Finn took a deep breath and let the scent of his mate calm his wolf. They’d have to take each day one at a time. There was no sense in worrying about what he couldn’t fix. He’d tried reaching out to Fane again, but he couldn’t get through. Finn had no idea what that meant, but he didn’t want to worry Lizzy. For the time being, he gave thanks to the Great Luna that he’d found his mate and prayed the goddess would give them a way out, one that would allow them to help the other dormants that Cain had captured. Finn closed his eyes and let his wolf take over watch while the man slept with their mate safe in his arms.

  “Don’t worry, sisters.” The sprite female closed the door to the room above the supernatural bar. It was a seedy place where unsavory supernaturals hung out, but they were also the kind that didn’t ask questions.

  She pulled the book from the bag she’d been carrying and ran her hand across the ancient cover. “Nushtonia,” she said softly. She clenched her teeth as she considered what she’d seen in her visions. Perizada was still alive, though the damn vampire claimed she would be taken care of. Failure. “No matter.” She put the book back in the bag. “Soon enough, I will bring my sisters back. Maybe I’ll throw in a few demons just for kicks. Then Perizada will be dealt with once and for all. Be patient, sisters. I’m coming for you.”

  Thank you so much for reading The Hybrid Rule! I truly hope you enjoyed it. Please consider leaving a review where you purchased this ebook. They are greatly appreciated!

  Continue reading for a sneak peak at Wolf Divided, The Grey Wolves Series, Book 19.

  Wolf Divided

  THE GREY WOLVES SERIES, BOOK 19

  Prologue

  “We rarely think about the long-term effect of our actions. A single choice can impact our lives, or someone else’s, month, a year, a decade, or even longer. So we should think carefully before we act. Even our words have lasting effects. We must remember we are not alone in this flowing river we call life. And we have to be conscious of what’s downstream.” ~Dillon

  “All I want to do is burn some vampires. Is that too much to ask? No, no, it’s not. Instead, I get to stare at your smiling faces and not eat cotton candy. Ugh.” Myanin groaned after she and the rest of their hunting group flashed into the living room of the Colorado pack mansion thanks to Aphid. The male fae didn’t hang around, nor explain why he was leaving. He was just there long enough for everyone to let go of him, and then he was gone. Apparently, he had somewhere he needed to be.

  “Fane said there’d been some developments that must be explored before we continued killing off vamps,” Dillon said.

  “Did you guys get to kill even one vampire?” Kara asked. She, Nick, Dalton, and Jewel were exactly where they’d left them a little over an hour before.

  Tanya sighed. “Not a single one.”

  Dillon glanced at her. “There will be another hunt soon enough, mate.”

  “I wish you were wrong,” she told him softly. “But since you’re not, I feel like we should be out there doing something about it.”

  “We will,” Gerrick offered. “As soon as Fane gives the go ahead.”

  Dalton tucked Jewel closer to him, as if he needed to protect her from Dillon’s words. “And what were these new developments?”

  Dillon recounted everything Fane had told him, from Tenia’s phone conversation to the news Lilly had shared, Thadrick’s information, and Claude’s message. It was safe to say things were an absolute disaster.

  “Alice is in a coma?” Jewel’s words were heavy with empathy.

  “Unfortunately,” Dillon replied.

  Kara curled into a ball on the couch. “Why can’t we try to get in her head?”

  It was late, and Dillon was feeling every minute of his one hundred and sixty years. He was tired, his wolf wanted to hunt, and he could feel the restlessness in his pack, most likely being fed by his own anxiety. “Because Fane wants to wait until Rachel and Sally can do some research on how to protect you two, or whoever tries to contact her,” Dillon explained. “Alice is a healer, but she isn’t pack. Not yet. Our priority is the safety of those who are pack. We can’t help anyone if we don’t take care of ourselves and those we love.” He sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Fane said that when Tenia spoke to Alice, the healer sounded defensive of Cain and didn’t seem inclined to trust Tenia. This was before she was attacked by Claude and then fed Cain’s blood, of course. So, we have no idea what the situation is now.”

  Dalton’s gaze met Dillon’s long enough that the alpha growled. His beta dropped his eyes, then asked. “Did Tenia get the impression that Alice has... feelings for the vampire king?”

  “I don’t know why she would defend the bloodsucker if she didn’t have feelings for him,” Tanya said.

  Dillon didn’t want to think about the consequences that could come to pass if Alice—a gypsy healer who should have a Canis lupus mate, because they always had a werewolf mate—chose a vampire as her lover. He wouldn’t be her true mate. So what would he be?

  “If she does care for him, what does that mean for her?” Jewel asked. “You mentioned Sally said the only way Alice would get better was by taking the blood of her mate.”

  Dillon nodded.

  Kara blew out a breath. “If—and it’s a big if, considering she’s in a vampire virus induced coma—she does meet her mate, would she accept him? I mean, if Alice falls in love with Cain, could she leave him for her true mate?”

