reprogram the self-hatred she harbored. "It

    Works"

 Bait Novel 160

    James told us some pretty fucked up stories about them growing up. How when they were young, he was treated delicately and he wasn''t allowed to y with Jonas because Jonas needed to train. He said there were times Jonas did things and James. would watch his father beat the hell out of him while their mom made James watch so that when he was of age and started training he wouldn''t make the

    same mistakes.

    Things got much worse as they grew up. He said he was angry because Jonas''s training always meant more than his no matter how hard he pushed or how he waspletely obedient More so than Jonas ever had been. And in the end, only Jonas''s efforts and aplishments meant anything to his parents.

    I see it in the way Jonas doesn''t think he has any insecurities. The way he carries himself and thinks his way out of situations without having to fight. Once his parents got what they wanted, Jonas was given the liberty to do what he pleased so as long as it was within their ns for him. It was a false freedom to see how he would use the skills he was given.

    James wasn''t given such liberties. His father had a firm foot on his neck until he snapped. James, a boy who only wanted to be treated equally to his brother, was given the same power I was when I killed for the first time, and it''s the only way he knows how to win. To the death.

    I need someone like that for us. I know the King is going to get all possessive and overly protective once the initial shock of what I look like now wears off. Mackenzie despite her protests, is going to be thedy of Cliffside. Once Royce finds out what''s going on, if he doesn''t reject her, he''s probably not going to want to let her out of his sight.

    It has to be him.

    The problem lies with my insanely "not" insecure second-chance mate. He''s not going to be happy when I bring it up and I don''t want to ruin our reunion. The trip to Nova was quiet for the most part. Neither of us was willing to admit how much we actually missed one another. Both of us getting reacquainted with our scents and presence.

    It''s been a while since I''ve stepped foot in Nova. I feel like my changes are enough to conceal who I am to the naked eye II have to do is steer clear of the Alpha King who will know it''s me the moment he sees me. I don''t know how, but I''m a hule( scared of him finding out.

    The King bought a huge plot ofnd just outside the north side of Nova. The vige that Alpha Scofield''s wife was born in The very same vige he tore apart to get to his wife. After being rejected, the Alpha and Luna of Nova fell in love in the midst of a war they ended but was never theirs. In the end, her father tried to take her away and he ughtered anyone that got in his way to get to her.

    Thend has since then, been used as a Thunderdome arena by the juveniles of Nova. One of the rules of Nova that is strictly enforced by the alphas is their no-fightingw. If wolves want to tear one another apart, they have to do it outside of the pack borderlines and that''s where Viper''s Lanees in. Well, it did. It belongs to us now.

    "You don''t seem surprised," the King says when we get into the vige. The old houses were torn down. New foundations and homes are going up.

    "Why would I be? It''s a good choice. It gets us closer to the council,"

    Mackenzie''s reports are a little unsettling. In her time watching him, she''s killed four potential threats. Two wolves and two vampires. She''s also reported the names of the women who have tried to flirt with him. The names of those who have offered him deals. The names of those who have threatened him openly. And of course, the names of the assholes who sent the four suspects who tried to get to not only the King but Andromeda as well.

    "I''ve been to your loft," he says as we arrive in front of a massive house that''s further along than the others. There''s amusement in his tone.

    "I told you it was nuts," Iugh.

    "I walked through the entire loft. All four floors,"

    "I hope you found what you were looking for," I smirk.

    "How did you keep all of that hidden from your mate and his sister?"

    "Wrong question," I look up at him. His eyes zero in on me.

    "Why did you keep it from them?"

    9

    73%

    "Call it a hunch. Maybe it was the paranoia my father drilled into me. I was always a pawn and maybe I learned to love faster than I learned to trust,"

    "You trusted me,"

    "You''re the first person I trusted without having an emotional attachment. You never showed me anything other than the truth. I was your ve and even when it destroyed you to force me to submit, you stayed true to your word. I trust youpletely," "Is that the truth?" he asks, but I know he has his answer by the way he''s smiling back at me. The cocky fuck just wants me to say it out loud.

    "That is the truth, my King," I confirm.

    "How do you want to proceed then?" he asks. "What will our dynamic be in front of the other Kings?"

    "You''re not going to like what I have to say, Jonas,"

    "I rarely ever do, Pernicious," he sits back to look out the darkly tinted windshield.

    "I want to be your shadow,"

    "No,"All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    "There is no other way. If you tell them who I am. Even if you don''t tell them it''s me. I will be targeted because I am your mate. If they discover my true identity, you will be targeted because you are mine,"

    He reaches for the center console to open the door and I ce my hand over his.

    "I can''t ask you do to that,"

    "You''re not. You said we were in this together. This is how we do things, Jo,"

    "Perry, if something happens to-" I cup his face making him look at me. His eyes are pitch ck again. "I can''t lose you. What part of that don''t youprehend, Little Wolf?"

    "We''ve both lost enough for us to know what would happen to us if one of us dies, Jonas. We''re not like any of the other matings in the hierarchy. They know what we did to get you to where you are. We have the people on our side, but that doesn''t mean we have the Kings'' approval. "A war is going to start soon. You''ve seen everything in my loft, right? We are more than prepared to survive the changes that wille with that. We''re on enemy territory and I want us to be on the same page. By all means,"

    We stare at one another for a while. Long enough for me to see that he''s actually considering my offer. I need him to be on board with this because it''s not just our fate w¨¨ have to decide anymore. It''s everyone''s and I''ve failed more than once already. I can''t help him if he''s not willing to do what is required in the position we''re in.

    "By all means. What do you need?" he caves.

    "This is the part you''re not going to like, Jo," I squeeze his hand.

    "The other part wasn''t it?" he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before urging me to continue. "What is it?"

    "I need your idiot brother on the Local Lunatic taskforce,"

    As soon as the words leave my lips, his hold on my hand loosens and he rips his hand out of mine.

    "What?" he growls.

    0

    "He''s an asset, Jonas. You''re father turned him into a weapon and I want to use him for our benefit the way it was intended,"

    "You''ve got to be fucking kidding me," he hits the button, and his door is released.

    "Jonas," I call after him. I get out of the car and try to stop him. When he spins around his handnds on my throat. I stepped right into that.

    "I am going to make myself very clear, Little Wolf. And it is in your best interest to pay attention. If you so much as bring my brother''s name up again, I will send you back to Cliffside and you will never see me again,"

    "Jonas," Ss calls from behind him. He pulls me closer, his eyes intently on my own.

    "Did you hear me, Pernicious?" he growls tightening his grip.

    Goosebumps break out all over my skin. The scent of his rage is intoxicating and with my newly found love of all the shit I used to hate thanks to the blue wolfsbane, the promise of his violence is all very appealing. It''s not fear he''s instilling. It''s a lot more than that and I find myself smiling. My chest rumbles in a way it''s never before. It takes him a moment to catch on to what''s happening. I believe his kind call this a mate''s call.

    "I heard you, my King," I rx against him. "I''m just not sure it''s you who''s paying attention,"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

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 Bait Novel 161

    Chapter 161 Jonas

    I let her go and take a step back. My body is responding to the sound of my mate''s submission. My ears are hot and ringing as she stares back at me. The purr has stopped but my body hasn''t gotten the memo. "What did he do to you?" I ask looking her over. She breathes out exasperated and rolls her eyes.

    "Are you alright?" Ss catches up and steps between us.

    "We''re fine," Perry reassures him and smiles at him. "Dude,"

    "Perry," he grins. "I mean, Your Majesty,"

    "Perry is fine. I still can''t believe people call me that," she hugs him. He returns the gesture and then takes a step back politely.

    "Would you prefer Local Lunatic?" the twins rush over. again, Tulips throws an arm around her.

    ver. Lillies picks her up

    and spins her around. Once she''s on her feet

    "Tell us, Perry. How was the trip into the rabbit hole?" Tulips growls at her yfully.

    "The key to a happy life is a good tea and a touch of madness," she quotes and the three of themugh. "I missed you guys," she hugs them both. "How is Jordan?" "He''s been kind of low, but he''s hanging in there," Lillies shrugs.

    ""He''ll be backter," Tulips steps away from her.

    "What''s wrong?" Perry asks looking between them.

    "It''s looking like the council is siding with his parents," Lillies clears her throat. "And the only way to reverse it is if I kill Bunny or Bunny kills me,"

    "Fuck," she looks between them.

    "That''s it? You''re not going to bitch about it?" Ss scoffs.

    ""Excuse me?" I re at him.

    "Shit. My bad," he covers his mouth.

    "No, this is good. We need to keep the same dynamic. It''s less usible for others to believe I''m the Queen if we''re all hanging out,"

    "Oh, shit. What did she talk you into, man? It''s been six hours, Jo Ss growls at me. "We talked about this before you left,"

    "Is he always like that?" Perry muses.

    "Yeah, he''s dramatic as hell," I nod. "Perry is going to y shadow so she can spy on the council,"

    "What about the task force?" he starts to shake his head ring at her and it feels good to have someone on my side about this. "She''s working on it," I wave it off.

    "James is going to help me," she takes a step away from me when I reach for her. "If I can pin you, you let me do this,"

    "No,"

    .

    "Oh, that''s why he grabbed your crazy ass carlier," Ss snorts. "ick up girls,"

    "No, we don''t have a deal or no to-

    "No, to all of it. I''m not going to fight you and I''m not going to le that idiot out,"

    "Okay, no to the fighting and I''ll show you where I keep the gold bars.".

    "No, Perry," I snap.

    "Who would you suggest we rece him with, then?" challenges crossing her arms under her breasts. I''ve never seen her do that. She always goes over. "Mackenzie,"

    "Over Roy''s dead body," she shakes her head.

    "She''s not going to ept him,"

    "She''s not legally allowed to reject him either. You know exactly what a mate bond is," she shrugs it off.

    "Jordan,"

    "Jordan is the team leader already. The twins don''t have the training required to pull this off. Nor do they have the stomach to be able to handle what we''re going to do,"

    "You''re not letting him out, Perry. I''m not letting that fucking asshole anywhere near you," I try to stay calm.

    "We have time to change our minds," she smiles. Her eyes snap to the open road. "Someone''sing,"

    I take a look to see Rick''s trucks headed this way and when I turn my attention back to her, she''s gone.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    "What the fuck?" Ss and the twins look around. Not even her scent lingers.

    Choosing to ask about thatter, I give my attention to the Alpha King as he gets out of the back seat and holds the door open. Melody and my sister both slide out after him. Guards from the two other trucks with them start bringing shopping bags out. "Why are you guys all standing around?" Andromeda asks.

    "Yeah, why?" Melody asks cing her little hands on her hips. Rick rolls his eyes.

    "Where''s your new shadow?" he asksing over to us. I look around to find Perry sitting on the top pirs of the newly built main house. I point up at her.

    "She''s not the meet-and-greet type," I say.

    "Is she from your mom''s pack?"

    "No, she''s from Cliffside. Kind of a hermit, but one of our best shadow operatives,"

    His eyes stay on her a little too long for my liking. He waves his hand and someone brings him aptop carrier.

    "We have to talk,"

    I look up at her. She gives me a single nod. An ear-piercing whistlees out of her and the twins walk away in different directions. Ss takes a deep breath and motions us to go inside. Andromeda and Melody go inside giggling. Rick snaps his

    18:38 Sat, Nov 30 @B.

    fingers and his guards take their things inside.

    -Do you remember when you called me spoiled?- I ask her.

    -I still firmly believe that.- she says and I can actually tell she''s smirking.

    D

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    I roll my eyes and follow after the others. I lead them into my new study. Some things are still wrapped in stic. Ss pulls. the protective stic off the sofas and clears the coffee table for us. I help him and I see the disapproval in the Alpha King''s eyes, but he says nothing. "Is it important?" I ask.

    "A veryrge portion of blue monkshood has gone missing," he says and ces theptop in front of me.

    There in as day is fucking Perry making a deal with some rogue asshole. Well, it''s just the back of her head. I lean in as if to try and take a better look.

    "What am I looking at?"

    "Surveince footage. That''s Perry. See the date?" he asks annoyed. "Where is she?"

    -I''m not letting up on the James thing, Jonas. You know I''m right- she says in my head and the rage it sparks is exactly what she intended.

    "What the fuck do you mean where is she? You know where she is," I growl.

    That''s it, Lycan King. Bite his fucking head off. Just don''t let it all out. You still have to deal with me.- bitch. There''s the little terrorist I fell for.

    "Look, I don''t care what you did to make this happen. A deal with the devil. Necromancy. Fucking her corpse under the moonlight. Perry is an asset of the Alpha King''s realm and we''re going to need her for whates next, Jonas,"

    -Be very careful with what you say next, Lycan King. He''s baiting you. Calm down. Take a couple of deep breaths and y this out-smart.-

    I do as she asks and sit back.

    "Do you think I''d be here without her if she were alive?" I ask him. For a moment, I let my guard down. Months of being without her and the relief I feel to have her this close flood through me and I look back down at theptop. "I have the blue monkshood. I give you that. One of my leading psychiatrists is using it forbat programming and criminal reprogramming.

    "My brother is one of his test subjects and he''s of royal blood. It takes more than just a little to get him anywhere. It was Perry who suggested the blue monkshood. She connected me with this fucking rocker-looking rogue in Gorgon City. I don''t even remember his name. I do remember his mate was a Wolfe. She sat down with him before we got married,"

    The look of regret he looks back at me with almost makes me smile. He shuts theptop and sits back. He scratches the back of his neck and lets out a heavy sigh. I look over at Ss and motion him to get out. He does without hesitation. He closes the doors behind him. "I''m sorry, Jonas," he says sincerely.

    "Don''t worry about it. I get it. I miss her too. I just don''t see why you''re so infatuated with this,"

    "I''m gonna tell you something that can never get out," he sits up, rubbing his face hard. "Perry Nelson was my cousin. Her real mother was my Dad''s sister. I was trying to get her set up on the council before she revealed that she was going feral. "Sebastian Nelson had a rtionship with my aunt before they found their mates. She was pregnant with Perry when she found hers. Her mate tried to kill her and the baby, but Nelson got to them. My aunt wasn''t saved, but she was. He had 18:38 Sat, Nov 30 OB

    already found his mate and was going to reject her. Perry was with my parents when Tech released his profile.

    31%

    "Amelia wasn''t her biological mother and she couldn''t have more children. She was a former blood ve. I wanted to tell her that before she died. I wanted to show her that she had family and that we wanted her to be with us. I just never got the chance to. I had more than one opportunity and when it came down to it, I would always choke,"

    "Was your aunt''s mate a Lycan?" I ask.

    "How did you know that?" he nods.

    I look over his shoulder at the balcony where Perry is standing. all makes sense, now. Perry''s mother was infected by the bites of her mate while she was pregnant with Perry. It worsened with Darren''s bite and then mine.

    The Alpha King turns around to see her hand standing there.

    -Perry?-

    "Is something happening outside?" Rick turns his attention back to me.

    "What the fuck did you just say?" Perry barges in. He stands up looking between the two of us. I don''t have to say a single thing because he knows. The moment she spoke up. He knew. "Perry?"

    "Repeat what you just said, Alpha King," she growls.

    "You''re a Lycan," he says looking between us, and thenughs. "I knew it. You''re alive,"

 Bait Novel 162

    COMMENT

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    My ears are burning. Something inside of me is hurting and because of the blue wolfsbane, I can''t tell what it''s supposed to be. The Alpha King and I are staring at one another with disbelief. I can''t believe the words that just came out of his mouth and he can''t believe what I look like now. I think my thing should surpass his.

    "You''re lying," I step closer. The Lyc

    "Perry-"

    King steps between us putting his hands up to keep me from getting any closer.

    "I''m not," the Alpha King repeats. "Shit, this is not how I wanted you to find out,"

    "What are you talking about? There is no fucking way-"

    "Perry, why the fuck would I make this up? What do I have to gain?" he tries to step closer.

    "I wouldn''t," the king stops him. "She''s a newly shifted Lycan, Rick,"

    "It''s not telepathy," I turn away from both of them.

    "What?" the Alpha King asks.

    "Your power is kic," it seems to click in the King''s head. "Oh, shit,"

    "How do you know that?" the Alpha King asks visibly getting angry.

    "Fuck," my body is a live wire now.

    Everything I''ve worked so hard to prepare for feels like it''s crashing down on me again. But it all makes sense now. Dr. Szar tried to get me to use the telepathy using the notes from others like them and I couldn''t get a hold of it because it wasn''t the same thing. "How the fuck do you know that?" the Alpha King demands.

    "Because I have it too," I turn around to make sure the King doesn''t give out my perfect spy skills. His eyes look down at my hands. "Everywhere. It''s not just my hands like you,"

    "How do you know I have that?"

    "Come on, Godrick. It''s so obvious. I''ve seen you get shot at and not get hit by people who never miss. Yours doesn''t have a color. Mine does. Why?"

    "It could be thebination of our strengths," the Lycan King answers.

    "What? What strengths?" I ask.

    "It''s dormant for me, but it traces back in my lineage," he tries to exin.

    "The telepathy and gundo-shots," I read a lot about both his bloodlines and why his pelt is the pretty gray shade it is.

    "We should talk about this when we don''t havepany," the King suggests.

    "Fuck off," the Alpha King scoffs. "I''m a little confused. How did you turn? I''ve been studying Lycan biology and there haven''t been any advances in turning wolves or Hellions in centuries. What the fuck is this?"

    "It''s actually a Hellionw that made it happen. The triads," The King sits down. "Her mother was attacked by a Lycan, she was mated to a half Lycan and was marked, and then I marked her,"

    "So that''s it? A triad iming?" the Alpha king asks.

    "I''m not sure. I''d have to get my expert to confirm, but it looks like it," the King nods. "Come here, Perry. Sit down. I''ll get you some water,"

    He holds out his hand for me and I go over to him. My mind feels like it''s caught in a spin. He kisses the top of my head when I sit next to him and he excuses himself. The Alpha king sits down across from me concerned etching his features and I have to look away. "It kind of hurts that you didn''t tell me you were alive. I thought we were friends,"

    "Friends don''t send friends undercover on missions that could result in them getting killed," I growl at him. He flinches.

    "I deserve that," he nods. "If it helps, I''ve always known you would make it back. I was right,"

    "I need proof,"

    "Of course," he immediately opens up theptop on the ss table between us. His hands move expertly over the keys even as he sneaks nces up at me.

    Over the years, from the moment we met, the Alpha King and I had an understanding. It would actually drive Darren insane. He would tell me the Alpha King was interested in more than being my friend. I chalked it up as Darren being a possessive asshole and it turns out I was mostly right. I never predicted that we would get along the way we did because we were connected. I mean me a princess of the court? That''s crazier than me being the Lycan Queen.

    When he turns theptop around I take my eyes off him and look down at the DNA results shared between us. I lean forward to cross-check the results and sure enough, they''re as real as me being alive.

    That means Amelia Nelson was never my mother. It means my father had me suppress my wolf as a beta because he was protecting me. It means my entire life was fucked because my asshole dad couldn''t keep his fucking cock in his pants. I went fucking feral because I genuinely believed I was a beta and tried to help myself the way a beta does. I could have saved my wolf if I had known.

    "Fuck," I shout and theptop flies across the room. "How did you find out?"

    "You''re not going to like the answer, Perry," he shakes his head. "Godrick," I warn him. He smiles and shakes his head.

    "I wanted you," he admits.

    "Excuse me?"

    "I''d never met anyone who could keep up with me intellectually, Perry. I knew you were mated. When we were in Afghanistan you bled on my jacket. You fucking saved me. I couldn''t think about anything else as I carried you back to base. I ran your DNA to see how bad it would be if I were to break your connection to Phurry,"

    "What the fuck, Godrick?" I stare back at him in disbelief.

    "I know," heughs like it''s funny. "But I didn''t and I found this. I started looking into your Dad''s case. He was my aunt''s guard before he became a Knight. He became a Knight so that when he proposed to her, my grandfather wouldn''t be opposed. I found some of her journals under the floorboards in Mel''s room. I can give them to you. She loved him. I just wanted to help,"

    "I need some space from you. Leave,"

    "Okay," he stands up. "I''m sorry you had to find out this way, Perry. Thest thing I wanted was for you to get hurt. I understand,

    38 SAL, NOV JU

    "No, you don''t. How can you possibly understand?" I growl at him. Hurt crosses his features but he simply nods and walks

    away.

    "You''re not an only child, Perry," he says from behind me, "If Tripping the bandaid off, I might as well tear the whole thing off. Her name is Bethany. She''s older than you. Alpha of Petals in the Moonlight. If you can recover what''s in theptop. It''s under the Perry restoration file,"

    "Just go," tears stream down my face as I stare at the ce he had been sitting in.

    Momentster, the King returns with a ss of water as promise. He sits next to me and holds the ss out for me to take. I ept it and take a sip.

    "This is not how I expected your return to y out," he says gently.

    "What did you expect?" I pull the stic over the ss table and sit the ss cup on top. This is really pretty and I don''t want to dirty it. "You''re going to need coasters if you''re going to keep it clean,"

    "Fuck the table," he turns my head so I can face him. "I expected to bring you back here. Show you around so you can see how much progress we''ve made. Then I wanted to take you on my desk," he points over at it where theptop is all smashed up. "To show you how much I miss you,"

    "Can we skip the other stuff until tomorrow and get to thest part?"

    He smirks, gently caressing my bottom lip.

    "You definitely get that from your promiscuous father," he jokes. If it were anyone else, I would have punched him straight in the mouth, but I find myselfughing with him.

    "You''re a piece of shit," I shake my head.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.

    "I learned from the best, Princess," he grins.

    "Do not call me that. I am not and never have been," I shove his face. He growls pulling me into him. He lifts me and settles me over hisp.

    "The important thing is that you''re now my Queen and my Queen needs to be taught a fucking lesson," he nips at my neck.

    Like before when his hand was around my throat, my body responds. The sound thates out of me when his massive hand cracks across my ass makes him growl and I find myself pinned to the couch. His eyes bore into mine and for the first time since letting him touch me, I don''t feel sick to my stomach or any of the guilt that came with giving over to someone who isn''t Darren.

    "If one of us isn''t bleeding at the end of this, we did something wrong." Iugh.

    "That right there should probably be the motto of our legacy, Little Wolf,"

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 Bait Novel 163

    1059%

    was born.

    Bethany Sterling the alpha of Petals in the Moonlight is everything I''m not. She grew up the daughter of the former Luna. Bethany''s father, the alpha of the pack, epted her as one of his own. Having two kids with his mate who died during childbirth when his second son Bethany''s brother, Marcus was killed in a raid that Darren and Roman caused for the old man. That is why Bethany is now the alpha. She isn''t mated and is three years older than I am. The resemnce is uncanny. It''s like looking at a photograph of me before turning. I close the tab and sit back against the headboard of our bed.

    The King is sound asleep face down-one arm around my waist If I try to leave the bed he pulls me back.

    How do I cope with knowing I have a sister and extended family? Where do I even begin to process everything that happened with my mother? I love Amelia Nelson. Everyst bit of her was beautiful. There''s a deeply rooted resentment toward both of them for never telling me the truth and a newly found respect for the woman I call Mom.

    She raised a pup that was never hers to raise. It''s umon for a female wolf to be able to let go of the fact that her mate was a fuck boy and take their mistake to love as one of her own. Because that''s what she did. I never felt like anything other than her baby. Despite her deterioration after my father''s death, she loved me. The patience and nurture I received were that of a mother.

    The moment I found out I had been pregnant, I knew I wanted to love the little thing growing inside of me as much as she loved me. If it''s something that may happen to me in the future, I feel like I have a great example to take from. My only regret was that I didn''t do more to show her how much I appreciated her for everything that she tried to do for me.

    "I can smell your brain burning," the King''s groggy voice lifts goosebumps all over. "I''m a little disappointed that after all that, you''re still awake,"

    "I haven''t moved because I feel you everywhere,"

    We both renewed our marks and moving too much was out of the question until the bites and scratches healed up. He takes his tablet from me and holds it up to make sure it''s his. My death date is his password. He''s just as predictable as the former Queen. Sentimental and soft. It''s my favorite part of him.

    "I just wanted to see what she looked like," I say after a while.

    "Your mom?"

    "My sister. I know what Princess Adeline Savage looked like. There''s a huge portrait of her at the Alpha''s court. Our mothers are both ice queens,"

    He pulls me down so I cany back and then covers me with the sheets that are protecting his modesty. Not that he has any.

    "It''s a good thing he didn''t meet my mom then," he mumbles in my ear.

    "He might have. At this point, we should keep track of all the Lunas who weren''t deflowered by that asshole,"

    His body shakes when heughs silently.

    "Try to get some sleep,"

    "It''s seven-fifteen. That''s not going to happen,"

    He growls and turns around to sit up. He looks back at me annoyed before getting up to walk to the bathroom in all his naked glory. I follow after him and start up the morning routine I''ve grown used to. It''s time to break it but with everything that happened with my arrival, I think I''m going to keep it for a while. I dig out a pair of leggings and a windbreaker from the luggage the King brought for me from Cliffside. As soon as he''s

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    15:46 Sun, Dec 1 G.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.

