Order

1

Valeria

Arabbit. Easy prey. Let me kill it.

I dismissed the voice of my inner wolf. We don’t need food at camp, and I didn’t come out to hunt.

She made an irritated noise in my mind, reminding me it had been a while since I let her loose. I hadn’t been hunting since… Elijah left.

His face flashed in my mind. Dark, mischievous eyes and smooth, brown skin. My throat turned dry. We always hunted together and let our wolves run free, but now it was just me, and as many times as I’d tried to explain his leaving to my wolf; she didn’t understand.

She ached for him, still believing he was coming back. I wasn’t so sure. The curse changed him, broke him beyond repair. Elijah wasn’t the same carefree, reckless boy we’d grown up with.

None of us were the same. Not since the world had fallen.

Fighting the wave of sorrow threatening to rise at the memories, I continued my walk. The woods helped me center myself. It was the only place I could be both human and wolf equally at the same time.

I could pretend the last six months never happened.

That the mysterious worldwide disease targeting only the youngest never happened. That the witches hadn’t cast the spell that was supposed to stop it, which instead killed everyone. Everyone but us—those stuck between childhood and adulthood.

Alone in the woods, I could pretend that Mom, Dad, Jaime, and the others were back at camp waiting for me. Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away.

I was alpha. The others would think me weak. Too human. What would Dad say now?

Willing the memory of his voice to surface, I held my breath. Only the sounds of the forest filled my ears. Because Dad was dead—and the dead didn’t speak.

Banishing my dark thoughts, I glanced up. A full moon shone brightly from a cloudless sky. The smell of Spanish moss and yarrow filled the Georgia air, but there was something else. My wolf stirred, instincts taking over.

We knew that scent. We knew it well.

Blood.

I clenched my fists and urged my wolf to stand down. At eighteen, I’d managed enough control over myself to not transform at every sign of danger.

The unmistaken snap of branches caught my ear. I crouched behind a wide oak and waited. Only shadow pack wolves were supposed to be in the area, but whoever or whatever was out there was not one of us.

My wolf snarled within me. Human.

Heavy footsteps sounded. More than one. I sniffed. Three humans.

How did they get past our guard? Anger stirred in my belly. With Elijah gone, the pack was growing too lax. That would change. I was still alpha, even without my so-called mate. I could still lead them just as well as he had. Then why don’t they listen to you like they did him? I dismissed the thought as soon as it came.

Shh. Someone’s here. A male voice broke the quiet.

I pressed myself against the bark and held my breath. My wolf urged me to run. Warn the pack. I didn’t move. Three. I could handle three. If I fled now, I wouldn’t find out what they were doing in our territory.

Besides, the pack’s safety was all up to me now. I couldn’t screw it up.

With a steadying breath, I pushed myself off the tree and onto their path. A gun whipped toward me. My wolf rose to the surface, ready for action.

I reigned her in and held my ground. This is shadow wolf territory. What are you doing here?

The guy stepped forward, motioning the girl with the gun back. We’ve come to speak to your alpha. Please, we don’t want any trouble.

My wolf bristled. Alpha. Elijah.

I am the alpha of this pack. My voice was strong. It was the tone I used to command my wolves.

His eyes widened. I scowled as he sized me up. I knew what he saw—high ponytail and plain face, average height, average weight with a little extra on my hips. I didn’t look threatening.

The human mocks us. My wolf’s voice came, offended for both of us.

I watched as he glanced at his female companions. One of them, the smaller of the two, was bleeding. Her eyes were pained, and her hand gripped her side. The scent of wolf was on her. One of my kind had torn into her flesh. There was something else, too. Vampire. Both had used her as their plaything. My stomach turned at the sight. She couldn’t be much older than fifteen.

Please. My friend needs a healer. He spoke again.

The other girl continued to stare at me, her gun still aimed at my heart. That one was a threat. My wolf sensed her thinly veiled rage and hatred, her desire to put a bullet in me and all those like me. No surprise there. Even at the end of the world, humans couldn’t accept us. Despite the sickness that took our families—wolf, human, witch, and vampire alike—and the final collapse of society; hatred and prejudice remained.

