“Annie!” yells Carly. “Where’s the road?”

  Annie whips around and says, “Around this corner and on the left. And you might want to slow down for it.”

  She doesn’t, and my body slams into the side of the car. Pain in my shoulder makes me wince; so much for seat belts. Annie says, “This road is parallel to the one that leads to the cabin. When we see the lake, we should pull over.”

  “So you and Carly are going to sneak in through the woods?” I ask.

  “Yes. Between the two of us, we’ll carry the babies back to the car. There are warm blankets and formula in my bag.”

  I reach for it on the floor, and the zipper hums as I open the canvas duffle. I haven’t let myself go there yet, but the moment I see the bottles, my sweet children’s faces come to mind. Justin’s little curls that barely cover his scalp, Jackson’s perfect heart-shaped lips when he’s sleeping, and the powerful kick of Jason’s that Ashton is sure means he’ll be a warrior. The sob I was containing escapes with a gasp, and the floodgates to my tears open.

  Carly has stopped the car and turns to me. “We’re going to save them. Stay strong, and I’ll message you as soon as Annie and I are on our way back.”

  I nod. I glance over at Isabelle. I’m sure she’s wondering what she stepped into, and I offer her a weak smile. “I promise I’m not always this much of a drama queen.”

  Carly and Annie’s doors groan open, and they get out. Carly give me one last look. “I won’t fail you, Sierra.”

  Isabelle and I watch the women attach snowshoes and make their way into the forest. They aren’t shifting because they need to be human to carry my children back to the car, and it’s faster to stay that way instead of shifting and dealing with changing in and out of winter gear. The moment they’re out of sight, I kneel up in my seat to reach into the back. I grab the extra pair of snowshoes and say, “I’m going.”

  Isabelle says, “I would, too. I’ll watch the car.” She pulls the blankets out of the duffle bag. “I’ll be ready when you get back.”

  “Thank you.” For believing my children will be saved and for knowing why I have to do this.

  29

  Chapter 9

  Carly

  Annie and I don’t speak as we trudge through deep snow toward the Veilleux cabin. A twig snaps as I pull branches out of the way, and I slow down to be quieter. We should have the element of surprise, since the Veilleux can’t know that Lily sent us a message.

  When the lake appears, I stop. Wind blows, freezing my nose with its icy bite. Annie communicates with me as she points her finger. “The cottage is right over there.”

  A sleek black truck that I guess is Victor’s is parked behind an older one that has seen better days. Poor Patricia really was knocked down a peg or two when Lily became prima. The plan is for us to watch for the rescue team to enter and secure the area. I message the warriors. “Annie and I are in place.”

  Ashton’s order comes to me, too. “On three. One, two, three!”

  Part of me expects to see the door crash down and windows break, but that’s not the way Ashton does things. He’s already disarmed the Veilleux’s perimeter guards, and I imagine his team members are popping up from random places in the house to take their prisoners. Within seconds Brady’s voice comes to me. “Now, Carly.”

  Annie and I race through the woods toward the cabin. With a quick yank of my straps, my snowshoes are off, and my feet thump up the stairs while Annie follows me. The wooden door slams against the wall as I shove it open, and the first thing I see is an old man that must be Tokala. Ian holds his arms behind his back, but fear grips my heart when I notice his eyes. They’re glowing slightly, and I glance to see where his gaze is directed.

  Kimi is standing with her hand in the air, her mouth moving in silent chanting. I want to ask how I can help but realize I can tap into her mind. I focus on her thoughts as I scan the room for the babies. Patricia and Lily are each being held by a warrior, while Ashton has Victor. Keith is with Taylor, and the children are in their car seat carriers, dressed to go outside.

  Sure that my help is needed most with Kimi, I call up my powers and begin to siphon white-hot light to our medicine woman. I must be the boost she needs, because Tokala slumps as if he’s unconscious. I ask Kimi, “What did you do?”

  “Put him out of commission for a few minutes. Thanks for the help.”

  Victor growls, and I fear he’s going to shift, but I know Ashton will, too, if necessary. Victor says, “You won’t get away with this. These children are mine.”