    Chapter 163-

    finished I sneak into the shower just to wash off some of-that''s not important. I get cleaned up and head downstairs to try and burn off some of this excess energy if I n on being helpful today.

    As soon as I''m out the door, Jordan is by my side. I look up at him and smile. He returns it but not the way he used to. He looks tired and stressed out. But his eyes are filled with something I''m all too familiar with. That''s good. It means he''s not giving up without putting up one hell of a fight. "I need this," he says and I nod.

    "The first one back has to talk first," I challenge. He grins and tag me before taking off.

    Iugh, pushing myself to catch up with him. This is the first time I get to run outside and to say I''m getting carried away is an understatement. Back at the institution I was on a special treadmill, but getting on that thing and getting my heart. pumping became something I looked forward to every morning. The strength of three or four alphas has nothing on the power I have now.

    -Is it okay if I shift?- I ask the King not wanting to start amotion out here.

    -Are you okay?- he answers immediately.

    -Yeah, I just really want to.-

    -Let go- he encourages.

    That''s all the reassurance I need. I poke at Jordan''s side and press up against the sort of band that is around me constantly. I drop on all fours without stopping. It doesn''t hurt, the feeling is hot, but by the time I''m free the air around me feels amazing. The cold autumn air nips at my skin as the two of us push ourselves. Jordan yfully nips at my ankles as we run the territory. The trees provide the perfect cover and on instinct, I jump up into the trees hopping from one branch to another. It doesn''t take long for the massive gray Lycan to catch up with us.

    It starts as I game for him. A chase of cat and mouse. He stays on the ground watching for my movements. He has an advantage given how bright my skin is against the warm autumn shades. He jumps up when I teasingly move past him. This was always a very important part of wolves. Mates running was as essential as our skin sides getting along. This feels no different than that. It''s a powerful instinct to run to him and pull back so he can chase after me.

    Jordan pulls away when the King hops up into the trees to try and catch me. Iugh every time he''s inches away from getting to me. I get ahead and focus on my breathing the way Ally taught me.

    I shut my eyes and listening for him. His heart is beating frantically. I can feel his excitement in my chest as he moves around trying to find me. His movements are minimal, nearly soundless, but fast. I smile to myself when he moves past me. I crouch down on the branch I''m standing on watching him move around trying to catch my scent. I take a deep breath and lean back against the tree getting ready to pounce on him. It only takes a second.

    My eyes snap open and suddenly he''s standing in front of me. I growl not expecting to find him there. His massive hand closes around my muzzle as he leans in with a satisfied smirk on his wolfy features "Try again, Snowke," he purrs. "I can y this game with you all day,"

 Bait Novel 164

    "I have to admit that you are kinda intimidating in Lycan form, Jordan says as we wait for our smoothie order.

    "Thank you. That is always the goal. I have trouble with it because I''m adorable, but the Lycan Goddess of the moon seems to have taken a liking to me this time around,"

    "I have missed your sick jokes," heughs.

    The King returns with our drinks. He insisted on watching the teens make our order. I''m pretty sure he''s going to be trending on Quick Howl. #TheKinglsAFreak. Posted anonymously by yours truly. Roy and I are going to have words if he tries to filter it out. "I have to head back. Lillies is here," he points out the window. "Stay out of trouble,"

    "Don''t jinx us, Lycan King," I growl at him. He almost cracks a smile before he pulls away with two smoothies in hand.

    "I am so d you''re here. He was driving us fucking insane," Jordan watches him get in the G-Wagon with Lillies. She waves at us before she takes off. "Why the hell did he send for her? Lillies is the worst driver ever,"

    The sound of something breakinges from outside. The room shifts. The morning smoothie people rush to the window phones in hand. Jordan and I look at one another and immediately get up.

    "You two were with that guy. He paid for your smoothies," the cashier shouts.

    told you he jinxed us," I growl and turn to the kid at the register. "Okay, Kid. That was the Lycan King and one of his many personal assistants,"

    "The Lycan King," someone repeats. I look back to see the teenage assholes already tapping away at their phones.

    "This is actually turning out to be great for me," I admit. "Pen and paper so I can give you the number of who''s going to pay for that. Tell him Jordan and P. Prince gave you this number,"Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "My manager is going to be pissed, man," she rolls her eyes exasperatedly and hands me a pen from her apron and her order pad.

    "Is that smart?" Jordan asks.

    "I don''t know. It''s Roy''s problem now," I shrug and write down his number.

    "Tell him P. Prince gave you that number. I''m not a part of this," Jordan tells the girl. She turns bright red andughs unable to hold his gaze.

    I slide my shades on and my hoodie as we head out. The two of usugh when we see that the wooden fence by the entrance sign is lying in the middle of the road. Jordan holds out his smoothie for me to take. He rushes out onto the road and picks up the two logs tucking them under one arm so he can get the other pieces.

    The kids in the smoothie shope out amazed that he picked that like it was nothing. He ces the pieces on the grass so it''s not in the way of anything.

    "Sorry," he apologizes. "My mate will pay for that. I promise,"

    Iugh as the girls all swoon over him as he jogs back over to me. I hand him his smoothie as they keep snapping pictures of

    1. us.

    "There is going to be a whole-ass misunderstandingter. I am convinced. Jonas seriously jinxed the fuck out of us,"

    "What are we doing?" he smiles waving back at his newly found fangirls.

    1/4*

    III

    15.40

    "I need to talk to the Alpha-King so he can get me some stuff from Alpha Scofield,"

    "Why don''t you go yourself?"

    "I''m supposed to be dead,"

    "They just snapped pictures of you,"

    "I don''t look like myself, but Alpha Scofield would know it was me. I''ve worked with him before. A few times. He''s cool as hell. His daughter Temperance and I are also friends. She''s the same age as Andromeda," "Again, they just snapped pictures of you,"

    "Yeah, but there''s a re with our eyes in pictures. They need that gold lense that Dr. Szar has,"

    "You know he''s the King''s age?" he smiles big.

    "Yeah, I figured. They seemed acquainted,"

    "Yeah, they hated each other. He''s an alpha and theypeted for top of the ss. He''s the other gray Lycan in Cliffside,"

    "Are there more?"

    "There are about twenty others, but not in Cliffside. I actually wanted to run something by you. My cousin is part of the armada in Bora Bora. I know you still have two openings to fill since Prince James is taking one," "Do you have a resume?"

    "Yeah," he nods taking his phone out.

    "And you trust him?"

    "I do. He was the one who helped me get the twins here when my parents found out I wasn''t rejecting them,"

    "Let me check him out and we''ll talk," I agree. "What''s his name?"

    "Don''tugh," he warns me. "You''re already smiling, Perry,"

    "I am," Iugh. "Just tell me,"

    "His name is-" he mumbles something under his breath.

    "What was that?" Iugh harder.

    "His name is Michael," he growls.

    "You''re joking," I stop. Blood creeps up his neck and turns his fair skin bright red. I burst intoughter holding onto his arm. "You can stop now,"

    "I''m. Trying," I choke out between breaths. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes at me dramatically.

    "I know you''re my Queen and all, but fuck you, Perry," he growls only making meugh more.

    "Aww, man. That was great," I try to calm myself. He grins and looks down at me as straighten myself up. ""You''re an asshole,"

    "I''m just trying to raise your spirits, Jordan. You also have to admit that it''s funny," I take a sip from my cup.

    15:46 Sun, Dec 1 G.

    "How did Wondend go?" he smirks.

    "As expected,"

    "And the blue wolfsbane?"

    "It did exactly what we predicted it would. The experiment has so far been a sess. Just have to test it out in the field,"

    "It was insane for it to be tested on our Queen first," he says quietly.

    59%

    "Darren was going to test it on Mackenzie first," I admit. "That''s how confident he was. I was the one who told him to hold off until we were sure was starting a feral state,"

    "What if it worked on you because you were no longer feral?"

    "My brain scans still show the severe trauma from fighting off my wolf," I reach into my pocket and pull up the downloads. "See, this is thest scan Oz took before the wedding. This is the first one she took when she saw I was healing," I show him. "This here is the first one Ed took and this is thest one he took before he released me yesterday,"

    "Thest one ispletely different,"

    "If this works on James, Darren would have cracked reversing feral damage,"

    "How do you feel?" he askspletely interested.

    "Honestly, I felt like I was suffocating. I still feel the loss of my mate and my family. I still feel really bad about everything I did, but it''s not this infinite waveing to kill me anymore,"

    He pulls me into a hug and I return it.

    "I love that for you, Perry. You look better. Way better. You even smell nice now," he releases me.

    "I didn''t before?"

    "That little burning scent you used to have? Fuck all that. Bunny set up a humidifier for me when I went home,"

    "That hurts my feelings," I shove him yfully.

    "You used to hurt my nose so we''re even," he bumps me. "Where are we going?"

    "To the council''spound to see the alpha King. We talked about this. You know what we haven''t talked about at all, your trial,"

    "There''s honestly not much to tell," he shrugs.

    "Tell me anyway,"

    "My parents are legally disowning me and suing me for breaking my engagement to Primrose Caspian,"

    "Is she important?"

    "She wasn''t, but she''s now the prime minister of the Bora Bora region. She was elected this year. The rumor of our breakup spread during her campaign and her family sued my parents. They''re also demanding refunds for the houses and shit they bought for us along with the fifty-eight million dor wedding we didn''t go through with,"

    "Jesus,"

    "My parents want me to pay for it,"

    "And you can''t?"

    "I can. The twins want to as well, but there''s still the matter of my title as their heir,"

    I000 D., 59%Z

    "Do you even want to be a Duke?" I ask. "The way I see it, they let you go and you''re done with all that. You won''t have anyone talking shit to your mates. You won''t have to worry about what anyone thinks anymore. You''ll be free to be Jordan, Michael''s cousin. You can earn your own way and show them that you don''t fucking need them for shit. Doesn''t that sound less stressful?"

    "When put like that, yeah," he nods.

    "Give them what they want onest time and be rid of the one thing that''s holding you back. You''ll still be the best fucking shadow in the entire realm. I mean besides me I mean,"

    "I don''t understand them," he says sadly. I loop my arm through his and lean against his arm since I still can''t reach her shoulder.

    "It''s not your job to. One day when you''re running the entire shadow division, they''ll see they made a mistake by sending you away and that they raised a really fucking cool guy," "Thanks," he smiles.

    "Till then you have to put with my shit. Just know you''re my little brother now. No backing out,"

    "I''m older than you,"

    "Little brother," I repeat. "I''m a girl and I''ve been an orphan a lot longer than you. Makes me older and wiser,"

    "Makes you crazier," heughs.

    "Hey, I take offense to that, Jordan, Michael''s cousin,"

    "I hate you," he shoves me yfully. "I shouldn''t have told your ass,"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 165

    Jordan and I make it to thepound and split up. Moving past the Lycan House, I almost give away my position when t see the G-Wagon parked with one tire up on the curb. Jordan was right, Lillies is a terrible driver. Why did Buniny let her drive the car when we returned from picking up the former Quen? I must have beenpletely out of it because I didn''t notice how bad it had been. I was behind her.

    I make my way to the Wolf House and sneak in through one of the open windows on the second floor. It''s a huge walk-in closet filled with suits and princess dresses for Melody who love to be around her eldest brother. He''s been taking her ces with him since she was two. That little girl is trained to escape and has quite the set of lungs on her.

    Wild to consider her my cousin now. The only princess at court is spoiled by her six brothers and it shows in the just the dresses and costumes in this room. I go over to the door and listen for footsteps, breathing, and my recent obsession thanks to the King, heartbeats. When I get nothing. I reach for the golden handle and press it down gently. I slip out into the hallway slowly. I take a deep breath to find the Alpha King''s scent and follow it down the round staircase. When I get to the bottom, I hear a few voices. Most of them female, but none are the Alpha King''s. I continue to follow his scent until the source leads me to a set of double doors. There is literally no one around. It makes sense considering he''s here, but still. Where is the top-notch security? I tap on the door.

    "Come in," he calls out.

    could have killed you and you wouldn''t have known any better," I slip inside.

    "Why weren''t you announced?" he stands up.

    "We snuck in," Jordan walks out of what I think is a bathroom.

    "What the fuck?" the Alpha King growls at him. "How long have you been in there?"

    "Three minutes," Jordan answers checking his watch.

    "Come on, Cuz. This is on you. Where is your security team?" Iugh pping Jordan''s hand when he holds it out for a low five.

    "Who the hell is this?" he asks annoyed and sits back down.

    "This is my shadow. Jordan. Jordan this is my cousin the Alpha King. People call him Rick apparently," I introduce them. "Jordan," he holds out his hand to the King politely.N?velDrama.Org content.

    "Godrick," he takes Jordan''s hand. "What can I help you with, Perry?"

    "You promised me Princess Adeline''s diaries and I need a favor,"

    "Sure," he motions us to take a seat.

    A

    "Take your time," Jordan says

    and walks

    back the way

    he came.

    "That''s a closet," Godrick calls out.

    "He knows. He just came out of there," Iugh.

    He smirks and reaches for the drawers at his desk. My body tenses up and I watch him closely as he retrieves four brown leather-bound books to set on his desk. He shuts the drawer and slides the stack over to me.

    1833

    Mon, Dec

    "As promised, 4.40%

    "You know you could have just told me," I say reaching for the tops one just to have something in my hands. This is already ufortable enough. Her writing is familiar. Where have I seen this before? I set it back down before I think about it too much.

    "At first, I wanted to find out how a princess of the court ended up in Redwood City and then a traitor of the crown," he says quietly. "Also, how would you have brought it up? Oh, yeah my terrorist friend, we''re first cousins. Your mother wasn''t your biological mother and your father lied to you your entire existence. You''ve never really been all there,"

    "Fuck off. We''ve known each other for seven years now. We''ve killed together and we''ve cked out partying together. You had plenty of opportunities to do it. You just didn''t want to lose your hacking buddy,"

    "True," he shrugs. "What else do you need?"

    "Alpha Scofield has one of Darren''s old coding programs. It''s called the Jericho. I want it back along with the red Alienwareptop it was created in,"

    "First, do I want to know what that is?"

    "It''s a decryption algorithm I need toplete my supeputer in Cliffside,"

    "There is no supeputer in Cliffside. We would have detected it,"

    "Sure," I nod. "I wouldn''t doubt it. But I still need thatptop from him,"

    "Why can''t you just go in and take it?"

    "Godrick," I re at him. Heughs.

    "You think that because we''re rted I''m going to do this for you?"

    "You''re the Alpha King. You can have someone go pick it up,"

    "What do I get in return?"

    ""You''re an ass. What do

    you want?"

    "A real alliance with your mate," he says tossing a thick file on the desk between us. "These are very restricting terms,"

    "What you and the King talk about is none of my business,"

    "You''re the Lycan Queen,"

    "Yes, I am and I choose to stay out of the politics. You know I''ve never liked them,"

    "Perry, you can''t run ck ops and not make it political,"

    "Yes, I can. I''ve been doing it for years. Not only did the old man give me missions I hated, but so did you. You don''t want someone who wants the same things you do, you want someone obedient and that''s not me. Not anymore," ""Just take a look at it,"

    "I wrote some of that for my King before I died, Alpha King. I know what''s in there. An alliance has to be equal. You know that. If Jonas is drawing a line between our people it''s there for a reason,"

    "He''s paranoid,"

    "I sure hope so after everything he''s been through. Godrick, you''ve lived a very pretty life. Your parents didn''t fuck you or

    18:33

    Mon, Dec Chapter 165

    40%

    your brothers up the way his parents did him, his brother, and their sister. He''s just looking out for his people. I''m not going to ask him to be a little more flexible because we''re rted now Fuck that sounds weird," "Our alliance is more than just paperwork now. We''re bound by blood. You made that happen as his Wolf Bait,"

    "See, the problem is that I''m no longer a wolf. I know it''s not fair to you but being a wolf wasn''t a walk in the park for me. I don''t owe the packnds a single fucking thing. Especially knowing how thy father was treated despite doing everything he did for the crown. Those are the King''s terms and I refuse to go behind his back with promises that aren''t mine to make,"

    He sits back annoyed with me and res at the contract in front of him. I stand by what I said. If I start making exceptions now, things will get out of hand. The King deserves someone who is going to stand with him no matter what and this qualifies as one of those moments.

    "Nova hasn''t detected a supeputer anywhere outside of Lockwood City and Redwood,"

    "That''s because I built it. What good would it be if others could detect my things?" I stand up taking the diaries with me. "It''s fine if you don''t want to do this for me. Just be warned that if I try to go in there to take it back and that psycho or his mate catches me. I''m killing them. "They have five kids, Gedrick. I''m trying to keep my hands clean as long as I can. I could have leveled Lockwood City and Sherwood Oaks to get my mother-inw back. I just don''t want to be that person anymore,"

    "You picked a hell of a time to grow a fucking conscience, Cousin, he huffs.

    "Ha. Jonas said the same thing a few months ago," I smirk. "Just remember that I''m choosing not to be like that, Rick. It doesn''t mean I''m no longer capable of it. We have equal power now. Don''t tempt me,"

    0

 Bait Novel 166

    Theptop and all eight USB ports were delivered before dinner I have them set up in order on the King''s new desk. I have to be really careful when turning this thing on because one wrong move and the old man is going to know I''m alive.N?velDrama.Org content.

    This is how the King finds me. Bond Viin-ing at his beautiful Rococo-style desk. In fact, the entire study seems to fit. The ceiling is a smooth white and ck marble masterpiece. Hand-painted. I''m not sure if the ck elegant pieces decorating the area around the base of the chandelier are wood carved or sculpted because whoever made them painted them ck and used gold to give it a really pretty texture.

    The trims and framed walls look amazing in all ck. Even the empty shelves are starting to look great.

    "What''s this?" he asks pulling me up from his chair so he can sit. sit on hisp as he reaches for one of the USBS.

    "Bomb codes," I answer truthfully. Yes, I lied to the Alpha King because so far, he hasn''t given me a reason to find trustworthy. Heughs probably thinking I''m joking. "I had the Alpha King deliver them to me. Alpha Scofield had them," "Are you serious?"

    "Yes," I nod. He reaches up to make me look back at him.

    "Are we talking about the little detonator that set off the bombs in Redwood?" he taps my

    chest.

    "No. There are sixty-eight bombs. One nted in the middle of everypound Darren and I built for the old man,"

    "What?"

    "Darren nted these when the old man made him take the oath and started making him build shit. I designed a lot of the security systems in each one. The only problem is that they''re detectable as soon as I log into thisptop. This can take out a little over half hisbs," "You want to take him out," he sits back holding the USB up. "Do we know what facility the kid is in?"

    "I''ve been thinking,"

    "Fuck," he pushes me off hisp. I turn around to sit on his desk. "I hate when you say that. It''s usually followed by something crazy,"

    "Hunter is one of many sessful experiments. The wraith wants the vampire King to resurrect the original gargoyle race, right? There are others. Gorgons, incubi, and other types of shifters. Who''s to say that he''s not attempting to bring back more extinct beings? What if there are more of those things down there? Can you imagine the damage they could cause if they''re allowed to fully mature?"

    "And there it is," he sighs.

    "You''re against this sitting there knowing that Lillies and Tulips might fight to the death over something as stupid as an old traditionalistw?"

    "Perry," he sighs scooting his chair closer. I lift my legs to recline them on his armrest. "These are two different topics,"

    "It''s one. Killing. No matter how you spin it. Death is the oue,"

    "These are kids we''re talking about,"

    "Okay, so let''s talk about this properly. Lillies kills Bunny, yeah? She absorbs her strength and bes the strongest bitch in our race. What do you think she''s going to do with that power after you fucks forced her to kill the living embodiment of her soul? Do you really think Lillies is going to hold back from taking revenge on all of you for making her do that?

    "Now, you know me. At least, the part of me that is a fully armed asset. You''ve heard me and others like me talk about the Falcon. What do you think he''s doing to those kids, right now? Cause I can tell you with confidence that he''s not using children''s books and art projects for color exposure in any of his experiments.

    "Allowing either of these things to fully develop into what they''re intended to be is dangerous, Jonas. We''re not prepared to take on an army of supernaturals like this. Because that''s what he''s building. An army.

    "We''re here sitting on our asses trying to be diplomatic with one another. Take subtle jabs at each other to see who cracks first. Meanwhile, he''s preparing to take us all out and I think he can do it if we''re not careful. The longer we wait to see what he does next, the worse things get for us,"

    "I know what you''re saying, Little Wolf. I get it. But if we start shit with this thing, he''s going to expose you. Mackenzie and your little friend in Magique City. Once you start fucking with his shit he''s not going to care about us making his profile public. We have to y this safe,"

    "The Rogue King said the same thing when I told him he shouldn''t have rejected his mission. ying it safe against him doesn''t work because he doesn''t y anything safe,"

    "We can''t go after this thing alone,"

    "So ask Rick," I mock his name and the Kingughs pulling me down to hisp. He pulls my hair back and gathers it in one of his hands. His yful demeanor changes into a more serious one and he pulls me closer.

    "I wasn''t sure you wanted to do this after everything that happened," he says gently. "I''ve gone through the ns you had in yourputer at your insane loft. Even with everything going on, I can''t help but think that neither of us is going to have peace of mind until that mother fucker is dead," his hand slides up my waist and stops just over my belly. "We can''t fully give in until the threat is eliminated. I want that for you and for your friends. It doesn''t look like he''s ready to let any of you go,"

    The seriousness in his tone strikes a cord inside of me. I remember the first time I brought this up to Darren. He thought I was joking and when he realized I wasn''t the p he gave me is one not even my father''s discipline could ever match. He made me swear I''d never think of it again much less say it out loud.

    It wasn''t until Rain that it crossed my mind again. If he knew I was pregnant, the Falcon would have done everything in his power to either get rid of him or take him from us. I was terrified when I told Darren because I thought he was going to tell me to get rid of it before the old man found out.

    Instead, he presented me with this. These eight USBS that connect to thisptop. Surely, the wraith has put up morebs and hidden bases all over the world, but these have just about everything the KNAVE has ever given back to him. Starting with Lycan Tech tower. Blowing them up ensures not only the files and experiments are destroyed, but the witnesses as well. Fucked up as it may be, it''s a necessary evil to protect those of us involved directly. We''re all traitors of the crown. I''m protected now as a Lycan. Mackenzie, Roman, Baby, and Violetta aren''t.

    Jonas is right. I can''t give more of myself when I have this monster breathing down my neck even if he doesn''t know I''m alive. Destroying the KNAVEpletely is the only way to ensure that what happened to us never happens again. Even if it means I have to spend the next hundred years in a fucking jail cell. I''d do it for the future that might not even be promised. I''ve been given a second chance and it''s disrespectful as hell for me to spit in the eye of fate a second time.

    "I hate you sometimes," I lean forward to rest my head on his chest.

    "Why?" he rubs my back gently.

    "Because I know you''re never going to stop trying to make me fall in love with you,"

    He stills, his breathing stops, and he pushes me back enough for him to look at me. I can barely hold his gaze and I really don''t want to but the fact is that it''s never really been up to me. He took the wheel the moment Calvin put me on my knees

    in front of him.

    019

    "Is it working?" he asks.

    "It''s not like you to fail at anything you do," I nod.

    3

    Before I can even think. I find myself sitting on the desk with him looming over me. His hand with all my hair in it pulls back hard enough to make my arch back for him. Iugh when his tongue licks it''s way up my throat before he pulls me to him. His lips crash against mine hard enough for me to tasteper.

    "I guess that makes two of us, Little Wolf," he says without breaking our kiss. "Onest thing before we go," he pulls my t-shirt up to expose my breasts. Go? I don''t want to go anywhere. Especially not now that his hands and his mouth are all over me. I cry out when his teeth sink into the bottom of my right tit. "Stop horsing around with your guard. I''m not going to like these little wolf assholes spreading false rumors about you. You''re mine and only mine,"

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 Bait Novel 167

    the King and me.

    Finally, today is the day I get to y the King''s shadow. The vampire king is back and is pretty upset about an attack on his household. While he''s yelling at the other kings, I am hanging out with the guards outside. Jordan is in the trees nearby keeping an eye out for both "You got a cigarette I can bum from you?" the vampire near me asks.

    I reach for the gold box I stole from James''s new roomN?velDrama.Org ? content.

    and oper

    it up

    offer

    him a joint.

    I knew they woulde in handy

    for more than settling down.

    "It''s not tobo," I warn her.

    "Jesse," she holds out her hand.

    "Prici," why is that the first name that popped into my head? I take her hand and offer her my lighter.

    Jesse is a tiny thingpared to me. She has to be five four or five, but her eyes give away what she is. A fire elemental. Her dark eyes glisten like moltenva. She''s Sporting a buzz cut and can see the beautiful reds and yellows of the dragon head tattooed on her scalp. When she takes a rip of the joint she looks back toward the entrance of the council and I see there''s more ink down her neck going into her leather jacket.

    "You''re interesting to look at," she says looking back at me.

    "You cut your hair like that to show off your ink or because you burn it off?" I shoot back.

    Sheughs shing me her fangs. Aristocrats always have shy jewels adorning their teeth. I want that now that my fangs are as visible as they are. It''s very pretty.

    "A little of both," she smirks.