We were all the same in their human eyes.

I met her glare. You’re better off taking her back to the city.

I told you, Drew. They’re not going to help us, the dangerous one spoke. Moonlight reflected in her dark eyes. Eyes that were narrowed with distrust.

Put your gun down, Becca, he said through clenched teeth.

She ignored him.

Please. The smaller girl looked to me. Her voice was barely a whisper.

Pity filled me. I didn’t want to imagine everything she’d suffered, but I couldn’t risk my pack’s safety.

I shook my head. You shouldn’t have come. I turned to the boy. She shouldn’t be walking and moving with that wound. She’s going to bleed out faster.

We didn’t have a choice. Please. Help her and we’ll leave.

The other girl scoffed. How about help her or I’ll shoot you.

He glanced at her. Shut up, Becca.

I bit back a smile, though my wolf’s hackles rose at the threat. If they hurt me, my pack would tear them apart, but it wouldn’t come to that. I could handle them myself.

Go back to the city, I repeated.

Shadows fell across the boy’s face. Even in the dark, I could see that he was handsome. Strong jaw, sensual lips, and dark eyes. Like the girl. I glanced at her, realizing their resemblance. Twins?

Blood kin, my wolf agreed.

We can’t. It’s not safe. He took a cautious step closer to me.

Drew, his twin warned, her gun steady on me.

His eyes were on me. Please. We just need a healer.

But my mind snagged on his other words. It’s not safe. The city? Why would it be unsafe for humans? Had something happened? My heart skipped. Elijah was in the city. I pushed away the fear and dread. He made his choice.

You shouldn’t be here. I—

We have no choice! Are you going to stand there and let her bleed out? His eyes pinned me, an anguished look on his face.

My wolf growled at his outburst, and outwardly I clenched my jaw. Realizing his error, he stiffened. The mask of control and diplomacy returned, but I’d seen it—a glimpse of the unbridled emotions he kept hidden and leashed.

The injured girl wobbled on her feet, face ashen in the moonlight. I could smell death on her.

Yes. Death marked, my wolf agreed.

Her body swayed. The boy swore and reached for her just as she collapsed. Behind them, in the distance, came a howl. The hairs on my neck bristled. Wolves. Red Wolves. Is that who they ran from? Though we were neighbor packs at one time, they weren’t exactly friends of ours.

What were they doing so close?

Please. I beg you. Please. He was desperate.

No. Must warn pack. Leave the humans.

His pleading eyes stared into my soul. I couldn’t walk away even though my wolf was adamant we do just that.

Come. The word tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it.

There was no time to think it through. No time to regret my decision. My wolf was furious and retreated to my innermost consciousness.

Thank you. Relief rang in his words.

I turned to lead them through the forest. A bird called, warning of danger. The sound echoed in my ears, high and shrill. My heart thumped wildly. What was I doing? Helping humans? I shook away the doubts crowding my mind.

Too late to go back now.

McKenzie

They caught another one.

I closed my book and turned at the sound of Kohl’s voice. It was a measured tone, one that he was an expert at. No hint of emotion or opinion of how I should respond. The perfect right hand of the queen.

Human? I asked.

Candlelight reflected in his gaze. His hazel eyes swept over me, the desire he so fervently tried to hide, rising to the surface. I pretended not to notice.

No. Werewolf this time.

My eyebrow arched. One of their own wolves?

The fire in his gaze died. It was back to business now. No, I don’t believe so, My Queen—

You don’t have to use that title, Kohl. Not when it’s just us.

But—

Please.

He gave me a solemn nod. He, of all people, knew how I felt about hearing that word. A title meant for my sister. Not me. It was never supposed to be me.

I pushed away the thought and sighed. Not one of their own wolves?

No. A lone wolf. New to the city.

What is he doing killing a stray wolf?