  Sierra’s voice is behind me. “They’re mine, too.” She comes to stand next to me and asks, “Can we kill him?”

  Before anyone can answer, Taylor speaks to me telepathically. “No. There will never be peace if you do.” Black wisps surround her words, and it chills the blood in my veins. She’s possessed.

  I say, “Wait.” I walk toward Taylor. She’s on the couch next to Keith, and I speak to him telepathically. “Restrain her. Something’s not right.” Taylor grunts when Keith pulls her arms behind her back and lifts her to stand. She glares at me.

  I then say, “Kimi, Taylor’s words are black. I need your help.”

  “Push the evil away from her.”

  My power rolls inside me, and I channel a trickle toward the words I saw as if I’m blowing the dust off them. “Taylor, I’m going to fix this. Hold on.” Sweat trickles down the back of my neck as I stare into her eyes.

  Taylor’s voice in my mind is weak. “Help me, Carly.” But then her eyes turn dark, and she stomps on Keith’s foot, disarming him for a second to step away. When she does, the sensation of my magic being sucked out of my body makes me gasp for air. Taylor opens her mouth to speak, but she doesn’t get the chance before her body is propelled across the room and slammed against the wall with a loud splat.

  Keith screams, “Taylor!” as he races to her broken body.

  Did I do that? A cackling laugh from Tokala draws my attention, and he grins at me as he says, “She was lost to you anyway. I sold her soul to get what we needed. Thanks for helping me finish the job.”

  Oh, God. “Keith?”

  His eyes are wide when he looks toward me. Crimson fluid streaks his face and covers his clothes. A tear rolls down his cheek, leaving a trail in Taylor’s blood along the way. “She’s dead.”

  Kimi hisses, “Tokala killed her.” She lifts both her hands, and sparks shoot from her fingers straight toward him. They don’t get there, though, because he blocks them with an invisible wall that makes them shoot through the floor. Kimi reaches into my mind. “Fuel me.”

  I turn my focus inward to my power and am just about to throw it to Kimi when Tokala vanishes as if he has gone with the magic that burned through the floor.

  Ian says, “What the hell?” He glances around the room. “Where did he go?”

  There’s a hole the size of a person in the floor, and the smoke curling up from the edges smells of charred wood. Kimi says, “Where evil resides.”

  A roar makes the walls shudder, and I turn to see Victor shifting as he lunges toward Sierra, who’s blocking the door as if she’s backing out of the cabin. She has two of the babies, and her mouth sets in steely determination to fight. A wet swish sounds, and I watch Victor fall to his knees. Lily screams.

  Victor’s form returns to human, and he lands on his hands, gasping. Ashton yanks a knife out of his back, and the suction sound turns my stomach as I watch blood drip from the blade. His voice is cold when he looks at Brady. “You sure I can’t kill him?”

  Brady says, “No.” He kneels down in front of Victor and growls. “He’s going to die a slow, painful death this way.”

  Victor shakes his head, and his voice is raspy as he rolls to his side. “I wasn’t going to hurt her.” Blood is pooling around his body, and he’s fading fast. “Tokala—” Victor coughs. “Sierra—“

  A guard walks in the door with an arm across Tokala’s chest and a knife at his throat. A black mist hovers around the old man. “He’s right. This guy was about to capture Sierra. But his alpha must have blocked it, because his magic is no good.”

  Sierra hands the car carriers to a warrior and walks over to kneel in front of Victor. Brady tries to pull her to her feet. “Sierra—”

  She shakes him off and touches Victor’s arm. “You were going to save me?”

  Lily is screaming to be let go, and I strain to hear what Victor says as he looks up at Sierra. “I’m sorry. Take good care of our children.” His eyes flutter shut.

  Sierra takes his hand and gives it a squeeze while tears stream down her face. She stands and says to Ashton, “Please... put him out of his misery.”

  Lily struggles to get free from her captor as she wails, “Please! I need to be with him. Let me go!”

  Brady nods at the guard, and he releases her. Lily falls to her knees in front of Victor and pulls him up into her arms. “Don’t leave me!”

