THE AWAKENING

In the days that followed, Cassandra found herself overwhelmed with the newfound knowledge that’d flooded her brain at Iona’s passing.

Suddenly, she had access to her lineage, understanding how the bloodlines crossed and intersected and how the Mother Goddess cherished her wolf-children and blessed them with gifts that surpassed anything humanity had ever known.

She knew at a glance someone’s intentions as their energy pulsed with malicious or generous intent. It was unnerving at first but she embraced her gifts with courage and determination.

Her babies, a girl and a boy, were named Ianna and Veris, and they were exceptional children who grew like beautiful, alien weeds that were both dangerous and yet mesmerizing.

And they had the ability to transform at will, which made for some challenging parenting. Cassandra never knew if she were going to find pups or babies in the cradle but she always knew where to find them if they happened to escape their beds.

She suckled them as both human and wolf, depending on her pups disposition. It was easier to discipline them in her wolf form, leaning on instinct when necessary. But the love she felt for her babies was equally strong in either form.

“You are amazing with them,” Tieran said with pride. “You are a formidable Alpha’s Mate. You will raise our pups with strong hearts and even stronger minds.”

Cassandra smiled and accepted his praise with a glowing heart. So much had changed in such a short time frame that it was difficult to comprehend how radical the switch in her life.

She went from a nobody in college, struggling to find her identity in books and academia when her true identity had been hidden from her until fate determined it was time to emerge.

And as traumatic as certain events were, Cassandra wouldn’t trade her life for anything.

Since Ulster’s defeat, Cassandra and Tieran had managed to convince a few of Clan Janus to join with Barrachius but it was not an easy transition.

Ingrained prejudices made for tense relationships but a few were grateful for the change and ready to embrace a new way of thinking, particularly the women who’d been horrifically abused, such as Arja, who in spite of her limp, had become quite helpful in the kitchen with Hannah.

But it wasn’t factions within Clan Janus that worried Cassandra and Tieran. It was a threat from within that had nearly taken everything.

Serra, in spite of an exhaustive search, had managed to escape justice. The fact that she roamed free was a worry that kept both Tieran and Cassandra awake at night.

Tieran, gazing at their sleeping twins, said, “If she dares to step foot on Clan Barrachius land I will know.”

“As will I,” Cassandra said with deadly calm. “She would be foolish to try.”

Tieran smiled in approval at Cassandra’s fierce protectiveness. He knew she didn’t offer idle threats either.

“If she hadn’t tried to kill me and the babies, I could’ve been compassionate to her situation,” Cassandra shared. “I cannot imagine the agony of losing my heart to the one I couldn’t have.”

Tieran’s expression darkened with regret. “Serra was right in that I never should’ve allowed her to stay. I should’ve known she would not go down without a fight. I put you and the babies in danger and I will never forget that.”

Cassandra caressed his jaw. “Don’t take on her decision as somehow your fault. You are not to blame for her actions.”

Since Iona had passed on her knowledge, Cassandra had been able to unlock gifts that had been lying dormant in her mind. She felt the weight of his guilt and it pained her to know that he blamed himself for Serra’s actions.

“You are such a good man,” she whispered, brushing a kiss across his lips. “Solid, strong, and firm, but able to know the difference between kindness and weakness.”

Tieran smiled with love in his eyes. “You are a gift from the Goddess.”

“Damn straight I am.” She grinned, accepting the compliment with bold cheekiness. Cassandra was one bad ass Seer, one that definitely didn’t take any shit from anyone and she liked that about herself.

“You have that look,” Tieran noted with a faint smile.

“Which look is that?”

says you want to tear someone’s throat

never to cross paths with me. I fear that confrontation would be

her to him, sealing his mouth to

this man more than life itself. “What was that for?” she

Mate. I look forward to a lifetime with you by my side. You are

smiled as he pushed her down to

could part the halves, revealing her full breasts that were always swollen now with milk for their twins. He paused to lap the pearl of thick milk beaded at her nipple, growling with pleasure at the sweetness. “If it weren’t for the babies, I would

her thigh at his wicked statement. Within seconds, his sharp sense of smell caught her immediate arousal and he dropped to his knees to

flesh. “I could happily die with my face buried right

two of them.

now,” he commanded, rising above her as she laid back. “Let me see that

wetness to dribble from

smile was enough to ruin her for

he fucked like

life was

future but the present was exactly as she wanted it to be — with Tieran, their babies, and the

-ALSO BY ALEXX ANDRIA-

you might also enjoy

an excerpt of

***

and a half that went down,” Elijah Kane muttered to his partner Rook Valentino, surveying the gore and violence spread

and signaled the all-clear to the rest of the SWAT team as they converged on the abandoned warehouse, the sounds of metal artillery and Kevlar echoing in the gloom. “Looks like the party started without us. Everyone’s

times,” Rook said, his eagle eye taking

his AK-47 with a grunt of disappointment. “Day late and a dollar short. Story of my life.

be dead but the dope would be gone. I’d say there’s a cool five hundred G’s in coke spilled

deal? If it’s not vigilante justice, maybe a rival gang trying to set up shop and

in his senses, a warning of something bigger, more sinister and far more dangerous than a bunch

air. There it was...the lingering scent of

tensed and alert. Rook was human but he knew Elijah’s biggest secret and better yet, kept

Got something, Fido?”

off but yeah,” he admitted, keeping his voice

I’ll get to use this bad boy after all,” Rook said, grinning. “Nothing like coming to

silver bullets in that bad boy?” Elijah quipped darkly. “’Cause the bullets you

me why I hang out with you? One of these days

bad influence,” Elijah said, going to one

take a closer look. Rook followed. His hunch

“You know him?”

They’ve been controlling this territory for generations.” He paused in thought. “This doesn’t feel

gain from removing this guy?” Rook gestured to

suppose but like I said, everything’s been quiet for a while. And I doubt it’s a Keller involved. They’re too fat and happy sitting on the Council to

Rook said, surveying the blood spatter and entrails littered on the cement. “This is

story. But there was something else, something beneath the scent of death that

gaze roving the scene, taking in every detail. They’d been planning this bust for weeks but Elijah hadn’t realized that the

to