    God, she is rocking the shit out of that ck lipstick and the ck and red smokey eye. She offers me the joint and I decline trying my best not to stare at her nonexistent eyebrows. It''s bold and a little intimidating.

    "If I get any worse, the kid is going to tell on me," I point over to Jordan. She chuckles and continues to smoke. "Were there any casualties?"

    "Two," she nods.

    "My condolences,"

    "Likewise. I hear your Queen just passed,"

    The two of us look up when the Lycan King''s roar echoes from inside. I whistle for Jordan and we move to get a better vantage point. I get to the top windows and push one open. Once inside I can see that the Alpha King is standing between the Lycan King and the Vampire King to keep them apart. "If I wanted to kill you, you''d be dead. Not here bitching," the King growls. I jump down when Jesse appears beside her King. "Your King has a big mouth," she hisses.

    "Your king tends to bitch," I shrug.

    With me close by the King settles down not wanting to start a fight anymore.

    "What would I gain from attacking you?" he asks. "I don''t have time for this shit, much less to be starting shit with anyone after you assisted my brother in trying to dethrone me, motherfucker,"

    17:13 Tue, Dec 3D.

    "It''s the perfect reason to retaliate, dog boy,"

    "I''ll break every fucking tooth in your mouth if you say that again, I growl.

    "What''s this, dog boy?"

    "I wouldn''t," the King warns him.

    "Your new b-"

    I don''t let him finish the sentence. My fist meets his mouth so hard his head whips back. His feet rock back almost tapping his face when he hits the ground. Jessees at me, fangs out. push the band around me out and p my hands. A burst of purple energy explodes out of me repelling her into the podium behind her.

    "I told you if you called him that again, I was going to break your fucking teeth in, asshole," I walk right up to him only for the Alpha King to get in my way.

    "Okay," he puts his hands up without meeting my eyes. "Let''s all take a deep breath and calm ourselves. Lycan King get your guard,"

    "Behind me," the King orders. "You''re done,"

    I clear my throat and take a step back. I turn my attention over to the unconscious vampire. She''s just lying there. My body is tingling with the promise of a fight, and I must remind myself that I have a role to y here. I can''t take things too far without the King''s consent. Letting them think I''m fucking him is better than them looking into this any further.

    You need better security,"

    I scoff as the Vampire King sits up spitting a mouthful of blood and teeth beside him. He looks up at me with a re and opens his mouth wide. I shutter when his teeth all start growing out of the bloody gums. He releases his wings using them to put him back on his feet. "Don''t," the King ces his big ass hand on my head to keep me from moving. "You deserved that. What the fuck are you doing?" he asks the vampire king. "You''re not going to like the response you''re trying for, Borigard. Put those away and check on the girl," "You''re telling me what to do now?" he growls.

    "We all are," a woman says from one of the other podiums. "What was the point of this meeting, Bo? What the fuck did you think was going to happen after the stunt you pulled in thest meeting?"

    I''m still processing that the Vampire King''s name is Borigard. He nces back at the woman and if I''m correct that''s the Supreme Mother. The top witch bitch. I don''t know why I expected her to be a very fancy woman, but she''s not. She''s a hot redhead in boho-style clothing and she looks more annoyed than worried. Her big green eyes move to me and she smiles. The vampire King listens and puts his wings away. He goes over to Jesse to check to see if she''s alive. I watch as he pricks his finger and drips a single drop of his blood into her mouth. It takes her a couple of seconds to sit up.

    "Get the fuck out. You''re fired," he growls at her.

    "Yeah, fired," she pushes him away. "No one else is here for you, old man. Not even your so-called son,"

    She brushes herself off and turns her re to me.

    "Not hard feelings?" I put my hands up. She looks at them and steps back.

    "What the fuck was that?"

    ""Power," I smile.

    17:13

    V

    &

    C

    "And it was beautiful, the witch says. "What''s your name gorgeous?"

    "None of your fucking business, Minerva," the king growls at her

    "I think the pretty girl can answer for herself," she pushes.

    "I think we''ve all had enough. This meeting is over," the Alpha king interjects yet again.

    "It''s very uncharacteristic of you to stand up for anyone, Rick. Especially someone who killed our Wolf Bait," she sits up straighter to re at him.

    "Pernicious Phurry died the Lycan Queen," he turns his attention to her. "She united our houses as his chosen mate,"

    "You know that''s absolute bullshit. He enved one of your best assets and then killed her. Why are you sticking your neck out for this asshole? We should wipe them all out. There can''t be more than a handful of them," that is thest line of defense of the human race. The head of the snake, Buddy Kirnd. Demon hunter extraordinaire.

    "It would be easier to flood the tunnels where the verminy their heads," I growl at him. Everyone turns to look at me. "A little water can be catastrophic to a little mortal like you,"

    "Now you''re talking mynguage, Snowball," the Vampire Kingughs.

    "We all have to keep our heads," the Alpha King tries again. "Think about what it would mean to attack each other recklessly. Perry didn''t die for any of you. Sheid her life down for Jonas. Yes, she was an asset of the crown, but she made a choice and it was him. I knew her for a long time and I can tell you that she didn''t do it because she was his ve. She was our Wolf Bait and if she were here she probably would have killed a few of us already. We have to be better,"

    They allugh and the tension in the room seems to dissipate. The King steps forward raising his right hand toward the broken podium. I watch bewildered when the wood splinters all gather up and mend as if nothing had ever happened to it. Everyone looks over at him as he takes a seat behind his podium.

    Since when can he do that? What the fuck?

    "Someone did attack Borigard and if it wasn''t one of us, that means there''s someone out there gunning for him. Any ideas who might hold a vendetta out for you?" he asks.

    "Fucking everybody," the Vampire King huffs. "I''m Borigard fucking Valentine,"

 Bait Novel 168

    Chapter 168 Jonas

    The rest of the meeting goes uneventful. Perry, Jordan, and I are the only ones left after nothing was solved and a whole lot more of the Vampire King''s bitching.

    "You need to control your anger," I scold her. She lets out a loud groan and rolls her eyes at me.

    "He started it," she spins around to face me.

    "It doesn''t matter. You chose this position. y the part,"

    I jump off the podium and head toward the door. Jordan goes up ahead while Perry stays behind me. I hate it. I want her at my side but there are a lot of eyes on us right now and if they see me show any kind of favoritism towards her, these vultures will pounce. "I apologize, my King," she says when we''re outside.

    "Just don''t let it happen again," I shrug it off.

    My phone begins to ping and Bunny drives up in our car. Lillies climbs out of the passenger seat and opens the back door for me. When I nce back at Perry and Jordan I see they already have their helmets on. Jordan takes the lead and we follow after him. Once we hit the highway back to Viper''s Lane, Perry and Jordan nk the sides of the car.

    "take it, it didn''t go well," Bunny breaks the silence.

    "Perry broke the Vampire King''s front teeth and almost killed his guard," I shake my head. "He thinks we''re the ones that attacked him,"

    "Could you have prevented that?" Lillies scoffs.

    "I could have," I admit.

    I just didn''t want to. A sick part of me wanted her to do it. That same part wanted to see how far she would be willing to go and I know if I had let her, she would have tried to kill him. Provoked him somehow to make it look like he was at fault and she had no other choice. The p sound her fist made when it collided with his mouth was satisfying. As good as the crunch of teeth cracking. He has been running his mouth for months now and no one dared get in his face like that. I snapped. Perry''s death is a sensitive subject for me. None of them have a right to speak about her in any kind of way. Especially not that fanged fuck.

    Then there was that p. I slight tap of her hands. Something that should not have made the impact that it did. She could have leveled the building. Not a single scratch was made. She also used that ability when she hit the Vampire King. He waspletely unprepared for what she did to him."

    The look on his face when she rushed him was magical. He went from not having a care in the world to having Perry as a potential life threat all in a split second. As someone who has been on the receiving end of her wrath, for a moment I felt bad for the old bat. He knows she pulled that punch. Had she taken a full swing she might have taken his head clean off his shoulders.

    It was beautiful.

    When we get back to the main house, Perry is after me like a mad woman. She ms the doors to my study behind her as soon as we''re alone.

    "What the fuck was that?" she demands. I smile and take a seat behind my desk. She doesn''t like that. I love how she looks all worked up like this. You fixed that, Chapter 168

    I did," I nod. Hurt crosses her features and I''m at her side immediately.

    "You hid that from me,"

    "It''s new,

    "You should have told me," she shoves me hard enough to make me step back.

    "I don''t see why it''s relevant. You know now,"

    "I tell you everything," she says stopping at the doors. "I thought you did too,"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!

    "Perry," I call after her. When she opens the doors, Ss and the twins are already waiting.

    "He''s all yours," she scoffs. I reach out for her tapping into the band-like feel of her abilities. She tries to keep going and even goes as far as grabbing the door frame when I pull at it dragging her back in. "Jonas, what the fuck?" "Get," I order the others.

    Ssughs and leads the girls away. Perry growls and drops to the floor refusing to give in. I let her go so I could shut the doors before she ran out. She growls and turns around to face me. She''s furious.

    "You''re an asshole,"

    "It''s not important,"

    "It''s important to me," she shouts. "When did it start?"

    "Around the same time you started shifting. It was subtle at first. With you this close, it''s getting stronger. I rarely use it,"

    She stays seated on the floor with her arms crossed over her chest. I crouch down next to her tucking the few strands of hair in her face behind her ear.

    "You mended that podium. That''s not telekinesis," she pushes.

    "All I did was fit the pieces back together. Had he gone back to it and applied any kind of pressure it would havee part again,"

    "You lied to me,"

    "No, I just didn''t tell you,"

    "You lied to me," she insists. "You told me that it was dormant because you''re gray,"

    "It was true at the time. Things are changing. I just didn''t want to worry you,"

    "Why would I be worried?" she pouts and I can''t bring myself from looking away from her lips.

    "A lot is going on, Perry. There are things we''re both learning about ourselves and I was going to tell you when you arrived but things didn''t go as nned and after. It felt like I had waited an embarrassingly amount of time and I took a page out of your book. I said fuck it. It is what it is. And now we''re here,"

    "What else is there?"

    "That''s it, I reach into my shirt to show her my pendant simr to hers. "I learning how to control it just like you are,

    "Tell me the truth" she stares at it.

    "That is the truth. Perry. I can''t even bring myself to lie to you. I''ve tried. I just don''t want you going out of your way to help 17.13 Tue, Dec J

    me with something yourcan''t. That''s like setting you up for failure and it feels wrong. I want you to get it out of your head

    "First, it''s too cool to get out of my head. Two, it''s literally my job as your mate to worry about you, even if I wasn''t. You''re still my husband. Death tried to do us part but here we fucking are. Still kicking. Three," I jump back when her hand cracks should spar," me across the forehead. "I think we

    "I''m not going to spar with you,"

    "Please," she begs. "You can''t hit me if I don''t want you to," she smirks. "And I''ll make it worth your while,"

    "Sex promises don''t work on me, Little Wolf. It''s a lot easier for me to get away with shit in that regard," Iugh. ot easier for the to get away with shit in that regard,ugh.

    "Spar with me and I''ll let you take me to the one good restaurant here in Nova. And then we spend the night at my loft so I can show you the weapons that can kill the Vampire King," she shrugs. "And then you can make it worth my while on top of the stacks of money I''ve stolen from every royal treasury I''ve evere across. We both get what we want,"

    Tiny fucking monster. She''s got me.

    "How do you know me so well?" I shake

    my head.

    "Promise won''t get

    you

    mad at me?"

    "What did you do?"

    "Nothing. I just know it''s going to hurt your ego," she shrugs.

    "What?"

    "I destroy Kings and Alphas for a living. I have to admit that the good

    "What''s that?" I roll my eyes.

    ones always have one thing inmon,"

    "They often have to do things alone. All rage and strategies, but at the end of the day. They just want to be loved,"

    "All right all knowing, Lycan Queen. How do I deal with you then?" I smile.

    "I''m a soldier. Fuck me properly and give me a safe ce toy my head. The rest of that sappy bonus,"

    stuff is just a really cool

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 169

    The King and I have been getting acquainted and I''m not talking about doing it. While he''s a whole lot possessive, the man is a walking green g. I''ve never been around someone like him. Even with all of his insecurities, he still manages to be an amazing partner and brother because Andromeda is a handful. Not as bad as Mackenzie given that she''s insane, but she borders and it can sometimes be scary. I didn''t expect that from someone as perky as her.

    Today we wee his idiot brother into our home. It''s weird to think of this ce as my home, but that''s exactly what it is now. He''s even given me room to put my own space together. The rest of the house is way too luxurious for my taste and I''m letting his designer do whatever it is that he does.

    "Are you nervous?" Jordan asks when we return from our run.

    I''m making us smoothies since the trip to the local one got us both in trouble. Bunny got a little wordsy when people called us a cute mated couple. The King was not any happier, but he was quick to let it go once Roy had his team take care of it.

    "About having a stage one feral Lycan in my home with my very easily angered mate? Why would I be?" Iugh. "I think this will be good for both of them,"

    "How so?"

    "Jonas misses his brother and as much as James says he resents Jonas, I don''t think he hates him. Their parents shouldn''t have raised them the way they did. It''s one thing having to train the King but pinning them against each other the way they did was fucked. It''ll take some time, but I think they''ll be homies again one day,"

    "Optimism is a good look on you, my Queen," he smirks. "Even if it is batshit crazy,"

    "The Scandinavian prime minister has signed the new council reformation;" Lillies tells the King when the two of them walk in together. "And with that, the bill passes in your favor,"

    "Have Jeremy send him one of those packages for his troubles. I know the pack was against it," the King nods andes over to me. "Is there any left for me?"

    "Us," Lillies adds.

    "Yes," I ce two extra cups in front of them.

    "I was wondering why you made so much," Jordan smiles.

    Lillies and the King are usually dressed for business, but not today. They''re dressed casually, like Jordan and me. Ss and Roy should be here with James any minute and the tension has been growing since I got the King to let me bring his baby brother here. "Where is Annie?" I ask.

    "She''s going to be staying in the Nova pack house with the other Luna recruits,"

    "What is that?" Lillies asks.

    "It''s a program for Luna training for those mated to alpha heir candidates. They''re trained and educated in alpha amodating studies," I answer.

    ""Like what?"

    "Finances,w,bat strategy, and civil pack affairs,"

    "Why is the princess doing that?" Jordan scoffs. Chapter 169-

    91%

    "Because when I asked her what she nned to do now that she graduated she said she wanted to help me with social services to help juveniles who have lost their families so what happened with Ss''s ex-girlfriend doesn''t happen again," the King sighs and turns his attention to me.

    "I think it''s better if you let me talk to him before you get all these are the terms and conditions on him,"

    "You''re fucking crazy if you think I''m leaving you alone with hitn," he growls.

    "We''ve talked about this,"

    "I trust you. It''s him I have a problem with,"

    "I don''t trust him any more than you do. But if we corner him, he''s not going to cooperate with us. Jordan will be in the room with me,"

    "I will," Jordan confirms.

    "He''s team leader, remember? This has to be on our terms. Not yours. That''s what you promised when you team together,"? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    "They''re here," Lillies says quietly.

    "Jonas, please let me handle this. I know what I''m doing,"

    told me to put a

    "He gets one sh

    at this. One fuck up and I''ll send him back," he growls and motions us out of the kitchen. I take my cup from the counter and the cup holder with six more.

    He groans but doesn''tment on anything. Roy, Ss, Mackenzie, Bunny, and James are getting out of the armada of cars that were used to escort the prince here. Mackenzie snatches a cup from the holder and ces a kiss on my cheek before she disappears behind

    me.

    "Thank you," Ss says cup and takes it.

    I offer him one. Roy follows and I take one to hand to James. He stares down at the ck stic

    "Thanks," he says and looks over my shoulder at his brother who is already beyond pissed.

    "Where''s your mom?" I ask Roy.

    "She decided to stay with Jake and Rosa," he answers. "But I brought your doctor,"

    "Oz," I smile when she walks around the car.

    "This ce is huge," is the first thing she says. "Wow, look at you. You look amazing,"

    "Thank you," I offer her thest cup. She takes it and hugs me tightly.

    "No, mydy. Thank you," she kisses the top of my head.

    "Now that''s a proper thank you," Iugh. "I am so happy you''re here, but what are you doing here?"

    "Well, I wanted to check up on you and the King. I also agreed to keep an eye on-" she nces at James. He rolls his eyes as dramatically as the King does.

    "Valentina will get you all settled in," I point at the head of the household staff the King appointed. "This is Valentina. If any of you are mean to her I will break your face,"

    Valentina who is mute just turns bright red. She bows to everyone and snaps her fingers so that the rest of the staff can take in their luggage.

    G

    5

    5

    "My Prince, you will be joining us in the Queen''s study for a quick debrief," Jordan says.

    "Lead the way," James nods.

    As we''re going inside, the King grabs his arm. The tension is almost visible. He leans in and whispers something into James''s ear that makes James go pale. He nods without saying a word and continues behind Jordan. "Was that necessary?" I ask him.

    "For my sanity, yes," he nods. "You have an hour,"

    Since we''re the only ones standing out there besides the staff, I take his hand stopping him from leaving. He looks down at our hands and then up at me. I step into his space and push up on my tippy toes to kiss him. Without hesitation, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. "I hope that helps a little more. I better than anyone knows that an hour can feel like an eternity," I say against his lips. "Remember the mission. This is business. That''s all."

    "He''s tried to kill you, Little Wolf. He''s tried to take you from me. I''m in no way jealous of you going near him. I''m afraid of what he can do to you. He''s every bit the beast I am," he rests his forehead against mine. "I already know what''s at stake here. It''s the only reason I agreed, but I rather the Kingdom go to shit than let that asshole hurt you in any way,"

 Bait Novel 170

    Chapter 170 91%

    James is staring down at the cup I handed him. He hasn''t taken a single sip of it. I take it from his hand and take a drink.

    "If I wanted to kill you I would have done it in the insane asylum we were trapped in," I hand it back to him. He smirks and takes a heavy drink.

    "It never crossed my mind. I was just wondering why you would try to be any kind of hospitable to me,"

    "I''m hospitable as fuck," I shrug. "Ask Jordan,"

    "Don''t," Jordan rolls his eyes. "Would you like to do the honors or do you want me to take point?"N?velDrama.Org owns this.

    "I''ll start so I can make things clear to him," I sit behind my ss desk.

    James sits back and waits for me to start. I ce the pearl gun on the table between us and show him the newly improved beads that I will be jamming in our necks before loading them up. I''ve already synced them.

    "A tracker implies that I''m going to be able to be out on my own," he says.

    "Right," I nod. "And this is much more than that," I say cing his updated identification papers between us and the new wallet I got for him. "As of today, you are an asset of the crown. You belong to me. I say jump you jump as high as you can. When you are required to be somewhere you will be there fifteen minutes before the scheduled time. Failure toply will result in you going back to the ss room. Not the institution. What you do with the rest of your time, is on you,"

    "You''re just giving me a job and letting me go?" he asks confused.

    "What did you think I was going to do?"

    "Keep me in a box until you require my services,"

    "Jonas

    wanted that, but I didn''t think it would be fair given that I''m not better than you," I admit.

    "You''re a very naive woman," he scoffs.

    "I can still change my mind. I may not be better than you, but I am the Queen," I remind him. He grins. "With that said, all of ''your assets have been unlocked but will be strictly monitored. This," I tap the gun. "Is a new little device I made just for you, "You shouldn''t have," he smirks.

    "You''re not allowed to have paper money. This is the only phone that you are allowed to use and it is registered to this pearl," I tap the gun again. "If you get close to any device that isn''t registered to you, your pearl will send a notification to Jordan with a copy of everything on that device. That''s also for missions and shit.

    "This will go into your neck and if you ever find yourself in trouble with nomunications avable you can doublet and it will activate mine. I''ll be able to hear you and get to you wherever you are," "You?" he asks confused.

    "Yes, you are my asset. It''s up to me to make sure you are on your best behavior and to keep you alive. Everything you do henceforth will be reflected in me. I took the oath to start to process for your pardon. Your brother made it very clear that if you''re going to be free there is no way in hell you''re going to be exiled. So here we are.

    you to

    "While you are my asset, you will answer to Jordan. He is your boss for all intended purposes. You are to follow his lead and orders. Jordan will report back to me. The King and I will decide where to go from there. It''ll take some time for prove that you are worthy of being pardoned.

    "For the time being, you are not a prince of the crown. You hold no title or position. You are still a criminal and the rest of

    the team is likely going to

    at you as such. The best I could do was get you out of the box,"

    "Why? I tried to kill you and Jonas,"

    "Well, for starters, I need your help. You have a particr set of skills I need to help the King gain way with the other Kings. We already know how to work around the system they created. We have the stomach to do what needs to be done. We did it for people who were nothing to us. Why not do it for our family?

    "Our family?" he huffs.

    "Our family, James. You''re an asshole, but you are Jonas''s brother and Jonas is my family now. He, Andromeda, and your mother are included. We look out for each other. We forgive each other. I mean there''s been lying and maiming but we haven''t killed one another yet. I think that counts for something

    "I killed my father,"

    "I killed my best friend and her unborn child," I shrug. "We all have problems. No one is perfect. If the crown is willing to forgive me for my indiscretions why not forgive yours? You are still second in line for the throne by birthright. My wolf asked me to take ountability for all the shit I''ve done.

    "I''d like to think that we''re not that different. We have very simr circumstances and given the chance, we could make a better impact than what we already have. You have some great ideas. Misguided, they were weaponized against your family. You almost toppled the hierarchy single-handedly. Out of spite. I respect that. A lot more than you think. This shit with the KNAVE, you were never an asset. He didn''t train you properly,"

    "I don''t need to be trained. I''m already where I need to be," he scoffs.

    "Wrong. The Falcon was using you, James. He never expected you to make it out of it alive. There is a reason why he didn''t send Violetta or me to do what he sent you to do,"

    "Because neither of you had the skills," he shakes his head.

    "Because you were expendable. He wanted the King to kill you so that you could take the fall for all the shit he''s been doing as ofte. Attacking the Kings directly. The Vampire King in particr. That monster would tear you apart, James.

    "Open your eyes. That''s what he does. He did it to all of us. Easily reced everyone who had died for him. He groomed us from a very young age. He was a father figure to each of us before he showed us who he really was. I''m not telling you to humiliate you. It''s the truth. That''s what he does,"

    "So what? You''re putting together a task force to what? Kill him? Are you out of your mind? You''re afraid of him. We all are. It can''t be done,"

    "It can. We just need to y our cards right. He''s taking too much. The Falcon isn''t a god. He''s an animal that needs to be put down. None of us will be safe until that happens. As long as we have something to lose, he will continue trying to drag us under with him. So are you in or do you want to return to your box?"

    He sits back linking his fingers, resting his elbows on the armrests of my ck and red moon chair. He takes a deep breath and nods.

    "I''m in. Whatever it takes. Not for any of the shit you said about family. You and Jonas can get fucked for all I care. I''ll follow your stupid rules. So as long as I get to kill someone,"

    He leans forward and offers me his hand. Fuck it. I''ll take it. I shake his hand and get up with the pearl gun. I swab his neck and inject him with the device. I then do the same to myself so he sees that I am one hundred percent serious about the terms of our agreement.

    "ID, passports, and cards," I hand him the wallet and the file. He takes them and begrudgingly bows his head. "I''m giving you whole week to get reacquainted with the outside again. You wille back here Monday ready to work. Oh, and before

    a

    you try it. The thing in your neck will explode as soon as your vitals stop. If at any moment I feel that you are a threat to me,

    a

    1

    Jonas, or anyone on our team. I will blow your fucking head off,

    "You should have mentioned that sooner," he growls.

    "I don''t see why it matters. It wouldn''t have changed the oue," I shrug and hold up my keys. "You can use my car until you''re able to acquire one of your own. And no, you can''t have the Lamborgini back. I gave it to Jordan. It''s his now," "Great," he says through gritted teeth and snatches them out of my hand. "Am I dismissed?"

    "Not up to me," I go around my desk to start up myputer. I want tough at the way his nose res when I look up at Jordan. After a very long pause, and James''s hammering rage, he smiles.

    "Get out of here. First thing Monday morning," Jordan nods. James growls and storms out like his ass is on fire. "That was intense. He visibly got madder and madder,"

    "He''s in for a rude awakening. He thinks very highly of himself. It''s not going to be easy to whip him into shape and he''s not going to take those beatings easily. Someone needs to humble him," "You nning on being the one?" heughs.

    "From day one," I smile. "I think we''re going to be great friends once he gets his head out of his ass,"

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 171

    It''s been too long since I''ve been alone with myputer. After getting my build together and setting it up in the cab in front of my desk, I can finally sit down and get out the ns for new system I''ve been thinking about since I was in the looney bin, and while I''m piecing everything together, I can also review other projects. It''s better than therapy.

    I mean anything is better than therapy but this helps me more than anything else and I tend to set it aside when I''m stressed out. I have room to breathe now and it feels good. Bunny and I have been working on the mechanical appendages that she will be presenting at the next Lycan Tech presentation. The changes she made to the program are impressive given that she''s barely learning the codes Darren and I created.

