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?”

you want to

to deny it. “Serra better hope never to cross paths with me. I fear that confrontation would be

him, sealing his mouth to hers in

he broke the kiss, she stared into his eyes, loving this man more than life itself. “What

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

of that. Cassandra smiled as he pushed her down to

always swollen now with milk for their twins. He paused to lap

enough to share,” she managed with a breathy whisper as moisture trickled down her thigh at his wicked statement. Within seconds, his sharp sense of smell

flesh. “I could happily die with my face buried

two

above her as she laid back. “Let me see that

creating more wetness to dribble from her

to ruin her for life. He was her everything. Her One

fucked

life was good.

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

-ALSO BY ALEXX ANDRIA-

THE AWAKENING, you might

an excerpt of BLOOD

***

Kane muttered to his partner Rook Valentino, surveying the gore and violence spread around like the white powder spilled

rose 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

times,” Rook said, his eagle eye taking in every

and a dollar short. Story of my life. What do you make of

nodded, thinking the same. “Yeah, if this was anything else, the players would be dead but the dope would be gone. I’d

maybe a rival gang trying to set up shop and sending a

was tingling in his senses, a warning of something bigger, more sinister and far

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

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

something, Fido?”

his voice

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

got silver bullets in that bad boy?” Elijah quipped darkly. “’Cause the bullets you got in that thing will just piss them

favorite...shifter criminals. The best. Tell me why I hang out with you? One of these days you’re

influence,” Elijah said, going to one

haunches to take a closer look. Rook

“You know him?”

pack leader for the Westing faction. They’ve been controlling this territory for generations.” He paused in thought. “This doesn’t feel right. There hasn’t been a territory feud in

from removing this guy?” Rook gestured to

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

Rook said, surveying the blood spatter and entrails littered on the

told a brutal story. But there was something else, something beneath

They’d been planning this bust for weeks but Elijah hadn’t realized that the Westing pack

hadn’t expected to