  Dillon’s stomach churned at the question. Memories that he preferred would stay buried came bubbling up to the surface. He knew exactly how Alice would respond to meeting her mate, no matter what her feelings were toward the vampire king. Tanya’s hand ran down Dillon’s back, and he felt her love pouring through their bond. He didn’t deserve her, but he thanked the Great Luna every day for her.

  “The true mate bond would eclipse any feelings she has for Cain,” Tanya answered.

  Dillon looked at her, the one member of their pack that could hold his gaze, and he saw no judgment there. Although she had every right to judge him, to hate him, she loved him unconditionally. But then his mate was remarkably forgiving.

  “You sound very sure of that.” Jewel’s words were slow, and Dillon could feel her gaze boring a hole in him.

  “I am,” Tanya replied. “Because we’ve experienced it firsthand.”

  Kara breathed out. “Oh, snap.”

  Dillon chuckled darkly. “Oh, snap, indeed.”

  Jewel’s brow furrowed. “Would you elaborate?” Dillon had become used to the curiosity often shown by Dalton’s mate. It was no wonder she was a genius. Her tenacity for learning eclipsed anyone he’d ever met.

  “Jewel, I don’t--” Dalton started, but Tanya cut him off.

  “We have time to kill. There is no shame in our past. At least none that hasn’t been dealt with and overcome. Fane told us to hold tight until he’s decided our next course of action, so we could be here a while.”

  Myanin plopped herself on a loveseat. “A good story always helps pass the time,” Gerrick sat beside her and laid his arm across the back, his hand resting on his mate’s shoulder. “And this one sounds like a doozy.”

  “You don’t have to, really.” Kara held out a hand to stop Tanya.

  “Yes, she does.” Myanin said. “She’s the one who said they had firsthand experience. She can’t say something like that and leave us hanging.”

  Dillon pinched the bridge of his nose. “You really want to share this?” he asked his female through their bond.

  “It might be good for the healers to know,” she said. “If they are able to contact the healer, they will need to warn her. Alice’s feelings for Cain could have dire consequences for her and her future mate.”

  “I don’t deserve you,” he told her. It was something he’d said many times over the past two decades they’d been mated.

  “No, you don’t,” she teased. “But I love you anyway, and I wouldn’t change the past because it gave us Jacque and Slate.”

  She never ceased to amaze him. Letting out a deep breath, Dillon looked at Dalton, his beta and close friend. He’d never even shared this story with Dalton because it wasn’t something that was easy for Dillon to talk about. But, as usual, his mate was right. They could learn something from the past and the knowledge might end up being vital for Alice... and for others. “As you all know, Jacque is my daughter, but Tanya, my true mate, is not her mother.”

  Myanin purred. “I love a good scandal.”

  Kara rolled her eyes. “You should, considering the big ass scandal you caused.”

  “Touche, little healer.” The djinn tipped her head.

  “I can already see the title of the made-for-TV special,” said Kara. “Sex, Lies, and Cotton Candy.”

  “Not bad,” said Myanin. “But it’s not my story we’re discussing.” She looked at Dillon. “Carry on, we will all keep our mouths closed.” She looked pointedly at Kara. “And judge you silently, instead.”

  Dillon gave her a dry look. “Thank you for that.”

  His mate took his hand and entwined their fingers. “We can tell them together. It is afterall, not just your story.”

  Dillon nodded and then opened the door to their past. A past part of him wished he could change, but would never consider changing. Because, as Tanya said, it resulted in the birth of his daughter and grandson. “Once upon a time, my parents were killed by hunters who mistook them for natural wolves. After that, I lived as a lone wolf...”

  https://www.quinnloftisbooks.com/

  Acknowledgments

  So much goes into writing a book and it’s not just the author who should get the credit. Thank you to my amazing husband who continues to work with me despite the fact that I’m not always the easiest person to work with. He does it with grace, love, and patience. Thank you to my boys for understanding that sometimes I have to work a lot which means they see me less. Thank you to Jessica for being a sounding board, and for telling me to stop freaking out when I’m freaking out. Thank you to Amy for all the research you do on this series and the hard work you put in. Thank you to my readers who have stuck with me for so long on the journey. I am so very honored and humbled. Thank you to Drina, Michelle, Bryanna, La-Verna, Joyce, Renee, and Evie, the “party planning committee,” you gals are simply amazing. Most of all, thank you to my God and Savior whom without this wouldn’t be possible.

  About the Author

  Quinn Loftis is a multi-award-winning author of over Forty novels, including the USA Today Bestseller, Fate and Fury. When she isn’t creating exciting worlds filled with romantic werewolves, she exercises, reads, and crafts like there’s no tomorrow. She is blessed to be married to her best friend for over twenty years and they have three sons, a crazy French bulldog, and a cat that wants to take over the world.

  Quinn’s Bookshelf

  The Grey Wolves Series

  The Gypsy Healer Series

  The Elfin Series

  The Dream Maker Series

  The Clan Hakon Series

  Nature Hunters Academy

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  https://www.quinnloftisbooks.com/newslettersignup

  You can also find Quinn writing contemporary romances as her alter ego, Alyson Drake.

  https://www.quinnloftisbooks.com/alysondrake

 

 

  Quinn Loftis, The Hybrid Rule

 

 

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