    "I thought someone was barbequing, but it turns out you''re just in here overworking as usual," the King walks into my study with a tray. "I thought you''d be a little moremitted to unpacking,"

    "I''ll get to it. I''m moremitted to Bunny''s addition to one of my biggest projects," I point at the three screens in front of

    1. me.

    My back is to the entire room. I set up the desk in front of the giant window overlooking theke and treeline behind the main house so there''s no re. I can also see if there''s anyone behind me when I''m locked in. Everything else is still in their boxes or protective wrap. I asked for no one to touch my shit.

    Valentina is the only one allowed toe in here to clean up so as long as she doesn''t move anything around or put anything out on the table tops or counters back on the shelves. I''m very particr about how I leave things. Once locked in, all I want to do is go over to where I left my notes and I tend to move around a lot.

    "Don''t touch anything," I growl making himugh.

    "Just making room for lunch. Come join me," he says. I nce back at him and for a second I feel a little annoyed to be interrupted but I put everything on hold and lock myputer to go over to him anyway. "I didn''t expect you to be so protective of your work. Can I at least ask what you''re working on?""

    "I''m reviewing the changes Bunny made to my codes for the recement limbs,"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.

    I take a seat on the half-circle couch I chose for my study. It fits about eight people. If there is ever a time when all the seats are taken I''m going to hurt someone. The ss coffee table in the center is an acute triangle. I chose ss so it matches my desk and to pay tribute to my study back in Cliffside. He''s made it clear that we will only be going back if needed and it doesn''t look like it''ll be a requirement any time soon.

    "I made your favorite," he says cing a covered te in front of me and a cup of ice. He reaches into his zer jacket to pull out a can of Dr. Pepper. I smile reaching for it.

    "What do you think is my favorite?" I ask and take the metal cover off the te. "Jonas, is this a BLT?"

    "It is. With avocado," he smirks.

    "Did Mackenzie tell you?" Iugh.

    "No, Jake did. A while ago," he admits. "I wanted to talk to you about something,"

    "Ooof, is it bad?"

    "Mmm," he grunts and removes his jacket. "James is in New York

    "I know," I nod.

    "Did you send him there?"

    "No," I take a bite of my sandwich. He stares at me long enough to make me feel insecure about eating my favorite food in

    III

    front of him. I take a napkin and try cleaning my face. I don''t know what he did to this to make it taste so fucking good, but. it''s the best BLT I''ve had in my entire existence. "Perry-"

    "He just got out of the looney bin, Jonas. He''s probably out doing drugs and fucking it out of his system. He''ll be back on Monday. He has three more days,"

    "I think you gave him too much liberty way too fast. He hasn''t done anything to earn it,"

    "Exactly, so it''ll hurt that much more when I take it away,"

    "He''s not a child,"

    "No, but he doesn''t understand that yet. Trust works both ways, Hon. He''s not going to be open to the training I''m going to put them through if we keep him locked up. Let him do his thing. He can''t do anything without us knowing. We know who he''s with and who he''s been talking to,"

    "I don''t trust him,"

    "But you trust me,"

    "1

    "And you trust him?"

    "I trust my instincts, Jonas. I always have,"

    "That''s not a good defense, Little Wolf," he smirks.

    "But it is one and I am sticking by it," Iugh. "I''ve missed your cooking,"

    "And I''ve missed cooking for you," he smiles. "The reformation has been kicking my ass. No one is happy about it,"

    "Not yet,"

    "Right," he says unenthusiastically.

    "Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

    "No," he lifts the tray and holds out a file for me. I wipe my hands and take it. I set it down next to me so I can pour my pop.

    "Do you want to give me a heads-up?"

    "It''s your proposition to let my mother out," he says gently.

    "Did you read it?"

    "I did and my answer is no,"

    "Jo-"

    "Perry, she ruined our lives," he says quietly.

    It''s not the same anger he holds against James. This is worse because there''s real pain in there and I get it. Having found out about my biological mother and that I have a sister out there. I get it, but she''s alive and she''s in just as much pain as he is. I''d give anything to tell my mom that I miss her and that it doesn''t matter to me that we''re not blood.

    "You should go see her," I suggest.

    "I''m not ready to see her yet. Thest thing I want is to be alone in a room where I can wrap my hands around her throat,"

    00

    mu, De

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    "Okay," I don''t push it.

    "Okay? I thought you''d fight me on this like you did with James,

    "I need James. I don''t need her. You do. If you don''t think you can be around her then I don''t want to add that stress to everything else going on. It might also present a problem with Annie and she''s doing great. I''ll keep this until you''re ready," "And if I''m never ready?"

    "Then we let the bitch rot where she is," I shrug and reach for the second half of my sandwich. He smiles and continues to eat with me.

    "Tomorrow," he says.

    "What''s tomorrow?"

    "Our first date," he smiles. "I got you a dress,"

    "Oh, shit," Iugh. "Seriously?"

    "Yes, it will be deliveredter so don''t tell the delivery boy to fuck off,"

    "Got it," I agree. "I hope you got me something warm for it. The hot weather girl on channel eight said we''re due the first snow of the season,"

    "I should have checked that. There will be something warm provided for you. I promise,"

    "No fur. That''s too fancy for me," I warn. He looks me over with a heated look in his eyes that is going to get us in trouble one day.

    "That''s too bad," he smirks. "I can see you in a fur coat with nothing underneath. A topic I don''t mind fighting you onter,"

 Bait Novel 172

    Jonas

    say

    I''m nervous is an understatement. I hate to admit that I''ve never been on a date before. I''m the King and before that, I was a prince. Things like dating were never something I needed to consider given the range of women who would line up to get a piece of me. Pernicious Nelson Prince is not just some woman and I''ve been enjoying thepany she brings. Under all that rage and military training, she''s kind of a brat and I''m living for it. She doesn''t ask for much, but I''d like her to ask for this. My attention and I want to give her as much of it as she demands.

    Nova is brand new. It''s the same age as Alpha Scofield''s eldest son and he just turned neen. The main trajectory of this pack is education and business. With that said, their battle training is the best I''ve ever seen from a pack this small.

    The borders are all covered and no one would ever know. It''s like stepping into another world or a timeline based on a future society. It''s designed to help alphas and betas transition into the era of technology and business while maintaining their traditions in a way that doesn''t result in them killing one another. The graduation rate here is eighty-two percent.

    The housing is strange. Each house is built in its own clearing and gated. The buildings were built and designed to keep the forest and fields intact. One of the biggest pastimes here is hunting in wolf form.

    Every restaurant and deli sells its fresh kills. Deer, moose, fish, and rabbit are favorites. There is an abundance of cattle all around-cows, goats, and bison. The preferred method of transportation is walking or horseback riding. Some of the teens in their influencer days have dirt bikes and dune buggies.

    Andromeda has taken to the norms here and loves showing off her side saddle skills.

    I''ve been pacing my study for a little over an hour. It''s bothering Ss and he''s been on edge since James returnedtest night. He''s made himself scarce. I heard him asking Perry if it were okay for him to get his own apartment in town. She declined and told him that as long as he was her asset he would be staying in the main house. She did, however, give him the spare room across from him so he could set up whatever he wanted.

    "Would you sit down?" Ss finally snaps. I growl at him. "She''s not going to be unimpressed with what you nned, Jo. Perry likes you for whatever reason. You''re married and given how calm you''ve been since she''s returned-"

    "Enough," I sit at my desk.

    "What''s the problem?"

    "We have nothing inmon," there. I said it out loud.

    "You''re joking, right?" heughs. I re at him.

    "We don''t. Other than sex and politics, I have nothing to talk to her about,"

    "Have you tried bringing up a topic that isn''t political or sexual?" he grins.

    "I don''t bring up sex. She does,"

    "Does that mean you''re the fucking political weirdo?" he jokes earning himself another growl. "Perry is, despite being as crazy as she is, simple creature. I saw her get excited over a pair of fluffy socks Oz brought her,"

    "They were Hello Kitty. It''s her favorite," I sit back trying to calm myself. We both look up when there''s a knock. I immediately know who it belongs to. "Come in,"

    James opens the door and looks around my study before meeting my gaze.

    "I''m looking for Jordan," he says.

    "He''s not here." Ss growls.

    "He went back to Cliffside for his final hearing. Is there anything can help you with?"

    "I''ll just ask Her Majesty, he reaches for the door to shut it. "I''m sorry I bothered you,"

    "Wait," I stop him. "Perry is getting ready. Is there something you need now?"

    "The Queen said that the thing in my neck copied files from devices that got close to it. I need some information regarding the whereabouts of some of my former associates. Jordan asked me if I knew any dealing ammo. Just wanted to see if he could pull something up," I wave him in. He walks into my study and takes a seat in front of me.

    "Do you know how long ago you came into contact with the device or the kind of device it was?"

    "I was around it all week. It''s an iWolfe Huntress," he gives me the number and I pull up all the information provided. She is keeping him on a very short leash.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Iugh when I see that he''s received a few spicy pictures from a few different women. I turn the monitor around to show him. He smirks as he takes his phone out to snap a few pictures of what''s on the screen. Phone numbers, pictures, notes, apps, and bank statements. "Thanks," he says and gets up. He pauses just before getting to the door. "Fancy dates and expensive gifts are wasted on her. She''s primitive and likes doing primitive shit. You''ve never been good with women. Some girls like watching the world burn You''ve only ever fucked with princesses.

    "This one is a warrior and does warrior shit," he reaches into his coat pocket. Ss is on his feet immediately. James rolls his eyes and ces what looks like two tickets on my desk. "Riveria and Russo are fighting tonight. Front row tickets. I''m more of a VIP section kind of guy anyway,"

    "Thank you," is all I can say. He doesn''t respond and simply leaves. I reach for the tickets and see the fights start a couple of hours after our dinner reservation in the pack a town over.

    "You''re going to take your mate to an event that public?" Ss asks.

    I stare at them and his words from before flood in. A part of me wants to rip the tickets up and shove them down his fucking throat. But he''s right. Perry isn''t a princess. It''s why I have trouble connecting with her outside of our bedroom and work. These events are public, but not enough for us not to be able to attend.

    "You''re considering it?" he asks.

    "If it doesn''t work, I still get to see these two wolves rip each other apart," I shrug. Heughs and goes back to his desk.

    "She is a little bit of a tomboy. She''s closer to Jordan than she is to the twins. Maybe he''s right," he sighs. "Get what he said out of your head. They''re familiar because they were groomed to fight. Nothing else,"

    "You can''t deny their simrities,"

    "Yeah, but that doesn''t mean she ever belonged to him. He''s a snake. There''s no doubt in my mind that he''s going to want something for that favor," he points at the tickets in my hand.

    "Perry asked me to give him the benefit of the doubt. You''ve seen how much she''s changed since she started taking the blue wolfsbane,"

    "I don''t think she''s changed, Jo. I think she''s just better and you''re seeing her for who she is without having to fight the beast she was. After everything we''ve learned about her, it looks to me like she had been in survival mode for her entire life. Even

    <

    16:02

    Thu, Dec 5 GM

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    when she was with her mate.

    "You''re providing an environment where she doesn''t have to be anymore. If you''re having trouble connecting with her, findfort in that. You''ll make that connection soon enough. Keep looking for a way in. I''ve seen the way she looks at you, man. She''s probably looking for the same thing,"

    0

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 173

    JonasProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    When the time to leavees around, the nerves from beforee flooding back. I wait for her in the foyer and the only thing I can do is stare at myself in the mirror over the table everyone ces their key fobs to charge. I look down at all of thein and find that Perry''s is

    red and I know for a fact that she''s been here for the past week catching up on projects with Bunny.

    I almost jump out of my skin when she clears her throat from behind me. I pivot around to see her standing at the bottom of the staircase in the deep purple dress I chose for her. All of my thoughts just drift away as I take her in. I knew getting her something too shiny was out of the question.

    I went with something simpler and fitted to her perfect body. I''m a little lost for words. Her hair is braided elegantly. She''s wearing a subtle amount of makeup but it serves to sharpen her features. The dark colors only brighten her eyes. Fucking say something you idiot. "You look amazing," she says looking me over.

    I smooth the front of my vest and take a deep breath trying toe up with anything and still, I''m fucking frozen. Choking on my own stupidity. She knows it too because she''s just staring back at me giving me time to gather my thoughts.

    "I want to say something. I just-"

    "I know," sheughs. "It''s okay,"

    "We should go," I say taking the box housing the long leather jacket I found to go with her dress and shoes she''s wearing. "This is for you,"

    "Thanks," she grins. "Do I open it now?"

    "Yes, it''s cold out," I nod.

    "Okay," she grins and takes the top off the box. Inside are a pair of leather gloves and a matching coat. "Oh, my god," she squeaks and takes everything out. "This is gorgeous,"

    "Need some help?" I ask as she shakes it out.

    "Yes, please," she beams as she unbuttons the coat. I hold it open for her and she slips right in. It fits perfectly. She then takes the gloves and puts them on to wiggle her fingers. "I''ve never had one of these. Thank you," ""You''re wee," I say when she jumps on me hugging me tightly.

    "Confession time. I have never done this before. So walk me through it, please?" she pulls back with a bright smile on her face. Iugh feeling incredibly dumb.

    "What?" I ask looking her over. "Darren never took you on a date?

    "Not on one that I needed a pretty dress for," she says stepping back to show me how beautiful she looks.

    "Since you''ve so boldly confessed to never having done this before, I have to admit that neither have I,"

    "What?" sheughs. "You never took Eve on a date?"

    "After everything went down, she didn''t like going outside. You''ve seen how vicious Lycans are. She wasn''t prepared for that kind of bacsh,"

    "Fuck," she shakes her head. "We should go,"

    III

    <

    "We should," Lagree. She takes my hand and lets me lead the way When I take my fob off the charging pad I see hers next to mine. "Did you forget to charge that?"

    "Hmm?" she asks and looks down at what I''m pointing at.

    "I can get you a portable charger if you like,"

    "Ok, it would be the same problem," sheughs. "I wouldn''t charge the portable one either and no. I never forget to charge anything. Learned that lesson the hard way. James doesn''t have a car and I let him borrow mine. He definitely forgot to charge it because I''ve never seen it turn red before now,"

    I don''t know why that upsets me, but I brush it off and open the door for her.

    "Maybe I should get him a portable charger," I scoff. Sheughs taking my hand again. As I go to close the door I find my asshole brother at the top of the stairs with a fucking smirk on his face.

    "Have fun," he mouths. I flip him off making himugh as 1 shut the door behind me.

    Don''t let him ruin my night. I scold myself as I lead Perry down to my car.

    "What''s this?" she asks stopping next to it.

    "My car,"

    "Not the spaceship?"

    "Not tonight," I shake my head as the driver opens the door for us. I hand him the key fob.

    "No, I''ve only ever seen this in movies," she says excitedly and hops on the tips of her heels before crouching down to get inside.

    Our driver presses his lips together and turns away as she crawls into the car. I give him a tap on his chest instantly feeling a whole lot better about my chances with this turning out badly. She is way too cheeky to upset me when she''s in a good mood andtely, she''s been carrying the weight of our mating on her own. I''m still trying to make peace with everything I did to her and wondering why she would ever forgive any of it.

    "My King," he clears his throat.

    I get in and he shuts the door. The divider is up to give us privacy. Perry is looking around pressing buttons and ying with anything she''s discovering. I stop her when she gets to the divider.

    "Now, I have to," sheughs and pushes my hand to make me press the button. The divider goes

    down.

    "Drinks are in the center console in front of you," the driver grins and then shuts the divider. "Drinks?" she reaches for the cooler and then looks back at me when she sees the Dr. Pepper bottles in there. "That is cool," "You are very active tonight," Iugh.

    "I''m excited. I admit that I was worried at first, but it''s just cool to hang out. Am I allowed to ask what we''re doing?"

    "Dinner and a show,"

    "A show? What kind of show? Like while we''re eating?" she fires off in one breath.

    "No, after. I was actually nning to take you to the observatory after dinner. There''s a g, but I acquired some tickets to the fight tonight,"

    "Russo''s fight?" she jumps up turning her body to face me. Her eyes are as wide as saucers. "You''re kidding,"

    3

    "James gave these to me show her the tickets.

    "Holy shit. Wait," she takes them and then hands them back after inspecting them closer. I didn''t even think to check if they were fake. "I thought he was meeting up with that Veronica girl. "What?"

    "Yeah, there''s this super hot Lycan chick he was talking to. He was supposed to take her out tonight,"

    "Are you being nosy?" Iugh.

    "Jordan and Bunny are. They like to gossip. I kind of feel bad for him," she sits back. "I hated when Darren monitored me

    like that,"

    "Why would he?"

    "Insecurity, she shrugs. "I think I was cute in color. I''m like a fancy cute now,"

    "Still as cheeky as ever, I grin.

    "Thank you," she blushes

    "You shouldn''t feel bad. He''s camed this"

    Tm honestly betting on him to try. He''s your brother. There''s no way he''s that far gone," she looks out the window and I get the perfect view of my mark on her neck

    I don''t think I can add this to her, but I also don''t want to hold it in until it explodes. It''s such a fucking pathetic thing to feel given how chow we''ve gotten

    "I want to tell you something and I know that it mighte off as offensive, but that is not my intention in any way."

    "What''s wrong?" she turns her attentions back to me

    "When I was with Love, I thank maybe she was bored with me. I work a lot. I always have and I love my job. It came up in therapy and Ead told me that at something that I have to bring up with you. With James here, it feels a lot like he fills a role I can''t I see the samries between the two of you and it makes facking angry. He knows he gets under my skin. It''s like a game to him," grunng it somehow feels a battle better and i have to take a deep breath to prepare myself for what she thinks

    of it

    What Eve dad had nothing to do with you jonas. I don''t know what the situation was like, but it was on her to never be in a situation where you had to guros your Friationship," she taky hand. "You are a whole lot of things, but boring isn''t one of them You''re the Kang I''m kind of d that you brought up I see you struggle with trying to find something that we both like outside of our roo

    hut to me, what we have is fucking great because if wend all the same things, we wouldn''t be able to grow. Every time we hang out, you teach me something I didn''t know. You make me look back at things I do and say and I feel ashamed that I handle things so poorly I have really bad habits no one has ever addressed until you

    And as for Jamars being a piece of shit. He''s your brother You haven''t seen Mack and I alone in a room for more than a couple of hours Siblings, especially younger ones are a pain in the ass. I''m sorry you feel that way irut if you ever need any kind of reassurance, do not hesitate toe End me. Whatever assurance you need, I will grant,"

 Bait Novel 174

    The way he''s looking at me after that terrible fucking confession melts my evil little heart and I want nothing more than to waterboard his dumb ass brother. The tickets look legit, but it is yet to be determined. They could be really good forgeries Especially for seats like this..

    "You have the soul of a dirty old grandpa," the King shakes his head.

    "Do I or am I just young and dumb, you old prude," I shoot back. We bothugh.

    It did feel like we started rough. He was stunned by how good I look in this. Shit, same. This is probably the third most expensive dress I''ve ever worn. I''m still really sad about having ruined my beautiful wedding dress and then I went and killed whatever her name was. That reminds me. I should ask James if he was screwing her. Even if he wasn''t, I stand by my choice. I would have killed her in this form. More violently.

    I was nervous until he told me that this was his first time doing this as well. It makes sense to me. He''s the King. Girls probably threw themselves at him growing up. I used to hate the Calvin fan girls. If he wasn''t giving Morgan a tough time his fembots were. Coveting is one of the many universalnguages and it makes for some pretty weird scenarios, like this

    one.

    There''s one good ce to get fine dining in Nova and the building is under construction. There''s no sign and the outside still has the wrap and tape to start painting. However, as we pull up, there is valet.

    The King''s driver doesn''t let the valete near the car. He''s out and at our door before the guy can even leave the hut where he keeps his keys. The kid looks like he''s maybe seventeen. His face pales when he sees us get out of the car. He lowers his gaze immediately and bows. I tip his chin when we reach him and slip a fifty into his red coat.

    He''s an omega. I can smell the sweetnessing off him. He doesn''t dare look up at us as we continue inside. The owner, Mikhail Oliver rushes out to greet us. I know him. He''s kicked me and Violetta out of here a couple of times, but not today.

    He looks between us and stutters as he tries to speak with the King who is taking the lead. I stand behind him hoping no one recognizes me. He passes us off to one of the beta females and she leads us to a private booth on the second floor. She''s around my age and keeps her eyes low when she''s in front of us. Even as she takes our drink orders. Her tone is neutral and polite.

    The inside is magnificent. The Japanese decor is authentic and very traditional. A sushi chefes in and begins to exin what he specializes in. The King doesn''t seem to know what''s going on and I reach out cing my hand over his. His eyes snap to our hands and then me.

    "Hajimete no taiken desu," I exin that it''s his first time at a ce like this. He bows his head and promises to take it easy on him.

    "I didn''t know you spoke-"

    "Japanese," I offer.

    "I didn''t want to be racist," he shrugs.

    "I speak sixnguages, but this one I learned so I can watch Naruto without subtitles."

    "Have you ever been to Japan?"

    "No, not my region. When I was sent out, the old man sent me to European countries. France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. I lied, sevennguages. I forget Spanish and Portuguese aren''t the same," "Das ist sehr cool," he smirks.

    "Ich denke gerne," Iugh. "Jake paid for my education and I dont like disappointing him,"

    You don''t like disappointing anyone but yourself," he quietly.

    "True. The biggest kick in the ball is betraying yourself for something that was never worth it. That''s my jam

    "I don''t know, I think it''s taken you to some pretty great ces. There is always something positive in our betrayals,N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    "Name one?"

    "I got to meet you," he says.

    I''m about to call him out on his sappy shit when our drinks are brought out. I sip my orange pop and watch as the chef brings us tempura shrimp rolls topped with spicy tuna.

    "Have you ever used chopsticks?" I ask reaching for my own. He shakes his head.

    "I''m not big on sushi,"

    "You''re not big on sushi or you''ve never tried sushi?" I ask. The chef chuckles from behind his bar.

    "I''ve never tried it,"

    "You have amazing sushi in Cliffside. It was the first thing I tried when I was unleashed on your people," I hold up my technique to teach him out to do it. He positions the sticks in his hand and I reach for a piece. He has to try a couple of times before he finally gets it. "I know a lot about what you do, but not a lot about you. Aside from the Hello Kitty shit, what else are you

    into?"

    "Don''tugh but I curated a first date topics list," I ce my phone between us. We bothugh when the listes on. "Mm, I should have prepared too," heughs. "This one. What''s your favorite color?" "Teal,"

    "Not gold?" he grins.

    "No, I like the aesthetic for ck and gold, but my favorite color of all time is teal. It''s the color of my mother''s eyes. In the sun they looked like sea ss. I was always jealous that I didn''t inherit it. Now I know why," I smile. "Tell me about her. You already know my mom,"

    "Your mom is cool as hell. Given who you guys are, it''s fitting. She''s a Queen. My mother was-" I take a drink of my pop and gather my thoughts. "She was gentle. Soft-spoken and very patient. When I started going off on my own, I used to tell myself that I never wanted to be weak like her.

    "Her way of winding down was cooking. She made the best red velvet cupcakes in the world. The middle was always filled with cheesecake. And the cream cheese frosting she topped them with was to die for. She made them for me every year for my birthday. Even after my dad died and she was fighting back her wolf,"

    "Do you miss her?" he asks quietly.

    "I do now," I nod. "I guess I never really had time to think about it I was a kid when she died and I never stopped to think about what she lost meant. Not until it happened to me. I embraced going feral but to someone like her. I can''t imagine what it must have taken from her. I think you would have liked her. She would spoil you rotten," "I would have loved to meet her," he smiles. "Do you think she would approve of me?"

    "Hell yeah. She hated the influence Darren and Mackenzie had on me. She also hated Morgan. With a burning passion. I never understood why. I guess she saw something in her that I didn''t. She would always say that I was just like my dad. That. all I ever loved about people was their evil,"

    "Ouch," he huffs. "I''ll try not to take that one personally,"

    @x60%

    "You are in no way evil. You try to be, but you have this boundary that you just can''t quite cross and I respect that about you more than anything, I wish I could do that. My killer instinct has just been honed in and pressed up against for so long that it justes naturally to me. It''s kind of hard for me to think my way out of something without using my teeth,"

    "Is that why you let Tech talk to you the way he did?" he asks.

    "One thing you have to remember is that it''s likely that I fired first. Tech and my father hated each other. One thing that my dad did teach me was respect. For myself, for my friends and family, and for my enemies.

    "Nelsons have a long history of war. A very long, very unpleasant history. There will be lots of people who wille at me like that and you can''t take it personally. I had to exin this to the twins and Jordan because they were upset about it as well." "What if they don''t respect you?" he asks.

    "They''re in no way obligated to. This is a personal preference. It''s the only way I can honor my father anymore," I smile and look up at him. "I want to know about your father. You''re nothing like your mom and he is regarded very highly in Cliffside,

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 Bait Novel 175

    *

    2)

    63% +5

    "He was kind of chill all things considered," he smiles and eats more of the sushi. I''m d he''s enjoying it. "There were two versions of him. At least, to me. He was my dad and then he was my King.