  Victor regains consciousness and grabs onto Lily as if he can take her wherever he’s going. “My darling, I’m so sorry I failed you—” He squeezes her so tightly that they appear to merge into one. Lily’s shirt is soaked black, and flecks of blood dot her face. He coughs, and I realize Victor is hacking up blood.

  “No! Don’t you dare leave me, Victor. I love you!”

  Victor groans. “You made me the man I was... meant to be. I’ll love. You. Forever.” The last word is barely a whisper as his head falls and his body goes limp.

  “No!” Lily sobs as she rocks with Victor’s body in her arms. “No. No. No.” She pushes the hair out of his face and whispers, “I’ll love you forever, too.”

  Keith’s quiet sobs float into my awareness, and anger surges in me. I glance at Kimi and nod my head toward Tokala. “What can we do about him?”

  “I got this. Lend me some power.”

  Lily says, “No.” She stands up and throws back her shoulders. Strands of hair have fallen out of her ponytail, and the elastic tie sags at the base of her neck. Her voice rings true. “I’ve got this.” She walks over to Tokala, and even though her hands are shaking by her sides, she speaks with authority when she says, “As prima of the Veilleux clan, I proclaim you fired. Never set foot on Veilleux land again.”

  Kimi says, “Damn. That was better than any spell I could have cast. He’s an untouchable now that a clan has denounced him.”

  Lily’s boots beat a slow, steady beat as she walks across the room, leaving maroon footprints in her wake. She’s covered in Victor’s blood, and mascara is streaked on her face, but she appears as powerful as an alpha. She stops in front of Patricia. “I believe I can denounce you too. But I won’t.” She looks Patricia up and down slowly, disgusted, and lets out a low growl. “Don’t make me regret giving you a chance to change.” She nods at Patricia’s guard, and he lets the woman go.

  Patricia rubs her arms as she walks over to Victor’s body. She lowers herself to the floor and stares at him in shock.

  Keith is cradling Taylor’s shattered body, and it’s then that feeling returns to my heart as I imagine the pain of losing a true mate.

  Lily then turns to Sierra and me. Her face is stone cold, but pain flickers in her gaze. “I would like for us to arrange equal custody. The children should know their birthright.” She glances at Sierra. “And their birth mother.” Brady comes up beside me as Lily steps forward. She reaches out both of her bloodstained hands. “I call a truce between the Veilleux and Le Roux.”

  Brady and I each take one of her hands. Brady says, “Truce.” And I echo him.

  Lily asks, “Would you like to perform a spell to ensure everyone’s safety?”

  I’m amazed at her logical thinking, considering she just lost the love of her life. I shake my head. “No. I trust you, Lily.”

  Sierra says, “Me too.” She steps close to Lily and gives her a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

  Lily pulls away as if Sierra’s touch might break her fragile exterior. “Me too. Now get those babies home. We can make arrangements tomorrow.”

  She directs her attention to Brady and me. “Let this be the beginning of a peaceful existence for the Northeast Black Bear Kingdom.”

  While Lily is not an alpha, she is now the official leader of the Veilleux. She will remain in her position until one of Sierra’s children becomes an alpha and is a legal adult, and the prima will remain in position until the alpha chooses a wife. I look into her eyes with pride. “Yes. It will be an honor to serve on the council with you, Lily Wilson Veilleux.”

  I recall the shy, naïve girl I met at the motel in Colorado. Now Lily is a powerful leader who was called to save a clan. I watch Annie reach out for Lily, but the gesture is thwarted as Lily shakes her head and moves away.

  Keith has carried Taylor’s body out of the cabin, and I glance over at Victor and a crying Patricia. It’s hard not to have sympathy for her as I try to fathom the pain of losing a child.

  Brady takes my arm. “Mrs. Le Roux. I think it’s time to get home to our family. I need to be close to them right now.”

  I lean against my strong husband. “Yes. I agree.” I picture my sweet babies in my mind, and there’s nothing I want more than to be snuggling with them.

  When we step outside, I discover the storm has let up. Someone must have found Isabelle, because our Hummer is parked in the driveway, and she’s behind the wheel, waiting for us. As we get to the car, the sun breaks free from the clouds and shines down, making the snow sparkle with the promise of a fresh start.

