Shattered Emotions (25 page)
Read Shattered Emotions Online
Authors: Carrie Ann Ryan
It seemed their family was growing with each new day, and Maddox, frankly, was damned happy about that.
Eventually, the younger kids were fed and put down for bed, and Parker had taken Charlotte, as well as Gina, to the playroom to play video games, leaving the adults at the dinner table, haggard and worse for wear, but alive.
The Centrals had beaten them at every corner, attacked them with each passing month, but the Redwoods were still breathing.
Kade and Melanie were not only raising Finn now, but also Larissa and Neil’s children as their own—despite the problems that would arise with that since he was the eldest and Heir. They sat at their end of the table, leaning into each other. The sorrow that he’d seen in Melanie before he’d left was still there, but not as blatant. Larissa had been one of her only friends when she’d been a human, and, now, she was gone, but Melanie would one day be Alpha female and was stronger than she gave herself credit for.
Jasper and Willow sat across from them, they too leaning on each other. His brother looked more tired than usual, but with all that was going on within their Pack, it wasn’t a surprise. His job as Beta was a demanding one, but Willow was there by his side.
Across from them, Hannah, Josh and Reed sat talking quietly, nibbling at their food. They’d been through so much but had come out stronger than ever. Maddox was just glad the unconventional triad was part of their family and on their side. After all, they were a force to be reckoned with.
Bay and Adam sat next to the triad, frowns on their faces as they discussed something in quiet tones. Maddox had never thought Adam would be truly happy after he’d lost Anna. Now, though his brother had lost his leg and almost his life to protect his family, he had a future.
North and Cailin sat near them, neither of them talking, while Lexi and Logan sat across from them, also silent. At first, Maddox had thought his father had invited Lexi and Logan to match make with North and Cailin since it was clear to everyone—except maybe the couples themselves—that there was something there, but then he thought maybe his father had another idea in mind.
“We’re at war,” Edward began, and all other conversations stopped. “We’ve gradually brought in new members to our Pack to strengthen our own.” He took in those gathered around the table—Willow, Melanie, Josh, Hannah, Bay, Ellie, and then Lexi and Logan, who had been officially made Pack members the week before, along with Parker.
“We’ve been able to fight back against the Centrals, but we never strike first,” his father continued. “We’ve never been able to have the upper hand because we don’t use dark magic. We won’t stoop down to their level and risk the world and our souls to win the easy way. In doing so, we’ve let the Centrals come to us, and that decision has made us weak.”
Each of them growled but shut up when Edward raised a hand. “We’ve been weak because it’s been forced on us… but no longer. We’ve trained our fighters and enforcers. Our next move is to take the fight to them. Maddox and Ellie have started this. They’ve hurt Caym and Corbin to their cores, and they are weaker for it. We now know Corbin is afraid of North. Something we can use.”
Maddox held back a wince at that. He’d hidden that fact for so long to protect his brother and, in turn, had hidden a key to winning.
North nodded and ran a hand through his hair. “We can’t tempt fate, nor can we stop its course, but I’ll be ready.”
Maddox watched Lexi’s expression as North spoke. She looked like someone had struck her, yet she had hope in her eyes. He didn’t understand it, but he didn’t think it was for him to do so.
North and Cailin would accept their fates or fight them.
The Redwoods would win because they were stronger in their hearts than a demon with a motive that not one of them knew or understood.
Maddox wrapped his arm around Ellie’s shoulders. He had his future now. He had his peace.
The Centrals couldn’t take that away from him, no matter hard they tried—no matter how hard they
had
tried.
He kissed his mate’s temple and sighed. He was the Omega, the one to soothe and fight for the emotions of the Pack, but it had been the love of one woman who had shown him what it truly meant to be at peace.
Ellie was his savior, his peace, and soon the Redwoods would find their own as a fighting force to be reckoned with.
Corbin winced as he looked in the mirror. Hell, he looked like shit. Damn fucking Omega had almost killed him. If it hadn’t been for his lover, Caym, he’d have died.
Now, Caym looked weak, even if he said he would gain energy again. As if he’d used some of his own reserve to save him. Warmth slid through his cold, dark heart. Well, didn’t that make him feel like he was loved?
Maddox had almost killed him and failed, but that didn’t mean the seer had been wrong. North would be after him, and he had a feeling Maddox wouldn’t be hiding the reason for his scar and lies for much longer.
