Page 20

T onight was the first night of Jezebel’s Holiday Film Festival and I knew my sweet mate was nervous.

She was already there, getting everything ready with George and his brothers, while I finished up work for the day. I was just stepping out of the shower, eager to be with her again when my mind started to wander.

Last night, Jezebel had her first meeting with Sherry Morgan-McAllister, and it’d been a good one. The drive to Maccon City was long, a little over three hours, but it was worth it.

The White Witch had been very helpful and knowledgeable about my mate’s gift. She gave her some expert advice and promised to be in touch. It was late by the time they finished chatting, so we wound up staying at the Macconwood Pack house overnight and driven back early this morning.

But last night, last night was different. It was special.

“ W elcome to Maccon Manor,” Sherry said when we first arrived.

She was sitting on a rug in an all-white room with only a fire for light. Some candles were scattered about, but they were each glowing with different color flames and didn’t do much to brighten the place.

There was something ethereal about her presence, but my Wolf was on high alert.

Rafe Maccon was away on business with his family, and Seff had been the one to answer the door. The Pack Beta then introduced his mate, the Morrigan, who was just as eager to meet Jezebel as my mate was nervous.

“Please sit,” Sherry said, gesturing to the floor in front of her..

“Should I go?” I whispered, looking at Seff. The Beta Wolf smiled and took a seat beside his wife.

“Actually, I believe we all play a part tonight,” he said, and I followed suit, sitting beside my Jezebel.

“You have a very special aura, Jezebel. Are you sure there are not Witches in your family line?” Sherry asked.

“Um, I don’t think so,” Jezebel replied.

She was wringing her hands in her lap and biting her lip. Demon snarled and Seff’s eyes jerked to mine, but I ignored him and placed my hand on her thigh, hoping to calm her.

“You’re very attuned to your mate’s feelings,” Sherry observed, but I did not answer because what was the point?

I was attuned to Jezebel’s feelings.

“That is good. She will need your help. Now, can you explain, Jezebel, what happened to you the other day?”

I braced myself as my Angel told us how she’d been met with a mob of angry shades outside her home. How they’d never attacked like that before and how she’d felt terrified, frozen in fear, and then devastated at the prospect of dying.

“Fuck,” I growled, wrapping both arms around her and pressing my face to her neck just to breathe her in.

Her scent wrapped around me, growing stronger as she soothed me with her hands on my arms.

Hot cocoa and rum with vanilla marshmallows.

“It’s okay. You saved me, remember?” she whispered before turning back to Sherry.

“So, my grandmother told me I’d been neglecting my duty, and that was why they acted that way.”

“She is not wrong. But that trespass is not okay, Jezebel. Shades need a firm hand. They are not of this realm and have no power unless you allow them entry. So, what I shall give you is some guidance on ways to keep your walls up at all times. As for you, Demon,” Sherry continued, speaking directly to my Wolf in a way that got his attention.

“You did well, protecting your mate. And it will not end there, Hellhound.”

I froze.

“Hellhound?” I whispered.

My chest was so tight, and I felt Jezebel’s curious eyes on me. But I couldn’t look at her yet because, I mean, Hellhound .

Fuck.

Why did that make so much sense?

“Yes, Hellhound. You are aware this phenomenon is rarely seen anymore, but it does happen on occasion where those familial lines with ties to this type of supernatural have an occurrence every odd generation or so. Would you happen to know which side of your family this stems from?” she asked.

“No, I do not,” I replied honestly.

“Sorry, what is a Hellhound?” Jezebel asked.

“Well, generally speaking, eons ago Hellhounds were creatures of fire and rage, born from the very depths of the underworld. Their sole purpose was to hunt down stray shades—lost souls that wandered too far from their destined paths—and return them to the realm of the damned. It was a ruthless job, steeped in darkness and duty, where the howl of a Hellhound was both a warning and a promise of inevitable retribution,” she said.

“Holy shit,” Jezebel muttered, and I had to agree because, yeah, holy shit .

“So what does that mean? Do I need to do something?”

“Suffice it to say, that job still exists, though times have changed. The world is different now, and so are the rules. Even for Supernaturals. But for you, Emmet, I think you are exactly where you belong.”

“But how did this happen?” I asked.