  30

  Chapter 10

  Lily

  The day after a winter storm can be deceiving. I gaze out at the bluebird sky and bright sunlight glistening on the vast expanse of snow that covers the grounds of the Veilleux mansion. My mansion now. I push my way out the door and descend the marble stairs that are meticulously maintained by staff. I don’t bother to watch my step because I know they’re clear.

  While the day’s appearance is cheerful, the temperature hovers near zero, and the strong winds bite at my face as I make my way through the snow. I break a trail that will ruin the perfect blanket of white I see through my study window. It will remain a scar that fades over the winter as more snow falls until eventually it will disappear.

  I lift my face to the sun and notice my eyelashes are frozen with crystals of moisture from my tears. I wipe a drop off my face and watch the residue freeze into a thin layer across my leather glove. I’ll allow myself this one time to cry during the day, but then it must stop. The Veilleux need me to be a strong leader in Victor’s absence, and I’m determined to make him proud. My nights can be time for my sorrow.

  Snow swishes around my legs as I continue to the perimeter of the lawn and walk along the edge of the forest. Movement makes me glance at the guard, who lowers his head as I go by. He’s trained to speak to me only when necessary, and I’ve never bothered to change that ritual with the men that offer me invisible protection. I’ll need to change that but not today. I suspect he’s in mourning, too.

  When I get to the gardens behind the house, I trudge over to a bench. I pack down the snow with my bottom when I sit on it. The tips of my fingers are cold in my fashionable gloves, and I slip them out of their casings to hold my hands in fists to ward off the chill. My husband and true mate is gone. I gaze past the yard to the forest and let reality sink in. All of this is mine now. I own thousands of acres of land, a profitable paper mill, a few houses, and hundreds of luxury items.

  A chuckle escapes me. I have more than I ever wanted when it comes to material goods, but I don’t have the one thing that ensured happiness. Victor was changing. My laugh becomes uncontrollable, as if I’m giggling with a girlfriend, until it gives way to loud sobs. I lie down on the bench and curl up my legs as my body shakes with my cries. Snow is so cold on my face that it hurts, but I don’t bother to move as I let my anguish take over.

  When I’m finished, I sit up, my shivering so violent that I realize I need to get inside before I get hypothermia. I head toward the back door that leads to a storage room that houses cleaning supplies, laundry, and the pantry. It’s Carol’s domain, and I startle her when I enter.

  “Goodness, Miss Lily.” She frowns as I pull off my gloves and rub my hands together. “You’ve got frostbite on your cheek.”

  “Oh. It’s colder out there than I expected.” I reach up to touch my face, and while my fingers feel the skin, my cheek has no sensation where it’s frozen. I hold the warmth of my hand on it until feeling returns.

  “I’ve got soup on the stove if you’d like some.”

  I shake my head because I have no appetite.

  “Miss Lily, you need to try. You’ve got a long day ahead, and you’ll need protein.”

  She’s right. I’m meeting Patricia at the funeral home this afternoon to make arrangements, and Victor’s right-hand man Harold will be there. They both need to see I’m in control, and it’s going to be a struggle to remain strong. I’m going to need my own right hand now. “Okay. I’m going to go change and will be down in a few minutes.”

  As Carol turns to walk away, I stop her. “Carol, wait.” This woman is someone I would have liked to be my mother and the one person in the Veilleux clan I trust.

  She turns back to give me her attention, and I say, “You know almost everything that goes on in this house. How would you feel about becoming my personal assistant?”

  She reaches out her hands and takes a hold of mine. The warmth soothes the burning cold of my fingers. “I’d be honored.”

  Thomas holds out his hand to help me out of the town car. I climb out and gaze at the historic white home-turned-funeral parlor. I pause for a moment and take a deep breath. He asks, “Would you like me to come in with you, Miss Lily?”

  I recall how he’s been a solid presence at many of my difficult meetings and situations, and having him with me will be comforting. I’m also aware that he spent years driving Victor, and he’s lost an important person in his life, too. It makes sense that he should be a part of my husband’s final journey. I hold out my arm. “Yes, Thomas. I think Victor would like that.”