He’d have to find a way to kill that twin soon.
He rubbed a hand over his chest.
He was also pretty sure he knew where
she
was, though she wouldn’t be where she was for long.
It was damned time he found her.
Her and her brat.
The Redwoods had the one woman he couldn’t keep, and they had his future.
He’d just have to make sure they didn’t keep her.
Corbin smiled in the mirror.
He had just the way to ensure his plan.
Coming Soon in the Redwood Pack World, Hidden Destiny, where North finds out what it means to be lost then found.
Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.
Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is a bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.
Also from this Author
Now Available:
Redwood Pack Series:
Shattered Emotions
Holiday, Montana Series:
Dante’s Circle Series:
Coming Soon:
Redwood Pack
Hidden Destiny
Holiday, Montana Series:
Dreams of Ivory
Dante’s Circle:
An Unlucky Moon
Have you tried Carrie Ann’s other series, Holiday, Montana?
Her Lucky Love is now available
Brayden Cooper has always been lucky. It's in his blood and in the coin that he has hanging on a leather tie around his neck. He has everything in the world he could ever want: money, a job, brothers he loves, and the luck that comes with his powers. Yet he's empty. Everyone but him knows he loves Allison, yet it's going to take something stronger than luck to bring them together.
Allison Malone is exhausted. After the death of her abusive husband, her hell of a marriage is finally over and now she's alone with her three children that are the center of her world. Long hours at work, plus mommy duty at home are taking its toll on her and that's not the worst of it. Her late husband's family is in town and they want her children.
The outsiders have secrets of their own and it's going to take all of the Coopers, especially Brayden's, help to save them. When trouble attacks, Allison will have to remember that she's also a woman who needs love, and Brayden might be the one to give that to her.
Warning: Contains one sexy mechanic with a lucky streak, a waitress who needs to give into her temptations, and a love so fierce it's bound to set the sheets on fire. Again.
Have you tried Carrie Ann’s other series, Dante’s Circle?
Her Warriors’ Three Wishes is now available
Humans aren’t as alone as they choose to believe. Every human possesses a trait of supernatural that lays dormant within their genetic make-up. Centuries of diluting and breeding have allowed humans to think they are alone and untouched by magic. But what happens when something changes?
Ambrose Griffin is older than most, if not all, civilizations. As each year passes, he submerses himself into his training, only relaxing around his protégée and friend, Shade. After losing his wife and children in the last Angelic Wars, he guards his heart and has no desire to share it with another.
Bookkeeper and romance novel enthusiast, Jamie Bennett dreams of being swept off her feet by a white knight. However, her life is no romance book. Since meeting Ambrose—a sexy, delicious angel—she’s been twisted inside out and doesn’t know why. Things are happening that she can’t control and now her life is in danger.
Balin Drake is stuck in hell, literally. His life of refusing to take souls, even though it’s part of his demon nature, has caught up with him. He’s dying and now must search for his true half, but even a mating may not save him. When he meets the two people who could fill that part, he’ll need to fight for something he hasn’t felt in over a century—hope.
Warning: Contains a rigid angel who needs a certain sexy woman to help him unwind, a book keeper who finds herself the creamy center of the best cookie ever, and a demon who has a certain taste for pressing them both against walls.
By Bianca D’Arc
The fate of all shifters rests on Slade’s broad shoulders, but all he can think about is her.
Slade is a mystery. A warrior and spy who serves two masters - those in the human world and the Lords of the Were. They've sent him to Nevada to track a brutal murderer before the existence of all shifters is revealed to a world not ready to know.
Kate is a priestess serving the Goddess and the large community of shifters that have gathered around the Redstone Clan of werecougars. When their matriarch is murdered and the scene polluted by dark magic, she knows she must help the enigmatic man sent to track the killer.
Together, Slade and Kate uncover not one, but two, evil mages that they alone can neutralize. It's a tricky situation because Slade finds it hard to keep his hands off his sexy new partner, the cougars are out for blood, and the killers have an even more sinister plan in mind.
Can Kate somehow keep her hands to herself when the most attractive man she's ever met makes her want to throw caution to the wind? And can Slade do his job and save the situation when he's finally found a woman who can make him purr?
Come over to The D’Arc Side…
WWW.BIANCADARC.COM
Table of Contents
Table of Contents