    "When he was my dad, he was always cracking jokes. He took care of me when things got out of hand in training. He would always exin to me why he was so hard on me, but I always knew it hurt him. Anything I needed was always provided without me having to ask sometimes. I loved how gentle he was with my mother and then with Annie. His patience with my brother was insane because James did a lot of bad shit trying to impress him.

    "There were times when I had to do something equally or more fucked to get my dad''s attention off him. I guess the most messed up part was that my father knew exactly what I was doing and he would make James watch him discipline me.

    "When he was our King, he was cold and collected. He treated us the same as the other juveniles. Maybe he was a little tougher on my brother and me, but that was only because we were spoiled as hell. Arrogant and we challenged him every chance we got in front of our tutors and other high ranks.

    "I think he loved that we gave back as hard as he cracked down on us. I always loved how he was fair with everyone. How he wanted to give everyone what they wanted, but understood that it wouldn''t be fair to the next person. I don''t ever remember him being mean to him or me without provocation.

    "When James told me what he did, I couldn''t believe it. My mother confirming it was insane to me. I still don''t believe them. There''s no way for me to know the truth. I''ve always been so fucking naive, but there''s something very rehearsed about the way the two of them spoke about it,"

    Lelear my throat and take a drink trying not tough because hell yeah there is. Ally caved when I shut that door. She knew we weren''t going to hurt her but she still faked being scared. She spoke with so much rity and precision. I never brought it up because I really didn''t know much about their dynamic and it wasn''t my ce to say anything. I''m not sure if it is now, but I''m not going to defend either of them.

    A new te is brought over and this one is a little advanced. Raw tuna with caviar over rice. I take one and dip it into the sauce provided. I watch as the King leans in to smell it. I push the sweet sauce over to him and he dips it in lightly before shoving it all in his mouth. He keeps his expression neutral but he has a hard time choking it down. I look up at the chef and give him a subtle shake of my head. He grins and continues to make something else.

    "Did you like it?" I ask.

    "It was interesting," he says taking a heavy drink from his ss. I take another and continue eating.

    "I believe your mom when she said James was different. I''ve been around Violetta long enough to know the patterns. She is the sweetest fucking girl you''ll ever meet one second and the next she''s covered in blood with a satisfied smile on her face," "But not the thing about the King and his Beta Prince?"

    "It''s hard to tell. They silenced all those people for a reason, but not that one. Your father took the throne by force and that makes him the King and you in his ce. Even if the council would have looked into your bloodline, the only way they could have done anything about it was to forcibly remove you. The only one stupid enough to have done that was James and the two of them are thest who know the truth,"

    ""What would

    you do in

    my ce?"

    "Me? Personally Iugh.

    "Yes,"

    "It''s hard to say. I have a predicament as big as yours and I''m starting to think that letting go is the only way to protect those I love, I shrug.

    "The thing with the wraith?",

    <3

    63All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "Fuck no. I know exactly what I want to do with that bitch. I mean looking for my sister and maybe looking into the database to see if there are more of us out there. But then again if I were to expose them, we could be targeted. There are plenty of people out there looking for a chance to eliminate our bloodline from existence. Innocent or not.

    "I know the truth now and I guess as the one that was raised by our father it''s up to me to protect them the way he did. Then again, there''s a part of me that wants to know more. A part of me that''s always wanted to be part of something more. It''s weird to think about having a family out there.

    "I think ignorance is bliss. I respect my father for making a choice that saved her from bing like him. There is no doubt in my mind that he loved my biological mother and that he took me from them because he knew exactly what they would have raised me to be. I think if he had been given the chance he would have taken me somewhere he thought I would be safe, but there is no ce on earth where the Savages wouldn''t have found me. I would have been perfectly happy if fucking Godrick wouldn''t have opened his big ass mouth,"

    "That''s very mature of you," he grins. "It''s a little unexpected,"

    "I didn''t have any reason to be before. I was dying. Before that, I didn''t want to stop to think about what I was doing. I just wanted more. I wanted to prove I wasn''t just some street rat and I wanted to make all the rich little bastards that kicked me while I was down get down on their knees for me. No matter what it took,"

    "Well, you did it," he grins.

    "I''m also married to a crazy rich bastard now," I add. We bothugh.

    "Hey, you made me a crazy rich bastard so, take credit for that," he jokes.

    I turn around feeling something familiar on my skin. The moment I start to scan the people below it goes away. I thoroughly search the windows and find nothing, but the feeling unsettles me. There is only one pair of eyes that''s ever made me feel threatened and turned on like this.

    "Are you okay?" the King asks.

    "Yeah," I clear my throat. "It''s just been a while since I''ve been this exposed,"

    "That makes two of us," he nods.

    Why would I feel this after all this time? I turn back to the King and try to give him my full attention, but holy shit. My body is itching. I ce my hand over the cuff holding his ashes needing to remind myself that he''s gone. There''s no way that''s possible. "What''s your favorite color?" I ask looking for a distraction.

    Is that my self-destruction poking at me for letting the King in or something more?

    "Royal blue," he says confidently. "Like my dad. He had this suit that he looked so badass in it. You killed the person who made it for him

    essorized with gold and I always thought he

    "She did make really nice clothes. I think we should raid her shop. I''ll wear all those gowns eventually," we bothugh, but the feeling is still there and for the first time in my life, I hate it. Another te is brought over to us. Something a little lighter. "Do you have any eel back there?"

    "Yes," the chef nods.

    I think you''d make the perfect Unagi," I smile.

    "You got it," he bows. "Unagi for the pretty princess,"

    3

    63%

    My heart skips a beat as I watch him walk back to the bar. I nce back at the windows behind me once again. That''s two and I don''t believe in two coincidences like this. Darren has been the only asshole who''s ever called me a pretty princess. I''d question my sanity, but we''ve established I lost it a long time ago. My evil radar is on fire and I don''t think I should ignore it with the King sitting right next to me like a

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 Bait Novel 176

    Jonas

    Dinner was fun. We might not have a lot inmon, but she''s right. We don''t have to in order to get closer. I trust her and I know she trusts me. Something has got her worked up. I don''t say anything because I know she''s got the best hunting instincts and I have to admit that the glimmer in her eyes is stunning.

    "Vampires," she takes my hand when we step outside.

    "I''ve sent for your driver," the kid from earlier says timidly.

    "Go inside, baby," she says gently. "Close the doors behind you. Tell your boss the Lycan Queen needs him to keep the people inside,"

    "Okay," he nods rapidly.

    "Slowly, sweetness. We don''t want to rm the others over anything. Kay?"

    "Okay," he agrees and tries his best not to run inside.

    "You''re armed?" she asks me and reaches under her dress. I nod reaching for my weapon. Where the fuck was she hiding that thing? That dress is tight on her. "Stay behind me. No sudden movements. They strike if threatened," "I don''t like you taking the lead," I admit.

    "We''ll get you on top soon enough," she jokes.

    "Bitch," I shake my head and let her

    go

    ahead.

    "Stay on the wall," she holds her arm out as we go around.

    The scent of blood surrounds me as we get around to the lot.

    "Don''t," my driver is sitting against the back of my Rolls Royce with one hand on his neck and the other one held out warning us.

    "You have my attention. Tell me what you want before the Alpha shows up with his dogs," Perry calls out.

    From behind my car, two figures materialize out of the darkness. A woman and a man. I feel it now. There''s another one lurking somewhere further back.

    "Don''t shoot," the man says. I jump when she fires hitting him in the neck. He goes down holding onto the wound.

    "Eye for an eye. Crawl over here," she waves my driver over to us "What the fuck do

    you want?"

    "We have an invitation from the Falcon," the girl says nonchntly. As if Perry hadn''t just shot her buddy in the throat. She goes over to him and reaches into his coat. "Get yourself together. It''s a flesh wound," "An invitation to what?" Perry asks.

    "A party, Silly T sheughs. The gleam of her fangs shines against the moonlight. "It''s a requirement,"

    "I don''t do parties with your kind anymore. Tell him he can suck my dick," she helps my driver up.

    "Hmm," she smiles. "He said you would be difficult," she sets it down on the floor and helps her friend up. "I rmend you attend, Terabyte. You''re no longer under oath, but you are part of the system. Have a good night,"

    1/4 19:03 Sat, Dec 7 ti G.

    9

    She winks at her and the two of them disappear along with the third one that came with them. As soon as they''re gone she goes over to my driver. Two massive silverback wolves nk us as she cuts his button up to try and stop the bleeding. "You''re supposed to be dead," a voicees from where we hade. "I guess I''m not surprised though,"

    "Alpha Scofield," she nces back at him.

    "I didn''t see theming," my driver says. "Forgive me,"

    "That wasn''t your fault. They were here for me. I''m sorry," she says politely and then stands to re at the alpha. I tuck my gun back into my holster. "You fucking knew they were here and you didn''t warn us," "They offered mepensation," he shrugs. "You''re not one of mine. Why should I give a fuck about you?"

    "It''s like that then?" she grins.

    "You''ve been in the game long enough to know it''s always been like that, Perry. You''re not just some nobody, honey. You''re a fucking threat. You always have been. A trio of vamps is nothing to you,"

    "My King is with me," she growls at him. He nces at me.

    "He''s a big boy. He looks like he can hold his own,"

    "I''m not going to forget this, Scofield. You have a mate and kids. It no longer means shit to me. Especially with Tempie out on the road all by her lonesome," she helps my driver up. The alpha doesn''t like that. I step in front of her when his eyes sh red. "You picked a fight knowing exactly what she is," I warn him. "Try it and Tempie bes an orphan,"

    "Get out of here," he says tightly. "Before my alliance with you is terminated,"

    "If Andromeda feels threatened in any way, I will let her rip this entire ce apart and I''ll rebuild it just for her," I growl shing him my teeth just to show how little his threat means to me.

    "Who was the other vampire?" Perry asks him. "Did you see him?

    "No," he shakes his head. "He stayed in the car. I only spoke to the one you shot,"

    "What did they give you?"

    "I don''t see how that''s relevant,"

    "What. Did. They. Give. You?" she demands angrily.

    "Gold. A backpack full of gold bricks," he answers.

    "Do you have them with you?"

    "They''re in my car," he nods.

    "Stay with Cam," she says.

    I''m not letting you go with him alone," I grab her arm.

    "Thene with. I just want to see where that fuck got the gold from. He''s not strong enough to take me. He knows that. It''s why he''s being a bitch,"

    "Fuck you, Perry," he scoffs. I growl at him. "You too, Pretty Boy"

    19:03 Sat, Dec 7 ti G

    He turns his back to me. Perry grips my forearm tightly and shakes her head.

    "Your sister likes it here," she reminds me.

    63%

    "Go," I release her. She follows after him. One of the silverbacks stays with me and the other follows after them. I turn my attention to my driver. "Your name is Cam?" "Cameron, My King," he nods. I remove the piece of cloth to see that the bleeding has stopped and that it''s starting to heal.

    "You should be fine in a bit. Those things are fucking weird, huh

    "I swear, I didn''t see them until the woman was on me,"

    "Yeah. They''re sneaky. She was the one who caught their scent first. I know very little about them. Don''t feel too bad. It could have been worse,"

    "She''s a hell of a shot," he smirks.

    "That she is. Got him right in the neck," we bothugh.

    "Because I''m fucking taking one, Scofield. That''s why. Maybe you want to take this matter up to the King. Let him know you took a bribe from a fanger, mother fucker. Who do you think he''s going to reprimand? The Lycan Queen or you, a dumb ass alpha?" she growls at him and he steps back not liking how close she got.

    "Take it, you little asshole," he growls back at her. "You''re only going to get fucking worse. I don''t believe this good girl act for a second. You''re a monster. You always will be a monster. The difference now is that you''re going take a whole lot more than just your mate and his family down with you,"

    His head whips around when she backhands the fuck out of him. He falls on his hands and knees. He tries to get back up and stumbles forward spitting a mouthful of blood

    on the ground.

    "I can add you to the list if you like. My mate liked you and that''s the only reason why I''ve never disrespected your home, but if you keeping at me like I fucking owe you something. I will destroy you and your pack. I don''t need anyone to help me do it either and I could have done it in my feral state. Fuck you," she scoffs. "Look at you now, Warhead. On your knees for the little rat in the pantry over a brick of gold. You can suck my whole dick down to my balls, bitch,"Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.

    "I''ll drive," I say when she storms past me.

    Cameron bursts intoughter and follows behind her. When Alpha Scofield looks back at me. His eye where she struck him is blood red. There''s blood seeping out of his mouth and the rage in his eyes from not being able to do a single fucking thing about what just happened is getting me a whole lot harder than when she pped the fuck out of him.

    "A little advice for the future. Never turn your back on a Lycan. Never let a Lycan why," their back

    on

    you. Now

    you know

    "She''s going to destroy you and your people, Kid. People like her don''t change. They''re one bad day from rampaging and there''s no one who does it quite like a Nelson. There''s a reason why her father was hunted down the animals and should be put down like animals," way he was. They''re

    "We''re all animals. Perry is just up higher on the food chain than you. Even when she was a wolf. You wouldn''t understand. You''ve already been domesticated. I''d let her burn it all down so as long as she doesn''t take her ws off my throat. Have a good night. Go home and make love to your mate. You could have died over a brick of gold tonight, you fucking idiot,"

    III

    0

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 Bait Novel 177

    *I still want to go to the fight. I say when we get Cam to Oz so she can make sure that vampire bitch didn''t mess him up too badly.

    "I don''t know if that''s a good idea, Baby-Perry," he corrects himself immediately and I smile at him. "Sorry."

    "Baby is fine. It''s princess I have a problem with," I clear my throat as I approach the stairs.

    "Can I ask why?" he stops me from going up.

    Tonight has shaken me a little. I don''t know what to make of it. I know what I felt and maybe it was my evil radar picking up on the vamps or maybe I''ve gone so deep in my paranoia that I''m starting to see things that aren''t there because of the blue wolfsbane. Whatever it is, I have to talk to Ed about it.

    "Darren only called me that when I stepped out of line or did something he didn''t approve of. He''d call me his pretty princess and I honestly hated it. I know it''s supposed to be cute or whatever, but I always knew he meant to hurt me because of my status in the pack. Years ofpeting against one another had this strange effect on our rtionship and I think he did it to keep himself frott bitch pping me across the face,"

    "Okay, he gently caresses my cheek. "You know I''d never try to punish you like that, right? I''d tell you straight away if you do something I''m not okay with,"

    "I know," I nod. "There''s honestly not a lot of things that can trigger me. Darren''s death and princess are probably the worst. That asshole had no right to say that to me. Alphas have the worst small dick syndrome. I swear to fuck," "You''re sure you want to go to the fight?"Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.

    "Yes, I think we could use it. I love boxing. I just need to get out of this. I swear I can smell those things on me still. I also want to wear something I can move in better. You know, just in case,"

    "Of course. Me too," he agrees. "Meet you down here in ten,"

    I push up on my tippy toes to give him a kiss. He smiles and watches me rush up the stairs to my study where I finally have a fucking closet and lots of organizing space. I love this jacket or coat. Whatever. It has Underworld vibes and I''m not going to get over it any time

    soon.

    I change into a pair of ck high-waist skinny jeans and my favorite crop ck crop top. I put my weapons back where they belong so that I can get the ones that aren''t going to be picked up by metal detectors. Once ready to go, I take the gold brick I took from Alpha Scofield.

    I''ve never seen the symbol engraved on the top, but I know the way the Falcon works. I''ve stolen enough for him to know that this can be traced. I walk out and head up to the third floor to get my new asset to look for these things. I knock on his study door. "What?" he growls ripping the door open and then pauses when he finds me standing here. "Sorry, Ss was being bitch earlier. What do you want?"

    "I have this," I hold the gold bar up.

    "The tickets weren''t worth that much," he takes it with a smirk.

    "The Falcon used that to bribe Scofield into letting his vampire groupies get this invitation to me," I hold up the card. When he reaches for it I pull back. "Tell me where these were stolen from first and then we''ll talk about attending this," "Do you know the origin?" he rolls his eyes.

    "That gold has this pretty glint to it. It''s a signature from a cksmith who has been dead for about eight years now. Her

    14.20 Sun, Dec 8

    name was Flora Harlent, I don''t recognize the symbol but it''s Gaelic, Start there..

    "Scofield had a bag full of this shit so that tells me there was a huge shipment of this somewhere and the Falcon got to it. When you find the report I need as many details from the incident as you can find. All of it. Even what they used to dust for prints, "Why?" he asks.

    "So I know who stole it and how long ago," I turn to leave. "I want a report by morning,"

    "I can have one when you get back,"

    "Thest thing I want to do after watching two beasts fuck each other up with my mate is see you or think of what you''re going to find. I''ll see you tomorrow," I wave him off.

    I find the King waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs the way he was at the beginning of our night. He has a smile on his face and that''s enough to inform me he was listening and that it led his overzealous ego.

    "Ready?" he asks looking down at me with a grin.

    "I am," Iugh. His spaceship is waiting for us outside.

    My Van''s crunch against the newly fallen snow. I''m almost to the car when the King lifts me up, carries me to the door, and settles me in. I''ve grown used to it, so I don''t fight him anymore. It''s actually kind of cute that he does it now.

    I hate the cold. I''m a summer baby and as a wolf, I loved basking in the sun like the cold reptilian asshole that I am. But it''s not bothering me now. It''s actually pleasant.

    "You okay?" the King asks. I look over at him and nod.

    "Yeah, are you cold?" I ask wondering if this is a Lycan thing.

    "No. Are you? I can turn the heat on your seat on,"

    "No, I''m asking because the cold usually bugs me,"

    skin. It''s your natural

    "You''re a Lycan now. Your pelt adjusts to your environment. Even in your skin. Especially in your instinct to protect yourself. It''ll probably y into your new abilities. I spoke with Rick and he said he''d be willing to help with the transition," "Thest thing I want is to spend any time alone with him or have him teach me shit he canter use against me,"

    "He''s your family,"

    "Right, which is why I''m telling you that it''s not a good idea. If what runs in my blood runs in his, we''re enemies who tolerate each other because we know we''d fuck each other up,"

    "You are a funny girl," he grins. "You won''t kill your enemies because they''re respectable outside of your rtionship with them, but you can''t trust that your family might hold good intentions either,"

    "There''s no doubt that Rick," I mock his name. "Has good intentions. We all start out that way, Lycan King. But the oue often bes blurred. I find that looking out for myself is the best option for surviving. I''d like some cliff notes, I won''t deny that. But as for him teaching me and working on this power with me. It''s out of the question. He''s still the Alpha King and we''re Lycans.

    "Nove that you''re making friends and that you''re as weing as you are because he''s my blood. But don''t buy into everything they offer. He wants something. I know he does. We just have to wait and see how he''s going to go about asking for it. He didn''t reveal that we were rted because he was feeling nostalgic. There''s always an angle. Even when they say otherwise,"

 Bait Novel 178

    With my hand firmly in his, we make our way into the arena. Id In''t notice when we left the house, but we''re dressed simrly and I love it. He''s wearing dark jeans. Not ck but close enough. He''s wearing a t-shirt that costs a hundred times my outfit, a ck zip-up hoodie, and a ck overcoat. I feel my stupid face warm when I see he''s wearing matching all-ck

    Vans

    The attendant recognizes him when we arrive and his entire demeanor changes. He bows formally and snaps his fingers. Two security guardse over and neither of them pats us dows or asks if we''ve got weapons on us. I feel a little disappointed that I left my gun behind for no reason.

    As soon as the doors that lead down into the baseball field open up, the smell of adrenaline and excitement greet me and I feel my skin prickle. My grip on the King''s hand tightens and I love to stop to calm myself.

    His arms are around me and I''m buried inside his coat immediately. I take a couple of deep breaths using his scent to calm me but it turns into something a little more fun than watching wolves try to obliterate one another with their fists.

    "We can go home right now," he growls in my ear. I have to get used to these new senses of mine so I just look up at him a little ashamed of myself and shake my head. "You sure?"

    "It''ll be more fun afterward," I shrug. His smile turns into a full grin.

    I stop dead on my I step back and take a deep breath to calm myself. My mouth waters and my gums ache so bad that my ears itch. He takes feet when I hand pulling me behind him as we make our way down to the field where our seats are. my see who''s sitting right next to us.

    00000 0000

    The man looks over at me and then as he turns to look away he doubles back andughs.

    "No fucking way," he shakes his head and stands up. "Look at you

    "When was thest time I saw you, Knightly?" Iugh.

    "At the end of myst tour," he grins looking over my shoulder at the King. "At least some of the rumors were a lie. The world wept at the idea of its torment''s demise,"

    "You still know how topliment a girl," I hug him. "Knight this my husband, Jonas. Jonas this is Alpha Knightly. I don''t know his first name. No one does. It''s part of his persona,"

    "Lycan King. It''s an honor," Knightly holds his hand out for him. The King looks down at his hand and nces at me before taking it.

    "The metalcore guy," the King nods.

    "That''s fair," Knightlyughs.

    "How do you two know each other?" the King asks.

    "Rogue shit. Life on the road takes us to some pretty great ces, he answers vaguely.

    "Knight''s an associate of the KNAVE," I exin.

    "Passing on trait secrets? You?" Knightlyughs. "I guess that rumor is also true,"

    "What rumor?"

    "That the old man is looking for your recement. I take it you don''t want anyone knowing you''re-" he looks me over with what looks like disgust.

    4/20

    20 Sun De

    A closet racist, you?" Iugh He turns away trying to hide the redness creeping up his neck. "Yeah, I don''t want him to know yet. The rumor about you wanting out still true?" Always," he nods.

    You''re looking a little pale. Mortal even, I take a seat. He and the King follow. "You should look for her,

    "You know that''s not going to happen. I rather die than let him take her from me. She doesn''t need this mess, he clears his throat.

    "I want to fix our problem,"

    "I''m not talking about the old man," he side nces at me.

    "Half your problem then,"N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "I''m in. I won''t be able to shift again in a couple more years. I''d like to clear some of the debts we owe,"

    "This one clears them all, I think," I look up at the King to see him looking around as if he''s giving us some privacy.

    "Whatever you

    need. I''ll talk to my old man,"

    "How is your dad and your mama?"

    "Good They want me home,"

    You should go home and spend what''s left of your time with them. They love you. Don''t let what your bastard father did to you destroy her more than it already has. It''s not their fault,"

    He turns his full body to look at me and then looks up at the King. I''m not sure if he''s sizing us up but I don''t like that he''s looking at him at all.

    "What?" I growl at him.

    "Nothing. I just never thought I''d ever hear regret in your voice. It''s bing. I''m d you found someone that doesn''t feed into your darkness. I know you don''t want to hear the truth, but Darren should never have treated you aspetition. He should have stopped when he found out the truth. I''m sorry for your loss. Even if it wasn''t much of one anyway," "Aren''t you the guy that fucked his mate one time and abandoned her the next morning?" I growl at him. Heughs.

    "I am," he nods. "Maybe it makes me worse than him. At the very least, I didn''t kill everything that makes her beautiful. You kill for your mate. You don''t make her do it for you to prove you''re better than her," he stands up with a smile on his stupid face. "Enjoy the show, Perry. Remember that in your past life, it never would have been an option,"

    "Fuck you, Knight,"

    "Send me the details. You know I''d never miss a fight," he pats my head. I miss him when I swing at his ribs. The assholeughs as he makes his way through the crowd.

    "Piece of shit," I growl settling into my seat.

    The King shifts ufortably in his seat and I''m left stewing wanting nothing more than to break Knight''s teeth in. What the fuck was that How dare he say that to me? He has no fucking idea what the fuck he''s talking about.

    "Are you okay?" the King asks quietly, but my blood is rushing and it''s hard to listen to anything other than the roar of my anger.

    "Mhm," I nod gripping the seat.

    "Is it wrong to offer your something to drink?" he asks. "I feel like hat conversation requires something strong.

    "Just one," I agree. "Just this once."

    He leans into me and kisses my check before getting up to get to the end of the aisle. I stare at the ring across from me trying my best not to give any mind to Knightly''s words but it''s toote. He was close to Darren.

    My mind starts to race with the idea of Darren talking shit about me to his friends. Just the thought of it stings. No matter what he did or what we argued about, I neverined to anyone. Not even to Mackenzie or Morgan. I guess I expected the same courtesy. What happened between us was just that. Between the two of us.

    The King returns with a couple of stic cups and offers me one I want nothing more than to drink it all at once to let the burning steal a little of the pain in my chest, but when I take it. When it''s in my hand. I realize that there''s really nothing I can do to change what others saw in my rtionship with Darren and it would be disrespectful as hell to make a scene in front of the King. He was so afraid of messing up our date that he never even counted on me fucking it up.

    It wasn''tplicated for us. We were who we were at the time. It worked even if it might have been abnormal to others. I take a sip and it oddly doesn''t have the same effect it used to. I take a deep breath and scoff at myself for taking that so personally.

    "Thank you," I say to the King.

    "That guy is an asshole," he smiles.

    "That''s the thing though. Knightly is a lot of shit, but an asshole isn''t one of them. He was raised by one of the coolest Lunas I''ve ever met and his step-dad loves him. When he says something it''s because means it. Even if what he''s saying hurts the person he''s saying it to,"

    He opens his mouth to say something but then heughs shaking his head. The lights are dimmed and the first fight is announced before Sprit Box res from the speakers.