Kohl shrugged. Boredom? Because he’s a psycho? Who knows what motivates Diego.

My lip curled. First humans and now he was going after other wolves? Would my witches be next? Diego was getting bolder.

He knows I won’t let him kill any more people like this. What is this? A test?

Maybe?

I scoffed. Just what I need right now. You ready then?

He straightened. I bit back a smile at my best friend. He was nothing if not professional. Neat, cropped, blonde hair and freshly shaven face. His shoulders were squared, and his stoic stare reminded me of his prim and proper father. Even before the curse, Kohl had been much too serious. An old soul trapped in an eighteen-year-old body.

I stood and smoothed out the wrinkles of my long, red dress. One of the few perks of being queen was the glitzy fashion no one could judge me for now. Alright. Let’s go.

Kohl nodded and waited for my lead.

Pulling my strappy, metallic gold sandals back on, I stood and headed for the stairs. Candles burned, creating shadows against the walls.

Five witches waited on the landing. They bowed and took their place behind me. Kohl had readied them.

Our footsteps echoed through the mansion as we descended together. Though the old building was full of all the surviving witches, it felt empty to me. Death lingered in the halls and every day we were reminded of those we’d lost.

At the bottom, the rest of the coven dispersed, making way for us.

Most of them bowed. Some of them didn’t.

I glanced at Kohl and he nodded. He was already making note of the latter. At eighteen, I was the youngest witch queen Savannah had ever seen. If they didn’t want me, well that was too damn bad because I was all they had.

All we had.

Melody was supposed to be queen. She was the one groomed for it, but instead I was forced to take my sister’s place. To become something I never wanted.

The face of the previous queen, Blanca, flashed in my mind. Her haunted eyes, pallid skin, and chattering teeth. Even at the final moment, as the curse took her, she was chanting—casting with every last scrap of magic and energy she had left.

It wasn’t enough. She—and all the witches before us—failed to undo their spell, leaving us to pick up where they left, but the damage was done. We were all cursed, and we couldn’t bring back our dead. Mama, Daddy, my sisters, and so many, many others.

As I led my warriors through the giant entry way, I met all the vacant stares. My coven sisters and brothers who’d lost just as much as I had. As a whole, we were weak, vulnerable almost, but I would not let us fall.

Oaktree Square? I asked Kohl.

Yes, My Queen. Do you want to take the bikes? He glanced at my dress. Or the car?

No. We can walk.

There were only so many old vehicles that still ran without technology and siphoning the gas was time consuming. Besides, the square wasn’t too far.

Drawing in a deep breath, I summoned the magic. It came at my call, showering me and filling me with its burning intensity. My body trembled at its intrusion. I emptied myself and let it take what it wanted, as painful as it was.

The others did the same. I felt the power grow and strengthen between us. Together, we could do the impossible. Together, we could force the wolves into submission. But for how long? I dismissed the nagging thought. Tonight, we would win and that would be enough… for now.

I led them to the square, barely aware of the warm, summer air on my skin. Campfires burned all around the city, filling my nose with the smoky smell. The moon was high and the night perfect for spells. Nature was on our side, I could feel it.

Teens crowded the cobbled streets. The werewolves. The vampires who technically weren’t teens anymore, but their bodies had been turned before adulthood, marking them forever free of the curse. Rogue witches who wanted nothing to do with the coven. And the humans who, practically overnight, had become the weakest race. Some wore slave collars as they stood by their vampire masters.

I fought the urge to shudder at the cruelness. It was payback for all the shootings and violence they’d unleashed on the city when all the adults and children were taken by the spell, but not all the humans were responsible. They didn’t deserve this treatment.

Everyone, human, vampire, and werewolf alike glared daggers at us. We were, after all, the reason the world had gone to hell.

At the center of it all, against the stone tablet that not so many years ago, my teacher had brought us to see on a field trip, hung a boy—a wolf.

Beside him, looming over everyone, was Diego Garcia, the alpha of the Red Wolves, and the most powerful teen in the city. Well, after me.

