Expired Welcomes 🌶️🌶️

Harper

Despite its intimidating reputation, Vulpes’ stone fortress was surprisingly easy to sneak into.

Alex and I had slipped in unnoticed.

Now came the real challenge: finding our friends.

We quietly bypassed the grand staircase, and I guided Alex to the hidden passage beneath it.

Together, we pushed the stone door aside and slipped into the secret tunnel.

“Okay,” Alex puffed, “any idea where everyone might be?”

“I’d guess Jax and Zara are still somewhere on Vulpes grounds searching for everyone. Quinn is likely still with her aunt and Sky…”

A sharp pang of pain returned to my heart.

The distraction of seeing Alex and sneaking into Fort Vulpes had momentarily pushed it aside.

But now all I could picture was Sky laughing in the grass with that damn rogue.

The image was seared into my mind.

“Well…what about Sky?” Alex asked, his voice filled with worry.

~Get it together, Harper. There’s more at stake here!~

“Well, last I saw her, she was out late. Knowing her, she probably went back to her room to sleep.”

“Do you know where that is?”

I nodded.

“Then let’s start there.”

We left the secret tunnel and I led him up the stairs to the rooms Sky, Zara, and I had been assigned.

After making sure the coast was clear, we headed to Sky’s door.

I took a deep breath, praying to the Moon Goddess that I wouldn’t find Sky in bed with that damn rogue.

Alex nudged my shoulder, signaling for me to open the door.

I did.

We rushed into the room.

And there on the bed, grinning like an idiot, was Sky’s “mate.”

“What the hell did you do with Sky, you ugly bastard?” I shouted.

He laughed, a high-pitched, grating sound, “You mean that dumb bimbo friend of yours? Don’t worry. You’ll see her soon.”

Three goons emerged from the closet behind us and jumped Alex and me.

After a futile struggle—everything went black.

Jaxon

My heart pounded as I sprinted down the hallway.

Every second mattered.

I had to find Quinn.

Thoughts of the pack had completely left my mind.

All that mattered was reaching her before Aunt Jodie could manipulate her further.

My mind was filled with regret.

There were so many things I could have done to make her feel more welcome.

So many things I could have done to help her feel more accepted by the pack.

I had held so tightly to the traditions of my ancestors that I hadn’t considered how it might affect her.

I didn’t blame her for being drawn to the ideals Vulpes claimed to uphold.

They were good ideals.

But they were a lie.

Just like Katherine.

I desperately hoped there was still time before Quinn was completely taken in by her aunt’s lies.

I didn’t bother checking Quinn’s room. I knew she wouldn’t be there.

I raced down the hallway to the dark, grotesquely-carved wooden door that led to her aunt’s room.

I charged the door with my shoulder and it flew open.

As soon as I ran inside, a large body tackled me to the floor.

From his grunts and groans, I knew it was my brother Carl.

Before I knew it, he had my hands securely shackled.

They had been expecting me.

I looked up from the floor to see Jodie, wearing a strange headdress, standing over Quinn’s unconscious body.

Fear gripped me.

“What did you do to her?” I yelled.

Jodie smiled smugly at me and said, “I’m bringing your mate home where she belongs. Where she has always belonged.”

A sickly green mist swirled above Quinn’s body as Jodie began to chant in a language I didn’t recognize.

“Stop! Keep your curses away from her, you witch!” I shouted.

“Oh, will you shut up, Alpha?” she snapped back as Carl forced me to my feet.

“Quinn is going to wake up a true Alpha of Vulpes. She’ll have no more need for you or your pathetic Shadow Moon pack.”

With a flick of her wrist, she signaled Carl to take me away.

I called back desperately as Carl dragged me out of the room.

But it was no use.

My mate was gone.

Quinn

~“What makes you worthy of the blessing of the great Matheius, Son of the Moon Goddess, rightful heir to the spirit realm?” a deep, unseen voice echoed.~

~“Worthy? Of Matheius?” I asked. “What do you mean?”~

~“Why have you brought this ignorant newcomer to me, Jodie?” Matheius’s voice boomed. “She doesn’t even know of my greatness.”~

~“Oh, great Matheius,” Aunt Jodie responded, her voice filled with reverence. “Forgive her. She has much to learn. But her powers honor you. Like me, she has tapped into the spirit realm and defied the limited natural law set by your tyrannical mother.”~

~“So be it!” Matheius roared. “I bestow upon her the duties of Alpha of Vulpes. May she use her position to lead our pack against the narrow-minded oppressors who threaten our ways.~

~May she bring glory to our pack. May she champion my reign to werewolves everywhere. And may she destroy all those who dare defy our dominance!”~

“HUUUUHHH!” I gasped awake.

“What the fuck was that? What the fuck was that?” I sat up quickly from my position on Aunt Jodie’s meditation cushion.

“Hush now, sweetheart. It’s all over,” she whispered, her voice a soothing balm.

“Wh… What’s over?” I mumbled, my mind foggy.

“You’ve been confirmed as Alpha. Matheius has passed the mantle to you. You’re now the respected leader of Vulpes. Alongside me.”

I struggled to process her words.

“You mean that wasn’t a dream?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Our lord sometimes communicates in mysterious ways, but his word is always true.”

“Lord?” I yawned, my eyelids heavy. “I thought the Moon Goddess was our lord.”

“Watch your words!” Aunt Jodie’s voice was sharp, a stark contrast to her usual gentle tone.

She took a few calming breaths, trying to regain her composure.

Soon, her warm smile was back. “We are indeed descendants of the Moon Goddess, but it’s her demigod son who rules Vulpes.”

~Matheius? The ruler of Vulpes? I thought that was our responsibility?~

Aunt Jodie continued, “His mother’s jealous rules kept him from the heavenly realm. But under Matheius’s guidance, using the divine powers of his offspring, we will reclaim our rightful position. As Gods!”

“Gods?” I echoed, my mind spinning. “Us?”

“Yes!” Aunt Jodie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s our destiny, Quinn. To rule all werewolves. Today, you’re just an Alpha. But soon, with our combined powers, we’ll conquer the earthly werewolf packs. Then, we’ll ascend to rule as Goddesses, the first Gods of a new Olympus.”

The word echoed in my mind…

~“God?”~

Aunt Jodie had never mentioned this before.

I knew her pack’s mission was to maintain the balance that other packs had lost.

But to conquer all werewolves?

“I…. Aunt Jodie… I don’t know if I can be a god.”

Aunt Jodie bit her lip, her eyes flashing with a hint of anger.

I didn’t understand why. This was a side of her I’d never seen.

She placed her hand on my forehead. “Poor thing. You must still be reeling from the initiation. I can’t blame you.”

Aunt Jodie helped me up and guided me towards the door. “Come, let’s get you to bed. After some rest, you’ll be able to think more clearly about all this.”

I couldn’t argue with that. I was drained.

She led me into my room and to my bed.

With the gentle care only an aunt could provide, she helped me fluff my pillows and get comfortable.

“Can I get you anything else, sweetheart?” she asked, her smile warm.

“No,” I yawned. “I think I just need some sleep.”

She kissed my forehead softly. “Then sleep well, my dear. We’ll have a lot to talk about when you wake up.”

I tossed and turned in bed for what felt like hours.

Even though my body was exhausted, my mind refused to quiet down.

Something was bothering me.

A void.

It was almost like hunger, but more…sad.

~What on earth could this be?~

Finally, as I reached back to adjust a pillow, it hit me.

Jax. I missed him.