    "Let''s enjoy this. Fuck that guy. He abandoned his mate," he smirks. Iugh knowing that he''s just trying to make me feel better.

    "Yeah, fuck that guy," I go along with it.

    "He can suck your fake dick too," he mumbles before taking a drink from his cup. "Never ever say that to me. It''ll hurt my feelings even if it''s the funniest shit I''ve ever heard a woman say

    I

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 Bait Novel 179

    Chapter 179 83%

    "I can''t believe that happened," the King says as he fastens my seatbelt into ce. He goes around and takes a moment to put himself together before getting in the car.

    "Did you hear his introduction? I told you it was going to be over quickly," I grin. "Sixty-eight fights, sixty-eight victories. Forty-nine knockouts and half were back-to-back. Fuck out of here. That twink stood zero chance against him,"

    "Perry, he knocked him out in two hits. Two. That was like a twenty-second fight," he says in disbelief.

    "It was twelve seconds. It''s a world record. We just witnessed history. But that second fight is going to live rent-free in my head for the rest of my life,"

    Heughs and finally starts the car. It takes us forever to be able to leave the stadium parking.

    "That was a great fight," he agrees.

    "Do you want anything? I''m going to Uber us some food. It''ll probably be there when we get home,"

    "I can make you something if you like," he counters.

    "What? No. I''m not going to make you cook right now. We''re hanging out and don''t say it''ll be fun or whatever cheesy thing you''re gonna say. I want to eat something unhealthy right now. It''s almost midnight and if we''re breaking health habits we''re going all the way," "Whatever you get," he smiles and reaches for the dashboard to put some music on.

    Throne by Bring Me The Horizon starts. I pull his arm back when he tries to change it.

    "Noo," I sing making himugh.

    "Why am I not surprised?" he squints his eyes.

    "You''re lying if you say you don''t like BMTH. Just like most men lie when they say they don''t think Andy from ck Veil Brides is crazy beautiful,"

    "I actually don''t know who that is," he says and I believe him because his face gets bright red.

    "He''s a Dhampire. His mother was human and she fell in love with an aristocrat. They created this very American Rock god. What do you listen to?"

    "Um," he clears his throat. "Rap?"

    "Are you embarrassed about that? What kind of rap?" Iugh. He taps on the screen and Kendric Lamar starts. "Why are you embarrassed about this? I love Kendric and J. Cole. And Tech N9ne," "Really?" heughs.

    "Yeah, I discovered him on Falling In Reverse''s new album and I loved him. He has a good backlist,"

    "I don''t know. Ss always gives me shit because I was born in a castle,"

    "I''ve seen Ss singing to Taylor Swift. He has no right to criticize your taste in music when he''s listening to songs that speak to fourteen-year-old girls. Team Miley Sirus all the way. Party in the USA was my mom''s and I''s favorite song. I''d y it when she was super bummed about my dad being away all the time. She would have loved Wrecking Ball and Flowers,"

    "Miley Sirus is my sister''s favorite," heughs.

    16:05 Mon, Dec 9 Gx.

    My attention snaps outside when I see movement in the darkness. I can''t see through the snow falling but there is definitely something out there. I reach under my seat to retrieve the emergency pack I stashed in here when I did a clean sweep before going into Wondend. I lower the window enough so the re doesn''t blind me and I turn the high-beam shlight

    1. on.

    I can''t believe what I''m looking at. My stomach shrivels up and tries to take cover in my chest as a really bad shback of getting my ass nearly torn to shreds jumps in my head. My body reacts violently as the fear I didn''t have in my first encounter with one of these things makes itself known.

    "Go faster," I say pressing the button and hating that it goes up so fucking slow.

    "What is it?" he looks over at me probably sensing my fear.

    "A gorgon," I push the seat back and remove my jacket. The King shifts gears. "Whatever you do, do not stop this car. That is a fully grown gorgon out there,"N?velDrama.Org content rights.

    "What the fuck is a gorgon doing out in the open like this?" he asks.

    "Hunting," I pull my phone out and dial for Mackenzie.

    "What up?" she answers immediately.

    "We''re entering the border. There''s a gorgon on our ass,"

    "Fuck. I''ll scatter the big dogs. What entrance?"

    "Go around. Let''s buy them enough time to gear up," I point at an open pathway. "Get them to the west entrance, Kenz. Use deadlies,"

    "Yes, ma''am," she sounds like she''s already out of breath. "Hey, Prince boy. We have a Gorgon on the property," she knocks like a mad woman on someone''s door. "Let''s go! Let''s go! This is not a drill,"

    "I''ll pay for this," I look over at the King. "We have to keep it on us,"

    "Fuck. Okay," he nods.

    "Keep it steady. Tell me when you''re going to turn or brake so I can brace myself," I lean in and kiss him. "You''ve got this,"

    He nods but doesn''t say a word. I take a deep breath and lower the ss. I turn the shlight back on and stick it to the top of my SMG with the crappy tape I swore he was never going to need. When I try to stick my head out the window a rock flies past my head. I take a deep breath again and let it out slowly. I ce the extra mags on the seat and try again.

    As soon as the silver blob crosses the path of my shlight I fire and a high-pitched screech wails in the darkness. It jumps

    up

    into the trees around us and it falls behind.

    "Brake!" the King shouts. I grip the handle from the inside and reach for the seatbelt.

    "Fuck," I growl when the car skids a bit just before mming into a second one. He turns the car as I open fire on it. It jumps

    into the trees as well. I pull myself back inside and reach for my phone to call Mack.

    up

    "I''m on my way, Mama," she says hurriedly.

    "There are two Mackenzie. Take the high ground. We''re going through the centering in through the southwest," I call out as I reload my weapon. "Aim for the stomach. Tell the others to aim for their stomach,"

    She starts giving orders and I look over at the King worriedly.

    "Are thosemon here?" he asks.

    <

    "No, they''re cold climate creatures. They also stick to more crowded areas," I hang up the phone and call the asshole who I just backhanded earlier tonight.

    "This better be a good fucking apology," he growls.

    "Shut down the pack. We''ve got two gorgons between our territories. Get everyone inside and if you have guns, you better fucking use them. Take a left up here, Jonas,"

    "Are fucking kidding me?" he says a little calmer.

    "Go, Scofield. This is not a fucking drill. There might be kids outside,"

    The line goes dead and in the distance an rm res. I have to get out of this car, but I also don''t want to leave the King alone. These things are deadly and the only reason why I survived my first encounter with one of these was because of Calvin and the fact that it was still a baby. These are two fully grown gorgons.

    I adjust the mirror and hold my gun toward the back to see that only one is following us. Lights from the rooftops upe on and as we zoom past them they light up the monster behind us.

    "Jonas, I have to get outside,"

    "No," he growls shifting gears to go faster.

    "They''re here for me. You know they are," I sigh. "The old man knows I''m alive and he''s not happy,"

    "You can''t go out there. I''ve seen the scars that one of those things left on you," he shouts.

    "Jo, there are a lot of Lycans here, and if these things make out to Nova there a whole lot of pups in those schools,"

    "Then we go out there together," he growls. I cup his face and smile.

    "Go back around and honk your horn. sh your lights. Head east and go all the way around while we take care of this one. Come back. We do this together. Okay?"

    "Don''t jump out of the fucking car," he growls.

    "Trust me, Please, trust that I know what I''m doing,"

    "Perry," he shakes his head.

    "Please. For all of us. Head east take it all the way around to give us enough time to kill this one. Repeat it back to me,"

    "Head east go all the way around and then bring it back," he repeats.

    "Look at me," I tilt his head. "We''re going to be fine," I slide my ring off my finger and ce it on his hand. "Don''t let go of that. I want it back,"

 Bait Novel 180

    I take the protective sses from inside the emergency pack and slide them on my face before looking over at the King onest time. I lean forward to give him onest peck. When I move to slide out of the window to get on top, he stops me.

    "Don''t leave me again," he says gently. "Please,"

    "I''m not going anywhere, but we need to take care of this before people start dying" I nod.

    "I love you," he whispers.

    Fuck, I want to say it back but not like this. I nod, pull myself out of the car, and climb on top. I check my weapons and make sure that my gun is loaded. He slows a bit. Enough for me to be able to jump off.

    My feet hit the floor and I see the gorgon just up ahead trying to figure out what direction it should attack. I take one of my smoke bombs from my belt and head towards them. I crack the little sphere and throw it. The bright-colored smoke catches its attention. I charge straight for it.

    "I''m going to give you an opening. Aim for the belly," I shout.

    "Are you out of your fucking mind?" someone shouts.

    The gorgon spots me. I surge of adrenaline floods my body and my sensese to life. Without me having to think about it, my muscles adjust just enough to give me the power to be able to take this thing on. I don''t have to shift. I open fire when ites at me.

    It stumbles back waving its arm in front of it as if to swat the bullets away. When the mag is empty I toss it aside and release my ws without having to give into the shift fully. I skid under its legs and dig my ws into the ice to stop behind it. I

    with as much strength as I can muster andnd on its back.

    push up

    "Now," I shout grabbing hold of its arm and pulling it back.

    I hold it to me so that I don''t get hit. They all fire on it and I try to wiggle out from behind it now that it''s down. I flinch when it screams as they continue to shoot at it. With its belly fully exposed, it stood no chance. When it stops moving I pull my knife out and get to it before it can start to heal. I cut into the belly exposing the heart to cut it out. Sure enough, it was already trying to get itself pumping again.

    The rancid stench of its blood is enough to make me gag. Once the heart is out I step back trying to shake the image. I still

    more to go.

    have one

    "Holy shit! That was fucking lit!" Mackenzie shouts from somewhere on the rooftops.

    -How far out are you?- I ask the King.

    -That was fucking amazing. I''ming up behind you in a bit.-

    "Herees the other one," I shout and toss the heart aside. "Get ready,"

    I wipe the sweat from my face and step out onto the street. Jordanes out with me,

    "Okay. This one''s bigger. It''s a male so grab his right arm. I''ll get the left," the headlights up ahead shine on us and I shake my arms out to get some of this blood off me.

    "My right or his?" he asks.

    "What? Shit. You''re right," Iugh.

    I take the protective sses from inside the emergency pack and slide them on my face before looking over at the King onest time. I lean forward to give him onest peck. When I move to slide out of the window to get on top, he stops me. "Don''t leave me again," he says gently. "Please,"

    "I''m not going anywhere, but we need to take care of this before people start dying," I nod.

    "I love you," he whispers.

    Fuck, I want to say it back but not like this. I nod, pull myself out of the car, and climb on top. I check my weapons and make sure that my gun is loaded. He slows a bit. Enough for me to be able to jump off.

    My feet hit the floor and I see the gorgon just up ahead trying to figure out what direction it should attack. I take one of my smoke bombs from my belt and head towards them. I crack the little sphere and throw it. The bright-colored smoke catches its attention. I charge straight for it.

    "I''m going to give you an opening. Aim for the belly," I shout.

    "Are you out of your fucking mind?" someone shouts.

    The gorgon spots me. I surge of adrenaline floods my body and my sensese to life. Without me having to think about it, my muscles adjust just enough to give me the power to be able to take this thing on. I don''t have to shift. I open fire when ites at me. It stumbles back waving its arm in front of it as if to swat the bullets away. When the mag is empty I toss it aside and release my ws without having to give into the shift fully. I skid under its legs and dig my ws into the ice to stop behind it. I push up with as much strength as I can muster andnd on its back.

    "Now," I shout grabbing hold of its arm and pulling it back.

    I hold it to me so that I don''t get hit. They all fire on it and I try to wiggle out from behind it now that it''s down. I flinch when it screams as they continue to shoot at it. With its belly fully exposed, it stood no chance. When it stops moving I pull my knife out and get to it before it can start to heal. I cut into the belly exposing the heart to cut it out. Sure enough, it was already trying to get itself pumping again.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The rancid stench of its blood is enough to make me gag. Once the heart is out I step back trying to shake the image. I still have one more to go.

    "Holy shit! That was fucking lit!" Mackenzie shouts from somewhere on the rooftops.

    -How far out are you?- I ask the King.

    -That was fucking amazing. I''ming up behind you in a bit.-

    "Herees the other one," I shout and toss the heart aside. "Get ready,"

    I wipe the sweat from my face and step out onto the street. Jordanes out with me,

    "Okay. This one''s bigger. It''s a male so grab his right arm. I''ll get the left," the headlights up ahead shine on us and I shake my arms out to get some of this blood off me.

    "My right or his?" he asks.

    "What? Shit. You''re right," Iugh.

    Perry, he growls as they get closer.

    I break into a run and he follows.

    "Your right," I shout as the spaceship dashes past us.

    1 reach for its arm and dig my ws into its skin just as my shoulder bashes into his. Pain shoots through me but I don''t let go and continue to push with everything I''ve got. The guards open fire and the thing tugs at me trying to get loose.

    This was definitely a male and an alpha one at that. Jordan''s natical instinct to bow gets the best of him and he lets go. I brace myself for it to try and hit me but it neveres. The King''s growl greets me as this thing goes down with insane force. "Move," he pulls me away.

    The guards fire at it again and it finally goes down. I hold up my knife for him.

    "That one''s all yours, Lycan King," I pant. "The thump thump right in the middle,"

    He takes it and walks over to the gorgon."

    For something as terrifying as these things are, they''re beautiful This massive beast is majestic shades of silver and blue. The reptilian scales are ssy and well-groomed for a monster that''s supposed to be out in the wild. I get up and go over to it as the King removes its heart. I turn its cobra-shaped head and feel around its neck until I find it.

    "Knife," I hold my hand out.

    "What are you doing?" he asks handing it back. "Also that''s not metal,"

    "Nothing gets past those Lycan King senses, huh?" Iugh. He grins and watches me as I remove the tracker from this thing''s neck. I wipe it on my jeans as best as I can and hold it up to show him. "They belong to someone,"

    "You''re fucking kidding me," he takes it.

    "Let me check the other one. You know who would love these?"

    "Your little hybrid friend?"

    "My little hybrid friend," I nod. "Tell them not to put the hearts anywhere near the bodies. Put them in ss preferably. Airlocked and in apletely different room," "Why?"

    "I don''t know. It''s like removing the batteries. You put it back in and it starts up the toy again,"

    "What?" one of the other Lycans all but shouts.

    "Yeah, that''s what I said, but it''s true. I''ve seen it,"

    Once again, my stomach almost falls out of my ass when I get near this thing. I stare down to see what I missed earlier. It was pregnant. My body tingles as I officially get grossed out. Without the heart both are dead, but it feels nasty. I remove the safety sses and toss them aside. I should probably keep those. They didn''t fall off my face even after all that. I hope someone got that on video.

    "Oh, shit. It was pregnant, Perry," Mackenize shouts. "Guys look at the baby. Siiick," sheughs. I try to fight back the nausea but I have to turn away as whatever is left in my stomaches up. "Oh, you did not just get sick after what you just pulled. That was amazing. Thatdies and gentlemen is how the mother fucking Lycan Queen does it,"

    She starts pping and the others follow along with her. All while I''m standing here throwing up. I''ll appreciate the gesture

    16:06 Mon, Dec 9 G ti

    ¡°All right. All right. Let her throw up in peace," Jordan starts waving them away.

    "Hey," the King pulls my hair back. "You''re okay. We would have still killed it knowing,"

    I spit and wipe my mouth on my shoulder. We both straighten up as a set of headlightses closer.

    "Is that an Uber guy?" Jordan asks. I look up at the King and he bursts intoughter. Everyone turns to look at us as he doubles over holding his stomach.

    "Fuck," he gasps for air. "Baby, our food is here,"

    "We''re going to need that after a long hot fucking.bath," I rub my sore shoulder. "Someone tip him,"

    "Can you walk?" the King asks. I nod as hees over to me to me. "Get this cleaned up guys. Put these things on ice, please,"

    "Don''t put the hearts near the bodies. She said ss jars and in a different room," the guy from earlier is holding out an evidence bag while a girl picks up the heart carefully and with gloves on to gently ce in his waiting hands. "Everyone is going to be talking about that for the next few months," the King says with a sigh. "Thank you"

    "No, thank you," I bump my elbow against his ribs.

    "For what? That was all you," he shakes his head.

    "Dude, I think that was the greatest date night in the history of all date nights," I hug him. "I had a fucking st,"

    81%

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 181

    Monday''s rmes way too soon even after having slept all of Sunday. I only woke up when the King came in here to make me eat something and when I had to go to the restroom. I change into my morning workout clothes and meet Jordan outside. "We''re trending," he says when we start our jog.

    "Nice. Good or bad,"

    "So good. The wolves are all wet over us taking out those gorgons. How are you feeling?"

    Fine. I just want to bezy though," I admit.

    "Mood," heughs.

    "Are you okay? Jonas said you took a big hit,"

    "I wasn''t expecting an alpha call in the middle of a fight. I''m sorry. I''m really happy you didn''t get too banged up,"

    "We''re good. I should have noticed sooner. I wouldn''t have let you help otherwise. It all happened very fast. So, don''t worry about it," I reassure him.

    We finish our run and head up to get ready for the day. My right shoulder is still bruised from the impact against the gorgon. I was hoping it would be gone by today, but it''s doing a whole lot better than it was yesterday morning. I take a cold shower scrubbing extra hard because I swear I can smell those things on me still.

    "You''re up," a groggy voice catches my attention. I turn around to see that the King is standing in the bathroom doorway with nothing but gray sweatpants on. That''s it. Nothing else.

    "Yeah," I nod.

    "How''s the shoulder? Let me see," hees straight to me.

    My brain short circuits as I look down at his incredible physique. Our getting together wasn''t ideal but he sure made the pill easy to go down. I take a deep breath and let him gently remove the shirt I just put on. He lifts me up onto the counter and looks down at me as if he were an actual doctor.

    "You should lick it," I suggest. He grins and rolls his sleepy eyes. Is that not how it works?"

    "It only works on open wounds," he shakes his head.

    "That''s too bad. I didn''t want to make it worse when I put your brother on his asster. Want

    "Are you inviting me to watch you bully my brother?" he smirks.

    "Yes,"

    "Hell yeah, I want to watch,"

    watch?"

    "I''ll meet you downstairs then," I try to get passed him before we have to start our morning a littlete.

    "Good morning, Perry," he stops me and kisses

    my

    forehead.

    "Good morning, Jonas," I return and then clear my throat when he drops his sweats. I look down at the floor and there is not a single thing thates to mind that can help me talk myself out of this. "You did that on purpose,"N?velDrama.Org owns this.

    "Nothing gets past those Lycan Queen senses of yours, huh?" he boldly smiles back at me through the ss between us.

    17:58 Tue, Dec 10 GBB. Chapter 181

    I finally muster the courage to fully look over at him to see that he already has a toothbrush in his mouth. The challenge is more than clear. When we got back after our date, we were both physically and mentally drained. After a long soak, we both immediately fell asleep. By both, I mean me because I have no idea if he fell asleep with me. When I woke up the next morning, he was already gone.

    "Yeah," I say hoping off the counter to take the rest of my clothes off.

    He holds the ss door open for me. My cold shower has gone to waste. The warm water cascades down my body as he finishes brushing his teeth. His armes around me and he takes my arms to ce my hands on the wall in front of me.

    "What you did was careless," he whispers against my ear.

    "Agree to disagree," I gasp his fingers slipping between my legs.

    My body reacts to his touch like nothing I''ve ever felt before. These Lycan senses are out of this world. Trying to get a hold of them has been very difficult for me. Everyone keeps saying let them guide me. Give in. They have no fucking idea what that would mean for someone like me. The disaster that would bring to myself and those around me.

    I cry out when he pulls his fingers out of me just t¨° p my clit. The orgasm hits hard and it only gets worse when he slides into me with a low grow His long tongue licks from my shoulder to my mark making me tighten around him that much

    more.

    "I thought you said it didn''t work that way," "Never hurts to try,"

    His touch is gentle today and it''s driving me insane. He turns me around and lifts me like I weigh nothing to lower me onto him. I wrap one arm around his neck and try to hold myself up with the other. I have nowhere else to look at but his chest, his sculpted abdomen, and what he''s doing to me. It only makes me that much more excited.

    When I reach to stimte myself a little more, he stops me pinning my hand over my head. Before I can say anything his lips are on mine. He lifts me up a little more and pushes inside of me. It''s barely seven in the morning and this is already turning out to be a great fucking day.

    "I can stay in here with you all day," I pull him closer when he lets me go.

    His teeth sink into my mark as he snaps his hips against mine faster. My body gets so worked up that a burst of energyes out at me at the same time Ie undone. The ss behind him shatters and then falls apart. He pulls away from me enough to show me he thinks it''s hrious. He looks back at the ss andughs. I just stay still with my mouth wide open.

    "You shattered the ss," he says amused.

    "I didn''t mean to do that," I squeak and bury my face in his shoulders. I am twice as embarrassed when I feel hisughter shake him.

    He reaches for some towels to put over the ss. All without setting me down. He takes us out of the bathroom and into our room. When I try to get down he locks his hands on my hips and lowers us onto the bed even though we''re soaking wet.

    "I''m not done with you," he continues to lick the mark on my neck and moves down to my chest where he leaves a trail of bites.

    I know exactly what he''s doing and I honestly can care less. If this is what he needs to give himself the peace of mind thates with what his brother did to him. I''m here for it. He''s not hurting me in the slightest. It feels good to be wanted like this. To have him and everyone else acknowledge what I''m doing instead of turning it on me making me feel bad about everything I do to try and help.

    For the first time since turning, I can hear him in my head like before. At this moment, he''s just here with me. I love the possessive edge to his incoherent thoughts. Images of other times we''ve been together sh in his head. In this form and as a

    17:58 Tue, Dec 10 GBB.

    wolf.

    §à

    He stops when I open my mind up to him as well. I think of all the times I''ve made himugh. All the times he''s made me very proud of him. Things I can''t bring myself to say because saying them out loud would feel way too real and I''m not sure I''m ready for that. His eyes search mine for a moment. Fear starts poking at my chest but it all just fades away when he leans in to kiss me again. He turns us over so I''m on top of him. I ce my hands on his chest and lift myself up to move better.

    Maybe I can''t say it. Maybe I can''t ever tell him, but I hope he sees it in everything I do for him. And that it''s enough for

    him.

 Bait Novel 182

    Michael is a big guy. Just like his cousin Jordan. As I''m taking in their skills to pair them up for sparing. I can''t help butugh and Jordan isn''t helping with his cars burning bright red. It alw doesn''t help that they look very simr. While fortan has pretty honey amber eyes, this guy has hy blue eyes and his hair a nice soft brown shade.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

    "Michael, wee." I greet him.

    "My Queen," he bows.

    "You''re pairing up with Lillies for a sparing, I inform him. Jordas tenses up. "Jordan, you''ll be pairing up with James,"

    "Seriously?"

    "Yes, non-negotiable,"

    "He''s a beta." James protests.

    "Bunny, you and Mack,"

    "Yes," the two of them high-five each other and make their way over to the mats.

    I turn my attention to the King who is paying attention to his phone. I take it out of his hand and set it on the table behind him. He looks up at me annoyed.

    You can spar with me,"

    "We''ve been through this," he shakes his head.

    "It''s just a warm-up so we can show the others what to expect," I take his hand and lead him to the mat. He looks down at me unamused with the situation. "Okay, so I''m going to attack him and he''s going to try and stop me. I want you to pay close attention to our movements,"

    "Perry-"

    "Assume a defensive stance," I encourage him.

    He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly before doing what I asked. I clear my throat and step to him widening his feet and helping him with his posture. It annoys him further, but when I swing he catches my move with his hand. I kick at his stance but it doesn''t teeter him in the slightest. We both move around each other, me attacking and him blocking.

    "You have a heavy hand," heins when my fist meets his forearm with a sharp smack.

    "You can take it. I''m sure I''ve dealt worse," Iugh.

    I spin around and go for his legs. I punch the back of his thigh and knee the back of his knee taking him down. He reaches

    up to grab my arms before I can fully put him in a headlock. My arms shake as I try to stop him from pulling me over his head.

    I put my knee on his back and pull back enough to give me space to use my left leg. I wrap it around him and lift myself to fully lock him in. He knows he can''t pull apart my legs without actually hurting me. We fall on the mat and he finally taps my knee and release him. "Cheater," he growls yfully making meugh.

    "See, that''s all sparing is. We all have skills and we have to take advantage of all of them in a fight. Fighting isn''t about releasing your rage. It''s about focusing that anger on the opponent in front of you and using it to your advantage. If you give in to that anger it''s already over. You let the thing that makes you thrive take over and nothing else matters,"

    Chapter 18y

    "Why don''t you ry withe with a hittle more express

    And who do you think that might be, your 1 off

    Don''t do e. I''ve been there Makenzie huffs

    You said I need more training. I can ve you exactly what I can do he challenges The King doesn''t like that I take his hand and smile at him

    "All right

    "Perry," he growl.

    "I can take him even in wolf form. I broke his kneecap without even trying."