“Well, thanks to some unsanctioned mingling with earthbound Shifters—those who can transform into animals—the Hellhound lineage occasionally introduces new traits into the mix. This is why you encountered a Wolf like Demon, dear Jezebel. His ability to pull you back from Death’s door and chase away those nasty shades that hurt you is no mere coincidence.

He carries the essence of a Hellhound, a flicker of the ancient fire that burns within him, intertwined with his Wolf’s spirit. ”

“You really were made for me,” Jezebel said, and I swear my heart almost beat right out of my chest. I was so damn proud.

“Damn straight, I was.”

“But let’s not dwell too long on the past,” Sherry interrupted.

“You see, children, what matters is the present—and your training. You’re here to learn how to harness the energy that lies within you, yes?

To understand your newfound connection to these forces.

So, shall we get on with your lesson? It’s time to unlock the potential you didn’t even know you had and discover the power that awaits you.

Trust me, the journey is just beginning, and it promises to be anything but ordinary. ”

“Yes, please,” Jezebel replied.

But I didn’t miss how she squeezed my hand affectionately, mouthing I love you while she went to the corner with Sherry.

I sat there, just watching until I heard Seff clear his throat to get my attention.

“I know you are working with Max Leeds, and are part of his Crew, but I would like to extend a welcome to the Macconwood Pack should you ever consider leaving,” he offered.

I was stunned. From a banished, broken Wolf to a mated, part Hellhound, foreman of a ranch and member of Crew with an invitation to join one of the biggest Packs in the world—well, that was really something.

“I appreciate the offer. But I am afraid I have to decline. You see, my Crew, they’re more than just that. They’re my family,” I said, feeling the truth of it to my bones.

I dressed quickly, donning clean jeans and a tight thermal shirt. I knew Jezebel liked it when she could see my muscles and I wasn’t above dressing to keep my woman’s eyes on me. And because of her little Marlboro Man fetish, I also slipped on clean cowboy boots, a leather jacket, and a hat.

I grabbed the tiny light blue box off the kitchen table and I went to the front door. I’d already asked my mate to marry me and was still counting my blessings that she even said yes at all.

But I forgot about the ring, and that was something I needed to rectify.

Tonight.

I grabbed my keys and jogged outside, pulling up short when I saw the honest to goodness caravan of pickup trucks outside my front door.

“What the hell?” I muttered, eyebrows sky high.

“Ready?” Penelope asked from the front seat of Max’s truck with its gold Motley Crewd Ranch logo etched on each door.

The big bad Jersey Devil Alpha himself was driving, and he offered a two-fingered wave, his red-tinted eyes on his mate.

“Um, yeah, but what are you all doing?” I asked, completely flummoxed.

“Hi, Uncle Emmet! We’re going to a film festival!” Rosie, Avery’s little daughter, shouted from the middle seat inside of Dante’s pickup truck where her mom sat, looking straight ahead.

Okayyyy.

That was weird. But it was none of my business, so I was going to pretend I didn’t see a thing.

Kian and Zeke brought up the rear, and the fuckers were in my truck.

“What are you two dipshits doing?”

“Waiting on you,” Kian said, the duh at the end of his sentence was implied.

“But why are you in my truck?” I growled, scrubbing a hand over my face.

“Not like you need it for necking with your girl. She lives with you now,” he said and shrugged.

Asshole.

But it was true, I was probably not going to get to snuggle with her in the back of the truck like I wanted to. She had things to do tonight, and I already promised to help out.

“Fine. But get the fuck out from behind the wheel. No one drives my truck but me,” I told the obnoxious bovine.

“Told you,” Zeke snorted, and the usually quiet Shifter was right.

“Let’s go!” I called out and honked, waiting for Max to start us off.

I couldn’t believe this. The entire Motley Crewd family had gathered to support Jezebel. Just like they had when she’d been hurt.

When I’d first arrived, I didn’t think much of this place or these men. Certainly didn’t think much of Max. I just assumed this was the place last chance Shifters went before things got so bad they needed to be put down.

But I was wrong. This was a place where families were found. Where fated mates met. Where my sweet mate was waiting for me.

“Come on, bro. Let’s go see what your rose has done,” Zeke said, and I turned and looked the Dragon in the eyes, noting his elongated pupil.

I nodded.

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”