His dark eyes met mine and a slow smile crept on his face. Your Majesty. He gave an exaggerated bow. His long hair fell forward.

Laughter rang out at his mocking.

Magic thrummed inside me, heady and explosive. I could feel it pushing against my skin and seeping from my pores.

I was strength. I was power. I was queen.

Well, isn’t this a treat? Come to see the show? His hand swept the crowd. Ladies and gentlemen, Queen McKenzie. In the flesh. Leaving her tower to come mingle with us commoners.

His face hardened. Us monsters.

The mob jeered. Snarls and shouts filled the air. I could almost taste the blood they so hungrily wanted to spill. Flashlights darted back and forth, and someone had lit a fire in the middle of the park behind us. It was like a scene from some bizarre horror movie. This wasn’t the Savannah I remembered.

A pair of brown eyes flecked with gold found mine. The wolf.

Not just any either. Alpha, the magic whispered inside me. What brought him into our territory? Where was his pack?

Bruises and gashes covered his dark-brown skin, but his face was stone, his lip curled in defiance. No sign of pain or weakness. Inside, I felt his inner wolf tremble. Not with fear, no.

It was rage.

A silent fury building inside of him as Diego taunted me. Anger not directed at his captor, but at me.

Queen of the witches. Queen of the curse.

2

Valeria

Ten. Ten more steps and we’d be at the line. It was too late to change my mind now. My pack would smell the blood soon, and then they would come. Jay and Tati—my betas—first. My throat turned dry, words already deserting me. My subconscious turned traitor.

How are you gonna explain this one, Val? You’re too weak. Pathetic. Too human. No wonder he left you.

I pushed the thoughts away, refusing to get swept under the tidal wave of regret. My wolf was still making herself scarce; the reminder blunt—you are alone.

I’m Drew. Sorry, we didn’t introduce ourselves earlier.

The human’s voice caught my ear.

He carried the injured girl in his arms, the cloth he’d tied around her waist already soaked with blood.

That’s my sister, Becca. We’re twins. And this—his eyes dipped to the dying teen—is Jen. Our friend. She was our neighbor before…

He didn’t finish. I knew what he meant. Before the spell went wrong and took everyone except us. Us teenagers. Before the world went to hell.

What’s your—

I threw up my hand to silence him. We were at the line now. Where were my guards?

Laughter echoed from ahead, making my face flame. Clearly my pack needed a refresher in appropriate protocol for keeping watch. They’d grown too comfortable out here in the woods. Too careless.

This is a mistake, Drew. We never should have left the others, his twin whispered.

The laughter stopped. I drew myself up and squared my shoulders.

You are still alpha. They have to obey you, even if they don’t like it, my wolf encouraged me.

Put your gun away. I motioned to Becca.

She met my gaze but didn’t budge.

I promise my pack won’t hurt you. You have my word.

She scoffed. I’d rather not take any chances.

My wolf resurfaced, indignant that this human dared defy us.

Becca. Her brother’s eyes narrowed in warning.

Alpha? Jay’s voice cut in.

I turned to face my beta and his mate. They gaped at us and behind them the rest of the pack crept closer, their whispers carried by the warm breeze.

Humans?

Here? What are they doing here?

Some had already shifted, their wolves ready to handle this new threat. Becca stiffened at the first growl, but her hands were steady, finger on the trigger.

Jay’s face hardened. His wolf was waiting for my command.

Stand down. They’re with me.

Surprise flashed on my beta’s faces and murmurs erupted. Jay’s eyes shot to mine and though he said nothing, I could read the question burning inside him, burning inside everyone—what are you doing, Val?

I wish I knew.

The injured girl whimpered, the sound soft and pitiful. I winced. Some of my wolves would mark her as prey. I glanced at her. Her eyes were wide with pain. She looked young, couldn’t be much older than Jaime. The face of my brother flashed in my mind, making my heart twist. How could I send this girl away? After all we’d lost—our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers we couldn’t save—how could we allow death to take one more life?