    Jordan snorts making James growl at him. I wave James over and he waits for the king to get off the mat. I assume a defensive position and give him way toe at me. That''s what he wants and I n to show him just how utterly unprepared he was to be given the position he wanted at the Falcon''s side. Jameses at me trying to sweep my feet out from under me. I step back and bring my knee up When he goes to cover his face I quickly spin around and kick him on the side of his head hard enough to make him fall over.

    Instead of stepping back so we could start over he loses his temper andes at me. I dodge his wild attacks and allow him to slip through enough for him to p me across the face. Acting on instinct I backhand him. He staggers back but I don''t stop. I unleash a barrage of attacks on him until he''s lying on his back winded.

    Get up, I growl. "You want to fucking y with me. Get on your fucking feet,"

    "He''s not even a little prepared. Hold back," Mackenzie growls at me. "Back off, Prince Boy,"

    He pushes off the ground fully giving into his anger and swings at me trying to use his ws. My body instinctively takes in his demeanor and every time he reaches me with his ws the energy in my body is released. He takes that as a challenge and continues to try and attack me with the intention to kill.

    I let him. I let hime at me with everything he''s got. When he starts to slow down I move in for the kill. He growls with the hard p of my skin against his and for the final fuck you, I swing for his face. My fist meets his nose with a sickening crack. His head whips back and he hits the mat.

    "You are not anywhere near where you think you are. I don''t know how you made it this fucking far, but I can tell you that any one of those alphas that fuck sent you to would have torn you to shreds. Get up. You''re not fucking done. You''re still going to spar with Jordan," . "My nose is broken," he growls at me. I step up to him looking it over and press both sides to pop it back into ce. He ps my hands away as bloodes out of his nose. He spits it on the mat making a bigger mess.

    "I don''t care if it''s broken. You are going to participate whether you like it or not. You want to be the best, this is the conditions the best always fight in. You''re not going out on the field with this mediocre ass training. Get up and clean this shit up," I motion the blood. One of the guards with the King tries toe help him, but I put my hand out. I growl at him and he lets out a heavy sigh letting James get himself back on his feet. We all watch him as he gets up to get the towels by the cleaning station. He cleans himself up andes back to clean the blood up.

    To say he''s pissed is an understatement, but that''s the only way he seems to learn. Like myself, the only way anyone ever stopped me was by force. My father, Alpha Redwood, the Rogue King, the Falcon, and even the King. It''s not something I''ve ever wished to use on anyone, but this guy is way in over his head.

    He''s an alpha, not a King. There''s a huge difference between him and his brother. One he seems to think makes the King weak. It''s a fucking miracle that Jonas didn''t turn on all of them after what they did. That''s real power in opinion. It shows Chapter 182

    real strength

    "Everyone take a mat. Let''s get ready to begin, I call out.

    James takes a water bottle from the fridge and as the others set up I walk over to him.

    "What?" he asks bitterly.

    "I''m not trying to humiliate you, James,"

    "Are you sure about that?" he scoffs.

    "You''re the only person who can give me that power. If you act like a victim, you''re never going to stop being one. You''re not Jonas. Stop trying to be. Comparing yourself to him is like meparing myself to Morgan."

    "That''s not the same,"

    "Yes, it is the same and it''s stupid. You don''t thrive in politics. Politics isn''t about money. It''s about character. Power. You don''t have either. You have a different set of skills. A different mindset. I would never give him the assignment I gave you Saturday night. He wouldn''t even where to start. "Get that out of your head. I''m trying to help you be more than what you think you deserve. You''re the prince of the entire Lycan race and everyone fucking hates you. Is that what you want? To be this fucking useless kid living in the shadow of your brother?"

    "Fuck you," he growls looking me over with real hatred. I smile at him and nod.

    "Use that. That anger. Bottle it up. Let it keep you going. Do you want to go back to that box or do you want to be the person your father wanted you to be?" I look back at the others as the way for us. "Look at them. They feel sorry for you. Is that who James Prince is?" "No," he shakes his head.

    "Then step up. Let Jordan teach you how to use all that shit killing you. I need you to help me. That hasn''t changed. You have to take my ce. There''s no one else but you. I trust you to have my back and your King''s,"

    His eyes snap to mine. They go over my head where the King is standing. I guide his gaze back to me.

    "No. You don''t owe him anything. Your focus is going to stay on me. I''m holding your leash. Go get in line. Ask questions. Get all that doing it-alone bullshit out of your head. You have me. That''s all you need for now," "Okay," he nods. "Whatever,"

    "Okay. Prepare yourself. Even I have trouble with him," I pat his back as he goes over to the mats.

    My hand is aching from me punching him in the face. I shake it out and feel the aches where he hit me everywhere. He''s insanely strong and driven. If I had let my guard down he would fucked my shit up. He''s just carrying a lot of pain and resentment on his shoulders. There''s only one way to help him out of that and it''s teaching him how to control it. He''s in his first stage of feral. He cane back from that. It''s not toote for him.

    "You okay?" the Kinges over to check my hand.

    "Yeah," I nod. "He just-" I growl. "Fucking asshole,"

    "Yeah," heughs kissing the top of my head. "I warned you. I have to go. If you need me for anything. Let me know,"

    "I will," I promise. He tips my chin up and ces a kiss on my lips before he smirks.

    "That was beautiful. I didn''t know you had this much grace," he smirks.

    "Fuck off."

    "Only because it''s you who''s asking. Your Grace," he smirks. "Di

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait Novel 183

    I''m staring at the evidence in front of me and my mind refuses process it. I couldn''t join the King for dinner tonight. I''ve been locked in my study long enough to take everything out of die boxes and assign each item a ce in this room. My blood is rushing and I don''t know what to do other than to keep working.

    "Perry," the knock behind me startles me, but I choose to ignore. I slip my headphones on and turn up the music.

    My hands move over the keyboard as the locations where the gold was stolen fromste up. A transport van in Berlin dates back to three months ago. The months fucking months ago, I have to be missing something. I slide the golden cuff off my wrist and hold it up. There''s no way this is happening, but the evidence speaks for itself.

    I can''t even chalk this up as a copycat. There is no one out there who can mimic something so perfect. Not like this. There''s only one and he''s been dead for five years. It''ll be six in three months.

    I growl gripping the hand on my shoulder and pull mming whoever came in without my permission on my keyboard.

    "It''s just me," the King says rmed.

    "Fuck. I''m so sorry, Jonas. What are you doing?" I let him go and stand up taking my headphones off. I look back to see he kicked the door in. "Why?"

    "You weren''t answering the door. I was worried," he says rubbing his wrist. "What''s wrong? I can see your energy

    I look down and sure enough, my skin is almost glowing. I take a deep breath and shake off the disbelief.

    "I had my headphones on. I''m sorry. I lost track of time," I lie. He looks around knowing I''m full of shit, but he chooses to ignore it anyway.

    "You finished," he says. "You know what this room can use?"

    "Hello Kitty shit?" I say going on long with the light he brought in with him.

    "Hello Kitty shit," he smiles. "What''s wrong? We''re connected, remember? I can feel the stress you''re under,"

    "The heist," I say sitting back at my desk. I lean back and show him what James sent me.

    ""What heist?"

    "The one that got Scofield the gold. I know who did it,"

    "Nice, care to tell me? Should we be worried?" he asks.

    "All of it. From the way the van was broken into to the way, everything was removed and rebranded. It was Darren. He has signature. Even in his coding and the only other person who has ever been able to replicate it is me. There is no one else. Not even Bunny can do this shit yet,"

    "Perry-"

    "I know how it sounds, okay. But I''m telling you this is authentic and it happened three months ago. It''s all right there," I point at it. "If you want another opinion, call Jake. He''s going to tell you the same thing because it was Jake''s mate who taught us this,"

    "What if either one of them taught someone else? The Falcon can be using this to lure you back in, Perry. I know how much this affects you, baby, but take a deep breath. He''s right here," he takes the cuff from the table. "You''ve been carrying this thing around for the past five years. He''s not anywhere else,"

    "Can you please call him?" I whisper wanting to believe him. He mods taking his phone out. He even puts it on speaker.

    Jonas, is everything okay Jake answers immediately.

    "Hey, Jake. Yeah, everything is okay. I have Perry here with me she wants to show you something.

    "Sure, Jake agrees.

    "Hey, Jake," I switch the call to facetime.

    "Have you two been fighting again?" he ask disappointedly. "You''re a tness,"

    "No, actually we''re good. Something came up. On Saturday, Jo and I went out and some shit went down in Nova with Alpha Scofield," "You didn''t kill him, did you?" he asks worriedly. I smile and shake my head.

    "I did break his face though,"

    "I''m calling that progress. That''s my girl," heughs. Even the King cracks a smile.

    "He was bribed by some gampires with this gold," I plug my phone into myputer to project what''s on mine to his phone:

    "Wow, that is beautiful. Where''d the vamps get it?"

    "Berlin,"

    "We know from who?"

    "That''s where we have a problem,"

    "There''s no way you of all people can''t trace this," he scoffs.

    "James did it for me. Jake, it''s him," there''s a very long pause. A pause long enough to break my heart all over again.

    "Can I move this?" he ask

    "Yeah," I say and he starts going through everything. After a moment, he lets out a heavy sigh and even lowers the phone away from his face. I stare down at the darkness of the screen.

    "Okay. I''m on my way," he says when he''s visible again.

    "Wait, wait," the King says. "There has to be something else. Think about this. That fuck wants Perry back and he''d do anything to get her there. This is a trap,"

    "I love this Kid, Perry. If you fuck this up, I''m going to be in your ear for the rest of my life. Remember that. I''ll be there in a couple of hours. Warn the twins. Tell them that their mother will be joining us," "Yes, sir," I agree.

    "Hey, we''ll figure this out. I want you to get it out of your head. Yes?"

    "Yes," I nod.

    "I''ll tell Mackenzie. I know you two aren''t to happy with one another at the moment,"

    "She''s mad I pped up her drinking buddy," I exin.

    "Drinking buddy?"

    B

    69%1

    "My brother," the king says

    "You''re going to give Roy a fucking heart attack," he shakes his head. "Why are you letting them hang out?" "What? Mackenzie isn''t going to sleep with that fuck. She''s conviticed she''s gay. She''s ying with Oz."

    "What?" the Kingughs.

    "Oh, that makes more sense now," he nods. "I don''t mind that. I think she''d be a great influence on her,"

    "She''s mated," the King says softly and very worried.

    "She has a mate. There''s a difference,"

    "There''s no difference. That''s like saying I could go out and do that when I pleased,"

    "We''re mated and married and legally not allowed to ever separate. I''ll murder you and her and her entire family before murdering her and then kill her if you ever do that to me. It would be bloody and disturbing. I''d probably be put in the box your brother was in until I shrivel up and die. It would totally be justified,"

    "I ept those terms and offer the same deal," he holds his hand out and I instantly shake it.

    "It''s different because she wants nothing to do with him. She''s going to do everything in her power to ensure he hates her,"

    "That''s not the way of going about that. It''s not going to get ugly until she tries to fuck another dude,"

    Tam hanging up now," Jake says.

    "Bye, Jake. I''ll see you in a bit. Drive safe,"

    "Hang tight, Perry," he hangs up. I sit back and stare at the monitor. I unplug my phone and look down at the bangle. I shake it to hear its contents.

    "There was this moment when we were at the restaurant on Saturday," I toss it back on the table. "When I saw the vampires, I was like oh, okay. This is what that was,"

    "What?" he asks crossing his arms over his chest.

    "When Darren shifted and for hours aftering back, he scared the fuck out of me. My wolf loved that shit. With just a look I''d be paralyzed. I was always afraid of him when we were growing up. I''d always pick my fights when and where.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "But after he shifted it was like looking in the eyes of evil. And my body responded to that. Just as bad as when you touch

    I felt it that night. It made my skin crawl. I figured it was just the vampires but there was a third one. He never showed

    1. me.

    his face,"

 Bait Novel 184

    The food the King made for me has gone cold. I took a bite to appease him when he set it on my desk and he went to bed. It''s early in the morning and I am obsessing over every little detail of this report. "It''s not him," I say when Jacob walks in.

    "You''re sure?" he asks looking over the wall where I printed everything I needed. I nod and he instantly wraps his arms around me. "Thank god,"

    I pull away as my eyes fill with tears. He cups my face and lets out a sigh of relief.

    "Fuck," I choke out.

    "Show me," he pushes my hair away from my face. I wipe my face with the back of my hands.

    "It''s a copy of a heist we pulled off in Madrid. When we took the copies of the Vampire King''s gold tes,"

    "I remember," he nods.

    "The same program was used. Darren never used the same program. He would toss them out and redo the entire thing. You know how paranoid he was. Also, the way the vans were broken into. They used silver picks and left traces. Darren could never," "That means the King is right and he''s trying to lure you back in he rubs my arm.

    He is. Enough to catch my full attention. It was a cheap shot to do this to me. That sick mother fucker. I hate him.

    "I''m sorry I bugged you," I apologize.

    "Don''t be, Sweetheart. That''s what fathers are for," he pats my head.

    "Perry," I pull away to see James standing in the doorway.

    "Come in," I wave him in. "This is my dad, Jacob. Jake this is James. The King''s little brother,"

    "We''re acquainted," Jacob holds his hand out for him. James smirks but takes it anyway. "You need some rest. Eat," he points at the full te on my desk. "That monster is fucking with your head. Don''t let him take you there again, Perry. You''re stronger now. Yeah?" "Yeah," I nod. He kisses the top of my head and excuses himself.

    "You good?" James asks.

    "What do you want?" I ask ripping the pictures and notes off the wall.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.

    "You didn''t show up at training,"

    "You need me to hold your hand, Chosen One?" I scoff. He growls rolling his eyes.

    "Whatever," he turns to leave.

    "Wait," I groan annoyed with myself for feeling sorry for this asshole. "I''m sorry. It was a long night,"

    "Do you need anything?" he asks. I sit on all the pages and shake my head. "What is that?"

    "The heist I had you look into. The Falcon replicated some of Darren''s patterns and for a moment I thought the worst,"

    "He can do that? I heard from the other 10s that no one can replicate what you and he can do,

    "Apparently, but there were slips and now I know he''s just trying to get my attention,

    You talk about him like he''s some kind of god."

    "He fancies himself one. He does shit like this and we''re so tangled in all his shit that it''s hard to get away from him,"

    "I meant Darren," he smirks and starts to clean up my mess.

    "I do not," I scoff.

    "You do. Maybe it doesn''t sound that way to you, but I notice. If I notice, I know my insecure sissy-ass brother does too."

    "Darren was my mate. I love him. I was in love with him since before I even knew he was my mate,"

    "I''m not saying not to. I''m just making an observation. I''ve heard stories about him, you know. Shit that maybe you''ve forgotten in your grief,"

    "You mean how he supposedly held my leash and used me to get whatever he wanted," I scoff. "You''re not the first person to say that. Not even the first one this week. You never met him and you don''t know the reality of our situation, "That''s how all abused females justify that their mate was a bastard," he stuffs everything into the trash bin.

    "He wasn''t abusive. Maybe he was, but it wasn''t like I was any better. Before we knew we were mates, we were rivals. There was a lot of tension between us already,

    "If you say so," he sits at my desk and spins in my chair.

    "Don''t act like you were the perfect husband. She would have never let Jonas put that mark on her if you were,

    "I never said I was. Eve was everything I wasn''t. Creative, kind, and very optimistic. She kept me centered. I guess what I wanted from her was peace. Something not shrouded in blood. Kind of like what you want from my brother," "I''m sorry," I say meaning it. "I don''t know if any has ever told you this, but I''m sorry for your loss,"

    "No, no one ever has. Like you, everyone took one look at me and decided that Jonas was the victim in all this,"

    "You both were and weren''t. Thinking about the what-ifs isn''t going to help you forgive yourself. It''s only going to make the guilt heavier,"

    "That is a very Edmundo Szar thing to say, Perry," he sneers.

    "It doesn''t make it any less true. Thinking about the what-ifs is what drove me feral. What made me do extreme shit like put a bomb in the alpha''s house and the packhouse so when I died they were blown to shit with me,"

    "I''m a big fan of that," he smirks. "And the reports of you lighting their house on fire on the anniversary of Darren''s death,"

    "Shut up, Iugh.

    "I want to help you with this. Tell me what to do," he sits up. "Where do we start? What do we need?*

    "We need two more team members. I don''t have anyone, but I know you do," I sit back. The paper members as sick as us. People to help us get that advantage. Anyonee to mind?"

    "Yeah, he nods. "But you gave them to your little vampire friend, Lily,"

    "You know they''re blood bags now, right? Think harder. We can''t get them back,"

    under me crinkles. "Two

    17:30 Wed, Dec 11 GGB.

    @4 69%8

    "You''re a real piece of work," he sighs. "Fine. I''ll see what I can do It''s likely that my brother is not going to like this,"

    "Your brother hasn''t liked this since I dropped your name. You can''t pick just anyone to spite him, James. This is not a game. People are going to die. A lot of them. Shit, either one of us can be next. I have people who are going to be joining us outside of this, but I wouldn''t trust them with anything else.

    "If you''re going to bring people into this, this is it. This is going to be their life. There will be no way out. You are included in that. You fucked up and this is the only way you can turn that around. I want to trust you. Shit, I want us to be friends eventually. I''m taking all the risk,"

    "By risking my life," he growls.

    "What would you be doing if not this?" I ask. "What else do you have outside of this?"

    His jaw ticks and he looks down at his hands.

    "Nothing. I have absolutely nothing other than this. It doesn''t mean that it''s all I deserve,"

    "You''re right and that''s the reason why I don''t keep you in a box. This is a job, James. Something to keep you going without you ending up like I did. This isn''t everything you''re going to be required to do. Once your training is over, it''s done. We don''t have to see each other unless it''s necessary. You''re free even if you aren''t,"

    "Tell me something, Your Majesty," he stands. "If you had to choose. If Darren were alive," he points at the trash. "Would you take him back?"

    The question catches me off guard. I sit back and smile.

    "No," I answer truthfully. "It would mean he chose to leave me and kill our son. It would mean that I made the wrong people pay for that. Even if it killed me, I would end him the same way I ended Calvin. I''m not a forgiving person, James,"

    "You forgave me," he scoffs.

    "I have nothing to forgive you for, dumbass. You didn''t do shit to me. It''s in your best interest to remember that. Hurt me and I''ll fucking destroy you. Betray me and I''ll kill you. Try hurting my mate and you''re going to wish your father never dragged you out of your fucking cave. Get out. I have work to do,"

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait novel 185

    <b>Chapter </b><b>185 </b>

    Jonas

    James ms the door shut behind him and freezes when he sees me standing against the wall in front of him. We stare <b>at </b>each other and he¡¯s the first to look away. He sighs and tries to get to the stairs. I stop him and he squares his shoulders to

    meet my gaze.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to ask her that,¡±

    ¡°I did. Maybe you should have asked her that. I don¡¯t understand how you can let her bring his family around. A reminder that she was never yours to begin with. All of this <b>is </b>just <b>a </b>sick twisted stroke of fate,¡± he growls.

    ¡°There is no fucking way you¡¯re this fucking <b>lost</b><b>, </b>James<b>. </b>She lost her mate<b>,¡± </b>

    ¡°So did you and you watched that bitch stomp Eve¡¯s mother to death,¡± he growls at me.

    ¡°She¡¯s your Queen. Don¡¯t talk about her like that. She did it to protect me<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°So protect her and get rid of them,¡± he turns around to leave.

    ¡°Why does it bother you?¡± I ask. He stops before getting to the stairway that leads upstairs. ¡°Why did youe to check on her?¡±

    ¡°Mackenzie doesn¡¯t fucking care about her. Jacob is used to the life she¡¯s provided for him. That girl is nothing but an object to them, Jo. The same way she is to the old man. You should listen to the way they talk about her when she¡¯s not around. He does and says what she wants. She belongs to us now. It was the wolves who betrayed her and sold her to us. Remember that,¡±

    ¡°Again, why do you care?¡±

    ¡°Because she¡¯s your mate, Asshole,¡± he growls. ¡°I <b>see </b>the way you look at her. You never once looked at Evie like that. Eve <b>was </b>a fucking idea to you. Something our parents fucked your head up with. This girl dies and what do I have left? Nothing. We¡¯re all fucked.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to get herself killed, Jonas. That thing is going to take her or kill her. We have nothing else to ground us. I fucking hate you, but I don¡¯t hate her. This is the onlymon ground we have, brother. I don¡¯t care how you stop her. Impregnate her, lock her up, paralyze her. I don¡¯t care, but do it before she has everything she needs,¡±

    He turns around and stomps up the stairs.

    ¡°He needs a fucking life,¡± I shake my head. I turn around to find Perry standing in the door with a smirk on her face.

    ¡°I agree<b>,</b>¡± she nods. ¡°You do any of those things and I¡¯ll hog¨Ctie you and drag you around this entire property with the spaceship,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d deserve that,¡± Iugh. ¡°You left me alone all night,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she steps out and takes my hand. ¡°I wasn¡¯t in a good <b>headspace</b>,<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°The only reason why I don¡¯t take you over myp,¡± I nip at her ear yfully. ¡°I think I can help him get those Lycans back. We can trade them for the gorgons in our basement,¡±

    ¡°Jonas, you¡¯re a fucking genius,¡± she jumps on me. I pick her up and take her into her study, locking the door behind me.

    ¡°Tell me what you found,¡± I set her down and then re at her when I see she didn¡¯t eat the ravioli I made for her. ¡°Did you

    <b>55</b>%

    <b>Chapter </b>183

    not <b>like </b><b>it</b><b>?</b><b>¡± </b>

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>loved it,¡± <b>she </b>says and takes it.

    You have a microwave in here<b>?</b>¡±

    <b>¡°</b>Yeah,<b>¡± </b><b>she </bughs.

    <b>¡°</b><b>I </b>can <b>make </b>you breakfast,

    ¡°I can also make myself breakfast. I can have Valentina make me breakfast,¡±

    ¡°Right <b>away</b>, mydy,¡± <b>a </b>voicees from behind the door.

    ¡°What the fuck? Wait, no,¡± Perry rushes to the door and pulls it open. ¡°She¡¯s gone. Where did she evene from? It¡¯s not the first time she has done that. She brought me a Nosst night and I had whispered it to myself,¡±

    ¡°Her hearing is more advanced than anyone anywhere. She¡¯s mute. She can <b>also </b>see shit from <b>far </b>far away. It¡¯s kind of creepy but cool. I¡¯m going to put aarium <b>here </b>for her. She¡¯s an astrophysicist,<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I love her even more now. Ah!¡± she squeaks and smacks my arm. ¡°You should have told me sooner. <b>I </b>actually have <b>a </b>gift for you. Do you guys do Thanksgiving presents?¡±

    ¡°No one does that. That¡¯s not a thing,¡± Iugh. She¡¯s having a manic attack after the shit storm from yesterday. Fuck. <i>That</i>. Fucking. Wraith. Asshole. She¡¯s been doing so well.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s gonna be my thing this year,¡± she deres and goes over to the bookshelf closest to her desk. ¡°And you get yours early,¡±

    ¡°A book?¡± I ask when she spins around with a ck leather¨Cbound book in her hands. It¡¯s thicker than it should be.

    ¡°Open it,¡± she all but shoves it in my face<b>. </b>

    I take it and open it up. Inside, in the crappiest script I¡¯ve ever seen are the words, Questions I have About Space<b>. </b>I flip the page and yellow stars fly out at me. Starry Night is painted on the page with borders around it where the <b>stars </b><b>go </b>and the little origami folds that make the stars pop out when I flip the page. The first question is, What the fuck even are stars?

    ¡°Perry, did you make me a journal?¡± I look up at her. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I did during arts and crafts when I was in the looney bin,¡± she shrugs. ¡°I was actually going to give it to you for Christmas but I wasn¡¯t going tost that long. I didn¡¯t evenst until Thanksgiving,¡±

    ¡°Are you disappointed in yourself because of that?¡± I look through the pages to find that it¡¯spletely filled. She made me a

    eyes<b>. </b>¡°Are you okay?¡± journal to add to my shark one. When I look up she can¡¯t even look me in the

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she nods. ¡°I¡¯m a little embarrassed,¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be,¡± I set the book down and pull her into me. She growls, rolling her eyes, and then pulls away to fall into her chair.

    ¡°I know, but I am. Even your brother isughing at me and he¡¯s an idiot,¡±

    ¡°We will always <b>agree </b>on that. Tell me what¡¯s going on,¡±

    ¡°You were right. It¡¯s not him,¡± she lets out a sigh of relief. ¡°He used an old program to hack the servers in the mansion the gold was collected from as well as theputers. It <b>was </b>sloppy, but he fucking got me<b>,¡± </b>

    ¡°Okay, now what?¡±

    ¡°I continue. I was never going to stop. Maybe it would have gotten a little more urgent. I don¡¯t know, she blinks away her

    unshed tears.

    ¡°I think it should be a little more urgent, Perry. He¡¯s trying to get to you and this shows just how far he¡¯s willing to go to fuck with your head to get you to slip up. I¡¯m not usually the one who sees the worst in people, but if you¡¯ve taught me anything. It¡¯s that this is only going to get worse,¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to do? My hands are tied. I don¡¯t have the manpower for this,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking<b>,¡± </b>

    ¡°Oh, shit. Is this, opposite day? Are you going to suggest something fucked up?¡± she jumps up wrapping her arms around my waist tightly.

