Page 79 of These Deadly Dreams

I don’t usually like talking about that night, but with her there is no hesitation. I want her to know everything about me. “The night I was kicked out of the pack. My wolf fought it. He knew our rightful place was as alpha, and he didn’t want to let it go. He forced the change on me, which was taken as a threatening move. Noah’s nephew, Alex, shifted and our wolves fought. His claw sliced my face, and it was the only way I was able to get control of my wolf again. Agatha saved my eye. She could have been killed for it, but no one, not even Noah, is willing to go against her.”

Ellis leans up on her elbow and gently kisses the bit of scar running through my eyebrow. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it must have been like losing your family and your pack at the same time.”

“It wasn’t easy, but having Cade and Kai helped. Without them, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

She lays her head back on my chest and her finger idly traces patterns on my skin. “When all of this is over, when we take care of Sam and Noah, will you take back your position as alpha?”

“That depends,” I say, rubbing my palm up and down her back. Her skin is like velvet to the touch. “It’s a big responsibility. I would never do it if it wasn’t something you agreed to. And I don’t want you agreeing to it just because you think it’s what I want.”

She huffs a laugh, her breath tickling across my chest. “You know me too well,” she says quietly. “What do you want?”

I sigh and wrap a curl around my finger. “I don’t know,” I say truthfully. “I’m not sure I want to go back to a pack that essentially turned its back on me. I know there wasn’t much they could do, but it still doesn’t make the betrayal hurt less.” She drops a kiss to my chest and presses herself tighter to my side. “I’ve lived my life thinking there was no way I could go back. I’d accepted the fact. I don’t mind the life I’ve built with Cade and Kai … minus the work for Kai’s dad. And now with you, the possibilities of what our lives could be, are endless. At least, once we get everything taken care of. Whatever decision I make, will be one discussed with everyone. We’re all in this together now.”

“I’ll be happy with any decision you make. As long as I’m with all three of you, I’ll be happy.” Her words are getting slower, and her fingers no longer trace idle patterns on my chest.

“Go to sleep, Kitten,” I say, kissing the top of her head. “It’s been a long couple of days.”

She snuggles against me, warm and inviting, and I close my eyes. The thread of gold between us shining brightly.

I’m dying. It’s so hot. The feather blanket over me is heavy and sweltering. My body temperature always runs higher being a shifter, so I never use feather blankets. What the hell possessed me to use one last night?

Last night. I smile. I finally claimed my mate. I sense her behind me. Her skin warm against my own. If I wasn’t so hot, I’d lay here forever. Stretching, I roll over and yawn. Something soft falls into my mouth and I splutter, trying to spit out whatever it is. But as soon as I get it out, another one falls in.

“What the fuck,” I mutter around a mouthful of soft fluff. Opening my eyes, I see only white. The blanket is pulled over my head. Dragging it down over my face, my eyes slowly grow wider and wider. “What. The. Fuck.”

Slowly, I climb out of bed, careful not to wake Ellis. I stare at my mate, mouth hanging open in disbelief. Wings. Snow white wings threaded with gold, sprout from her back. They’re huge. One has fallen to the floor while the other, the one that had been covering me, spreads across the bed, the ends trailing along the wooden floor on the other side of the bed.

I quickly text the guys, and wait. Gaze trailing over Ellis, taking in every detail. Their steps falter when they enter the room.

“What the fuck?” Kai breathes, echoing my own thoughts just a few minutes ago. “Wings? When did that happen?”

I shrug, never taking my eyes off Ellis. “I woke up and there they were.”

“She is going to freak out,” Kai says.

That’s an understatement. I finally manage to pull my gaze from her and look at Cade. I can only assume his expression mirrors my own. Utter shock, disbelief, and awe line his features. His violet eyes glow with something I can’t name.

“What do we do?” Kai asks.

“What can we do?” Cade finally says. “We will need to keep her calm when she wakes up.”

Like his words were magic, Ellis stirs. The three of us freeze, unsure how to proceed. She tries to roll over, but the massive wing prevents her. A confused mumble climbs up her throat and her eyes open. Slowly, they grow in size until white shows all the way around her irises.

“What is that?” Her voice is shaky and unsure. She sits up, faster than any of us anticipated, and her wings slash through the room. “What is that?” Her voice rises an octave.

Jumping to her feet, she turns around, trying to get a look at her back. Kai and I duck, but Cade is too slow. Her wings knock him to the floor, and he lands with a muffled curse on his ass. When she turns back to face us, her skin is pale and her amber eyes are terrified.

“What is that!” she screams. Her body shakes as tremors take over.

Kai finds his voice first. “Wings. You have … wings.”

She chokes on the breath she takes. “Wings?” she screeches. “Why do I have wings? Make them go away. Make them go away!” Tears pool in her eyes and she flaps her hands like she’s trying to rid herself of something sticky.

Her tears hit me like a knife to my chest and I jump into action. “Breathe, Kitten. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” I grab her shoulders, but my gaze falls behind them. To the wings.

“Okay? How is it going to be okay? I have wings!” The tears stream down her face now, and she’s shaking so hard the feathers flutter behind her. The golden veins threading through them shimmer with the movement.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” Kai breathes.

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