I turned to Jay. Take her to Cruz. Now. The girl needs a healer. I glanced at Tati. Go tell him.

She nodded and ran for the healer’s tent while Jay reached for Jen. Becca swung her gun at him, making him pause. His eyes flashed silver—the signal his wolf was about to emerge.

Jumping between them, I yanked the weapon from her grasp. She was strong. For a human. Stupid too, to point her gun at the giant beta.

You want our help? You’ll listen to me. I let my wolf’s anger lace my words.

Her eyes were murderous, but she said nothing.

Please. We don’t want trouble. Just help our friend, Drew spoke up.

The girl was past saving, but I’d given my word. I nodded for Jay to lead them to Cruz. The other wolves stood, watching the scene with unabashed curiosity and suspicion. Humans were dangerous. Unpredictable. There was a reason Elijah and I moved the pack farther from the city and the human mobs.

I pushed away the memory of the attack they’d launched on us in our old neighborhood. The violence and blood. Murder. Elijah’s revenge on them.

His face flickered in my mind once more. The dark, gold-flecked eyes that always saw too much and his sly smile. I pushed away the image. It was hard to forget him, but impossible to forgive his abandonment. Even if it had been to hunt his sister’s killer. The path he’d chosen wasn’t one I could follow.

Dismissing the thoughts, I turned to give my orders. Cameron and Spencer. Back to your posts. Now. Red wolves are in the area. I want four more guards posted. Who’s posted at the edge of the woods?

Jay and Tati exchanged glances.

Who? I insisted.

No one, Alpha. We—I thought it was unnecessary.

Tati shifted nervously beside her mate.

My wolf growled at Jay’s admission. He thought it was unnecessary?

I glared at hm. That isn’t your decision to make. Help them bring the girl to Cruz and then you can take first watch.

He nodded. Yes, Alpha.

The others hurried to obey, but the fact they’d broken protocol still made me seethe. When the humans were gone, I’d have a little chat with them.

They need their alpha, my wolf spoke.

I am their alpha.

She fell silent, wisely reading my mood.

I followed the humans and Jay farther into our camp and to the healer’s tent. Becca’s head swiveled as she took in our layout and my heart skipped. Did I make a mistake? Were they really spies sent out under this guise?

My fist clenched. They wouldn’t be leaving until I got some answers.

We reached the large, green and brown tent in no time. Cruz and Tati stood outside waiting for us.

Tati ran to her mate’s side, his giant, dark frame dwarfing her. Cruz lowered his gaze in respect to me and glanced at the others.

Thank you, Jaylen. Tatiana. He nodded at my betas.

His blue eyes darted to Becca and her twin. Set her on the blankets.

They strode forward and disappeared inside. I moved to follow them.

Val—Alpha.

I stopped at Jay’s address and turned to face him.

How long are they staying? His huge arms hung by his side, but my wolf could sense the tension running through him.

Until I decide they can go.

His lip curled, but he didn’t question me. Tati shuffled on her feet beside him, flipping her long hair behind a shoulder.

Alpha, Cruz spoke.

I met his serious gaze.

He shook his head. That girl. I can’t save her.

I know. Just… do your best. I mentally kicked myself at the words. Do your best?

If she dies. What happens to the others? They’ll be mad. Blame us. What if they want revenge? What are we going to do? Jay’s voice rose.

I shot him a cool look. You’ll do what I tell you to do, Jay.

He stiffened. Yes, Alpha.

Go to your post. And send out a scout. The Red Wolves could be close. Or vampires. I thought about the girl’s injuries. Damage done not just by werewolves.

Jay nodded and Tati swore, trailing her mate back to the perimeter. I turned and followed Cruz into the tent. My heart pounded in my ears, the sound echoing Jay’s questions as well as my own.

What were the humans really doing here? What was happening in the city? Was Elijah okay?

The smell of death filled my nose as I entered. My wolf didn’t like it. Not one bit. Ignoring my instincts to tuck tail and