    ¡°You know who would kill to get her hands on an insane amount of science shit like whatever the fuck the wraith has going on?¡±

    ¡°The soon¨Cto¨Cbe Vampire Queen?¡± her eyes light up like nothing I¡¯ve ever seen before. ¡°Jonas, <b>I </b>can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t think of that,¡±

    ¡°Show her the trackers. Get her into those servers. We¡¯ll <b>see </b>what she thinks of what we find down there,¡±

    ¡°Pushe to shove, we set the Kings on her after we delete the Wraith and all of our crimes from history,¡± she adds.

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot more diabolical than what came out of my mouth,¡± I look down at her. She grins leaning in to bump her forehead against my chest.

    ¡°You¡¯d do that for me?¡± she asks.

    ¡°I¡¯d tie him up on a pir so you can viin monologue like you always do. Then set his ass on fire so we listen to his screams until he dies. I¡¯d even record it for you so can watch it when you get all sad and shit. Allegedly,¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so fucked,¡± sheughs and jumps to wrap her legs around me. ¡°I want you to know that you¡¯re going to make me clingy. You¡¯ll have no one else to me but yourself,¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in luck. I¡¯ve never med anything on anyone else, but myself. And having you cling to me all the fucking time is bing a little bit of a fantasy of mine. I think the only thing you actually infected me with is delusion,¡±

    The her eyes

    way

    focus on me is tantalizing. Perry isn¡¯t ever going to be able to say those three little words and I think I¡¯m okay with that. I don¡¯t need to hear them. It doesn¡¯t fucking matter if she can admit it or not. I know she does. I need this

    shit with the wraith done. I can¡¯t risk that asshole driving her feral again. I don¡¯t want a repeat ofst night. Whatever it takes. He¡¯s dead.

 Bait novel 186

    Chapter <b>186 </b>

    Jonas

    Perry tried to fight how tired she was, but she copsed at my desk when we went into my study to find Ss. I¡¯m going to need him to cover for me while we try to exin what it is we¡¯re going to offer Lilithian in exchange for her help once again.

    Even in her sleep, she looks exhausted. I take her sneakers off and wiggle her jeans off so I can tuck her under the covers. What happened affected her badly and a repeat might send her spiraling again.

    I should have tried to get her out of that room sooner. I thought she had gotten carried away with whatever she and Tulips were working on. I can¡¯t imagine what must have been going through her head at the time. I should have known something was wrong when she didn¡¯te down for dinner.

    I¡¯ve been ying what I caught from her conversation with James in my head over and over again. He¡¯s a fucking idiot for coaxing that out of her. The way she closed up and kicked him out was priceless. He should consider himself lucky she didn¡¯t hit him the way she had Scofield. She wouldn¡¯t have inflicted that much damage, but it would have hurt.

    James and Jordan are waiting with Ss for me when I get back to my study after tucking her in.

    ¡°What the fuck is he doing here?¡± Ss asks when I shut the door

    ¡°He¡¯s Perry¡¯spdog and if his master dies or has another mental breakdown he¡¯s going back in the ss box,¡± I answer. ¡°So, I texted him from her phone,¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a great reason,¡± Jordan smacks my brother on the shoulder. James growls at him but doesn¡¯t retaliate.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? She¡¯s been doing great,¡± Ss crosses his arms over his chest.

    ¡°On Saturday, vampires tried to hijack our date. They gave her an invite to something and fucked off. To get to us in Nova they paid the alpha off,¡±

    ¡°Scofield epted a bribe from the vamps? That¡¯s treason,¡± James points out. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me that,¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s business,¡± Jordan and I correct him the same way Perry corrected us.

    ¡°You¡¯re her goon. You don¡¯t need to know all the details,¡± Ss adds. Jordan tosses his head back trying not tough out loud.

    ¡°Fuck you,¡± James growls at him.

    ¡°Perry took one of the gold bars he was given and had this fuck trace where it wasst stolen from. She did her thing and it looked like Darren was the one who took them,¡±

    ¡°Before he died?¡± Jordan asks before I can continue.

    ¡°No, the heist happened three months ago,¡± James answers.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± both Ss and Jordan stand up.

    ¡°He¡¯s alive?¡± Jordan asks. ¡°I¡¯ll fucking kill him myself,¡±

    ¡°It was staged. What happened three months ago?¡± James asks. ¡°Why did he do that? Something must have triggered him,¡±

    finding out that Bires were moles. She asked him to hand you over ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about that and it lines up with us and told him she knew who he really was and that if he continued to try and fuck with us she¡¯d release that information the way her father¡¯s was leaked. He was very upset with her when she brought it up and she was terrified,¡±

    ¡°He was going to try and lure her back in by making her believe he was out there,¡± James sits back and scoffs. ¡°What a piece

    of shit. Someone takes notes because that¡¯s brilliant,¡±

    ¡°By her reaction, it would have worked. Except with the blue monkshood in her system she obsessed over the details. Ed warned me it might be a sign that she¡¯s overly stressed. He told me to adjust the dosage when it happened,¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still giving it to her?¡± James asks.

    ¡°All the fucking time. You¡¯d think the one mated to twins would be bad,¡± Ss scoffs.

    ¡°This fucking guy with the jokes,¡± Jordanughs. He holds his fist out and the two of them bump. ¡°You are on fire today,¡±

    ¡°She needs more heads,¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she does. You should work on that,¡± Jordan smirks making Ssugh. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You walked right into that, Jo,¡± James <b>cracks </b><b>a </b>smile.

    ¡°Focus,¡± I growl at them. ¡°She needs more ma¨CI fucking hate you guys,¡± the three of themugh. ¡°We have two dead gorgons. I nned to give them to the little hybrid girl in exchange for Jesse and Lucious,¡±

    ¡°Those two fucks helped James kill three wolves and tried to kill Perry on more than one asion. I almost killed Luke,¡± Jordan growls.

    ¡°Almost doesn¡¯t count, team leader,¡± James rolls his eyes.

    ¡°Perry wants them on the L.L. task force,¡± I exin.

    ¡°Perry is out of her fucking mind,¡± he shoots back.

    ¡°That¡¯s why she¡¯s on the fucking blue monkshood,¡± Ss sighs. ¡°Did you change her mind?¡±

    ¡°No, we¡¯re still going do that. However, both gorgons were tagged. Perry and I are going to exin to her what the fuck they are and how they came to be. She¡¯s going to give the science crap to the little vampire girl in exchange for her help to get us to get to the wraith,¡±

    ¡°You came up with that?¡± James asks almost impressed. ¡°Huh,¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ss asks.

    ¡°She¡¯s getting to you,¡± heughs. ¡°The Jonas I know would never even consider that as an option. Much lesse up with it himself,¡±

    ¡°The Jonas before you fucked up everyone¡¯s life wouldn¡¯t have offered any of our criminals up to be blood bags either. But here we are,¡± Ss scoffs. ¡°I¡¯m in. I¡¯m assuming you need me to stay here to cover for you?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± I nod.

    ¡°What do you need from us?¡± James asks.

    ¡°I call dibs on whatever gets me out of going back into that house,¡± Jordan raises his hand. Ss and James look up at him

    amused.

    ¡°What house?¡± James,asks.

    ¡°The hybrid girl¡¯s coven house. Dude, she had pieces of <i>her </i>victims in jars on disy <i>all </i>over the house. Perry killed some people for her and she put them in a big ass jar with gold glitter so it¡¯ll look cute against the redness of the blooding out of all four heads

    ¡°They tried to keep me there so they could bite me. They said it would make her stronger so when they fucked and had

    Æø:55%

    babies. Perry almost fought one of the other IOs to get me out of there,¡± he says trying to shake the images out of his head. ¡°It smelled like gingerbread cookies. It was a very Hansel and Gretel¨Cish experience.

    ¡°With you know a vampire hybrid and her vampire and werewolf mates. It all started fucked from the beginning. We delivered a girl in a body bag, but she was alive. It smelled like hell in that bag when they opened it up. She ran and they chased her around. I still have nightmares of the whole thing, I am not going back there if I can help it,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± James turns his attention to me. ¡°I need to see that for myself. Look at him he¡¯s sweating. That sounds like fun,¡±

    ¡°Fine. I don¡¯t care which one of you goes. Jordan, you¡¯re going to shadow Annie. James, you cane with us. Once we get her answer, we¡¯ll know how we¡¯ll proceed with all of it,¡±

    *·Û

    COMMENT

    §°

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Bait novel 187

    <b>Chapter </b><b>187 </b>

    <b>Violetta </b><b>is </b>packing things up when I sneak into her apartment. I haven¡¯t been here in years and the rose gold wallpaper <b>we </b><b>put </b><b>up </b>when <b>she </b>turned eighteen looks amazing. I had just finished field training and I thought I¡¯d surprise her. Things <b>have </b>changed. The wall leading into her living room used to be solid and now it¡¯s been turned into a bunch of tiny diamond- shaped shelves that hold her fabric rolls.

    What was supposed to be a spare room was opened up to be a sewing and design space where <b>she </b>makes her clothes. The walls are a pretty blush pink with white polka dots. This ce looks amazing. I love that <b>she¡¯s </b>learned to be on her own.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± she pulls a small handgun from between her boobs and aims it at me. <b>It </b>takes her a moment to realize it¡¯s me. Obviously, there¡¯s literally no one else who can hack her system. I created it. She drops her hand, the empty box under <b>her </b>arms, and gently says: ¡°What the fuck?¡±

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s a big change,¡± I agree. She all but runs to me and ces the gun on the dining table before wrapping her arms around my waist.

    ¡°Did it hurt?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Just like shifting,¡± I shrug.

    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be the small one. I¡¯m five years older than you<b>,</b>¡± she smacks my stomach and then presses her hand to my toned abdomen. ¡°You¡¯re in therapy again?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I nod.

    ¡°What are you doing here? You could have been seen,¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re moving?¡± I avoid the questions.

    ¡°Not for a few weeks, but yeah,¡± she says taking some stuff off the tables in her living room.

    ¡°Did you get the tower finally?¡±

    ¡°I must have been drunk when I told you that,¡± sheughs and brings them over to the table where she left the gun <b>so </b>she can wrap them.

    ¡°We both were,¡± I nod.

    ¡°I just need something to do,¡± she clears her throat.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡±

    ¡°The old man terminated one of the breeding sectors a few nights ago and-¡± she shrugs and ces a <b>vase </b>on <b>its </b>side to roll it into the bubble wrap roll on the table. She stops for a moment shutting her eyes tightly. ¡°They were kids. I mean they were freaky¨Clooking kids, but they were kids and they were fucking terrified,¡±

    She pulls the bow¨Cshaped chair and sits down to calm her trembling. She looks exhausted. Like she hasn¡¯t slept in a few nights. Her pretty long hair is greasy. The bags under her eyes are starting to get dark and her skin is blotchy.

    One thing about Violetta Wilde is that she¡¯s very high¨Cmaintenance. Most Alpha¡¯s Daughters are. Thest time I saw Vy like this was when she left her pack. Right after her dad beat the hell out of her in front of everyone in the packhouse.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go shower and I¡¯ll make you something to eat?¡± <b>I </b>ask pushing some of her weird trinkets away from the edge

    of the table.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she sighs and heads to her bedroom.

    <b>62</b>%

    <b>Chapter </b><b>187 </b>

    <b>This </b>is <b>something </b><b>we¡¯ve </b>always done. It¡¯s been almost <b>six </b><b>years </b>since thest <b>time </b><b>I </b>did this <b>for </b><b>her</b><b>. </b><b>The </b><bst </b><b>time </b><b>she </b><b>tried </b><b>to </b><b>help </b><b>me </b>was after Darren died and Mackenzie disappeared. Morgan <b>had </b>just fucked me <b>over </b><b>and </b><b>I </b><b>said </b><b>some </b><b>ugly </b><b>shit </b><b>to </b>Violetta after <b>she </b>had picked me up from the hospital.

    It kinda left a huge rip in our friendship. It says a lot that she disclosed <b>that </b>to me. It means she¡¯s tired and worst <b>of </b><b>all </b>vulnerable. Two things you never want to be when being active. It¡¯s <b>a </b>fast track to getting killed. Either by <b>the </b>assignment <b>or </b>by saying something that <b>we </b>won¡¯t live to <b>regret</b>.

    It must not have been that long ago because her fridge is fully stocked. I <b>start </b>taking things out to make her favorite. Chicken alfredo. Domestic Vy hand makes the pasta in her pantry and I never miss an opportunity to eat it.

    My <b>sauce </b>and the chicken are done by the time she gets back with her moisturizing routine and a mirror in her arms.

    <b>¡°</b>What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I need your help,¡± I say dropping the pasta into the salted water.

    ¡°You are so fucking hard¨Cheaded,¡± she res at me over her phone stand.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I agreed.

    ¡°We are going to ruin a lot of fucking lives, Perry. We also don¡¯t have the manpower to do this<b>,</b><b>¡± </b>

    ¡°I think I¡¯m in love with my husband,¡± I admit. She stops massaging cream on her face and looks up at me.

    ¡°You think?¡± sheughs.

    ¡°Like for real. Not just because of the bond or whatever,¡±

    ¡°What made you have this epiphany, Oh Chosen One?¡± she smirks.

    She reaches for her eye cream and goes over to the freezer for a couple of tubes. She thenes back and takes the top of the tube off before turning the bottom piece to reveal ice lipstick? She dips it into a ss of water and leaves it there. She then uses the eye cream tube to rub some of the product in before she works it into her skin with the ice lipstick tube.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± I shake my head.

    ¡°Helps with swelling and bruising on the face. I haven¡¯t been sleeping well,¡± she shrugs.

    ¡°Genius,¡± I shake it off and continue making her food. ¡°He¡¯s a good person. Super chill and he makes the best food ever,¡±

    ¡°All good reasons to love him,¡± she nods. ¡°But that¡¯s not what made you think that <b>is </b>it?¡±

    ¡°It is not. I had a manic episode after the old man set me up to think Darren was still alive,¡±

    She drops the lipstick tube and shuts her eyes fighting back a growl.

    ¡°I told you to fucking lie low, Perry,¡±

    ¡°I have been,¡±

    ¡°Are you okay? What happened?¡±

    ¡°He¨CWe want to offer up the sciencebs to your little Hybrid cousin¨Cinw in return for her to help us find and murder the old man,¡±

    ¡°And the Lycans are going to fill in the gaps?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and we also have Knight¡¯s support. He called his dad,¡± I add. She straightens up and takes a deep breath. ¡°Jordan is

    17:28 Fri, Dec 13 GBB.

    working with that biker fuck here. We¡¯ve got a pretty cool inventory of weapons and the twins are headed back to Cliffside to help Roy with the supeputer. All I need is my number one number two,¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot more involved in this than just killing himi, Perry. fuck ton of money and resources that will be lost,¡±

    ¡°We split the dif. I can have the nerds pick shit apart. The important thing is that he will be gone, Vy. We¡¯ll be free, tears fill my eyes as I gather the past up to te. ¡°We¡¯ve paid everything he¡¯s given us a million times over. He turned us all against one another. I can¡¯t do this anymore. He¡¯s not going to let us go. There is no other way out.

    ¡°I am trying so hard to keep it together, but all I can think is that he¡¯s going to take Jonas from me. I¡¯m fucking scared of everything. Every time Mackenzie walks out my front door. I couldn¡¯t even have a night out with my King<i>. </i>I¡¯m literally going fucking insane,¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± she says taking the knife out of my hand. I didn¡¯t realize I was gripping it so hard. My fingers are indented on the rose gold handle. She rests her head against my back..¡°I¡¯m scared too, Wolf Bait. My family needs me here. He¡¯s been pressuring me to rejoin the pack,¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s been lining shit up to help Vince get Wolfe Tech back from the Lockwoods. You giving Lycan Tech <i>to </i>Obsidian Corp has him reeling. He¡¯s really fucking pissed that he lost all of your projects and the programs. He¡¯s picking apartpanies for me to help Vince expand the rest of Wolfe Inc. I love that it¡¯s benefitting us, but I don¡¯t want him anywhere near my brother or the pups. You know Vince doesn¡¯t have the stomach for this shit,¡±

    ¡°All I¡¯m hearing is yes,¡± I turn around so I can have a visual confirmation.

    ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, we have to bring

    <b> </b>in Rome and Baby. They deserve to be here after what he did to the Rogue King,¡±

    ¡°What about the others<b>?</b><b>¡± </b>I ask.

    ¡°Fuck the others. They all deserve to rot,¡±

    SEND <b>GIFT </b>

 Bait novel 188

    <b>Chapter </b><b>188 </b>

    Getting Violetta on our side feels a lot like we¡¯ve got this shit in the bag already. If I¡¯m being honest, if I had to <b>go </b><b>up </b>against her, <b>I </b>don¡¯t think we could have made it out unscathed. I was going to have to give someone up and how everything is set up, <b>I </b>was going to throw Knightly under that bus. He has two alpha fathers and his mom is awyer baddie. He would have been

    fine.

    Before I can present what I am hoping is enough for the vampire princess to help us, I need to get all the information I have on thebs in order. Which brings us here. To the Hello Kitty dream loft.

    The King hasn¡¯t released my hand since I got back to our hotel after talking to Violetta. She seemed to be in a better head space when I left. She even said she was going to try to get as much sleep as she could before helping me. All I need now is to send out the locations I need everyone in and get the vampires on team fuck the wraith up.

    ¡°What are we going to do here?¡± he asks once we¡¯re in the private elevator.

    ¡°This is where we¡¯re going to hide out until everything is ready. Think you can handle it?¡±

    He grins taking in a deep breath as the doors open up. I haven¡¯t been here since I found out I was pregnant. Fuck<b>, </b>it both feels like it was yesterday and a really long time ago. I¡¯ve never brought anyone here<b>, </b>but when I thought <b>I </b>was done for, I knew the King might need a ce like this one day. Maybe to hide or run away from the buzzing of his responsibilities. That¡¯s what it¡¯s designed for.

    ¡°Where did you get all this stuff?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been collecting this stuff since <b>I </b>started hacking the ATMs in Redwood. I didn¡¯t get into it this bad until I was fifteen and I read about that Hello Kitty mansion turned hotel in Taiwan. I wanted one.

    ¡°This was the first investment I made once Ipleted my training. I was fourteen and a twelve¨Cstory publishing building turned loft space really tickled my creativity. This <b>is </b>where I run away to. It¡¯s low¨Cie and since I pay for the utilities, most of the tenants that live here are loyal. No one says a word if peoplee asking questions,¡±

    ¡°I did get odd looks the first time I came here,¡± he smiles.

    I stop when I get to the living room. There are bags all over the table and boxes. I spin around to look at him. He smiles and shrugs.

    ¡°What is that?<b>¡± </b>

    ¡°Mystery boxes and toys I found. You were right. Once you start it¡¯s hard to stop,¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t open them,¡± Iugh.

    ¡°I think I¡¯d get more out of watching you open them,¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous,¡± <b>I </b>shake my head.

    ¡°This is your three¨Cstory apartment, but sure. I¡¯m ridiculous,¡± he rolls his eyes<b>. </b>¡°I have to admit that I thought there would be more light given the location,¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we just have to open her up,¡± I say and go over to the panels. I pop the keypad¡¯s protective cover and punch in the code to open up the protection shades. ¡°Come over here,¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    The apartment lights up as ites to life. The protective panels start to open up letting the light in. His arm snakes around my waist and his hand stops on my belly. I look up at him as he watches the reveal of Nova Falls not too far from here. There are a few other buildings like this one, but this one is right on the edge of the forest just outside the pack borderline.

    ¡°I can see you standing here in your Hello Kitty pjs like a viin plotting your conquest,¡± he kisses the top of my head.

    1728 Fri, Dec 13

    <b>That¡¯s </b>a fourth floor <b>activity</b><b>¡± </b><b>I </b>admit making himugh.

    <b>Your </b>scent is the only one here<b>.</b><b>¡± </b>he says after <b>a </b>while. I pull away to go to the phones on the charging pad by the doorway<b>. </b>

    I¡¯m the <b>only </b>one that¡¯s ever been in here <b>since I </b>had the building renovated. You¡¯re not allowed to bring anyone else here. I¡¯ll blow <b>up </b>your spaceship and rip out your journal pages,¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t,¡± he growls yfully.

    *Fuck around and find out, Lycan King,¡± Iugh. I ce a grocery order for a few days.

    ¡°<b>What </b>are <b>all </b>these phones?¡± he asks.

    ¡°Different contacts in different countries,¡± I go through all of them to make sure I haven¡¯t gotten any messages. Everything <b>is </b>clear. ¡°Let¡¯s start putting together a file for the chomp¨Cchomp princess<b>,¡± </b>

    ¡°Are these snacks good?¡±

    ¡°If the bag is puffy, yes. I can always rece them with new ones I get a couple <b>of </b>sodas from the fridge and start heading up to the third floor. ¡°<b>I </b>got you a drink,¡±

    My wall of information was taken down. I already know why. I¡¯ve seen the binders in his study. My eyes immediately move to the little heart¨Cshaped picture on my desk. What bothers me the most is that it¡¯s been a long time since then, but I¡¯m <b>still </b>in the same situation I was in when he was discovered. I flip the switches under my desk to open up the monitors behind the Hello Kitty shelf.

    Irises up to the fourth floor¡¯s closet and the screens all turn on.

    ¡°Wake up, Kitty,¡± I call out.

    The screens blink a few times before the big Hello Kitty bow pops up along her little features. The eyes blink and a purring sound echoes through the apartment.

    ¡°Good evening, Perry. I¡¯ve missed you so very much,¡± the AI greets me.

    ¡°What the fuck?<b>¡± </b>the King says from behind me.

    ¡°We have a guest,¡± she says. Several social media profiles and hisst visite up on some of the monitors.

    ¡°Add his profile to home base. User two. All¨C<b>ess</b>,¡±

    ¡°<b>Please</b>, Lycan King, step into the light,¡±

    A spotlight appears in the center of the room from the projectors I have set up. When he doesn¡¯t move a little cat appears. She pats the outline of the light and motions him over.

    ¡°She¡¯s not going to hurt you,¡± I say. ¡°She¡¯s just going to scan you so the security measures aren¡¯t identally triggered when youe here alone again,¡±

    ¡°The code isn¡¯t enough,¡±

    ¡°If she¡¯s not on, yeah,¡± I nod. He clears his throat and steps into the light. ¡°Spread your arms and legs. Hold your hands out so she can get your fingerprints. Open your eyes a little more for retina registration,¡±

    ¡°This is intense,¡± he smiles. Dental files pop up.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been working on this since I was nine. She started off as a flip phone to help me with puzzle patterns and coding. Now that I have the chips, I can take her home with us and set her up in my study,¡±

    17:28 Fri, Dec 13 G BB

    Chapter 188-

    ¡°Here is everything you¡¯ve missed since youst visited,¡± my desk monitorse to life.

    ¡ª 19

    Newspaper articles, lease contracts, andw updates for the tenants alle up. There was a small tax rise so rent went up a hundred and fifty dors for the three¨Cplus bedrooms, eighty for the singles, and seventy for the studio apartments. The little olddy that¡¯s lived here since I opened it up to the public passed away in her sleepst year. I also have a new

    manager.

    ¡°Did you do a deep background check on Olivia Norton?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s clean,¡± the filese up. ¡°I even ran them through the KNAVE database. Very insigriificant,¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Kitty. Good job,¡± the digital image on the big screens wink at me <b>as </b><b>I </b>take <b>a </b>seat. ¡°Why don¡¯t you order yourself the new gaming collection while I update you?¡±

    ¡°I love you,¡± she giggles and starts doing exactly that.

    and

    I take my newptop out of my backpack and take a deep breath as I setup the portable router I made for her. I get up go to the master bedroom to get my favorite plush off the bed and bring it back with me. The vanity mirror next to my desk slides open to reveal my tools.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± the king asks.

    The closer behind us opens and she pushes out the extra gaming chair I put in there. Heughs and reaches for it so he can take a seat. It¡¯s purple and he makes it look like a kid¡¯s chair.

    ¡°I am going to plug her into the big system so I can mess with Roy,¡± I smile at him.

    ¡°This ce makes a lot more sense to me now,¡± he says watching me pop the stitches to the plushie so I can stash the router inside and carry her with me everywhere. ¡°Why do you like being alone?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m used to

    <ol>

    <li>it. Once I figured out what I could do on my own,pany became an option. Look at this,¡± I turn my chair to show him the little animated kitty projectionying on the floor with a fakeptop ordering shit online. ¡°I created that. It would probably be more along if I hadn¡¯t wasted all the time and effort I did on people like Morgan. One thing I hate the most is wasting my time. It feels a lot more valuable now actually </li>

    </ol>

    ¡°Why?¡± he goes up it and waves his hand through the projection

    ¡°Because I finally feel like I¡¯m spending it with someone who knows the value of it. And when we spend it together, it never feels like it¡¯s wasted. Not even when I had a timer above my head,¡±

    B

    ?

    <b>SAMENT </b>

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!