| Fantasy Fiction posted July 31, 2017 | Chapters: |
...16 17 -18- 19... 
|
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Unleashed Chaos/A Novel of the Breedline series
A chapter in the book Unleashed Chaos
His Secret
by scongrove
Previously...
As Dr. Helen Carrington searches for the cure to the Breedline aging process, she introduces her assistant Lila Demont to the Covenant’s head council, Tim Ross. While Helen and Tim have a private conversation, Lila accidently bumps into her future Breedline mate, Casey Barton.
Continued...
Looking up from the microscope, Helen called out, “Lila, I think I found it!”
Lila faced her with wide eyes. “Are you serious?”
Pulling her glasses from her face, Helen smiled ear to ear. “Yes,” she replied, nodding her head. “The cells stayed attached this time. I think we finally did it. We found the answer to the Breedline aging process. All we need to do now is test it.”
Lila’s lips cracked a smile. “That’s wonderful, Helen!” She reached out and wrapped her arms around Helen in a brief hug.
Helen’s eyes were wide with excitement. “Do you know what this means for our species?”
Before Lila opened her mouth to speak, Helen’s cell phone buzzed. When she retrieved it from the pocket of her white coat, it was a call coming from the hospital.
“This is Dr. Carrington,” she answered.
“We’ve got a trauma case, Dr. Carrington,” a nurse’s voice stated on the other end. “Male in his thirties with a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr. Allman has him stabilized, but he insisted you come in, or do you want me to call Dr. Eaves?”
“No, I’ll be there. Tell Dr. Allman I’m on my way.”
“Yes, Dr. Carrington.”
When the call ended, she looked at Lila. “I’ve got to head to the hospital. You okay to stay here?”
“Sure.” Lila nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
When Helen left the room, she hurried down the hall and into the foyer. Before reached the for door that exited the Covenant, she stopped and looked into a mirror hanging on the wall. Helen’s reflection was crystal-clear in the glass, from her white doctor’s coat to her Mahogany hair that was pulled up into a tight bun. Briefly staring at her face, thoughts came to mind of what she’d just discovered minutes ago. If her breakthrough were successful, she wouldn’t have to worry about any more wrinkles or gray hairs. Her age would permanently freeze in time.
****
Reaching into her satchel, Lila pulled out her phone and the notepad with Casey’s number on it. After she punched in the numbers and waited for an answer, all she could think about was him.
“Hello?”
The sound of his voice in her ear spread warmth throughout her body. “Casey?” she said after a moment.
“Hi, Lila,” he murmured, easing back against the headboard of his bed.
As Casey’s voice came through the phone, Lila sat up straight in her chair. His voice was sexy. Deep with a little sultry added, like a male’s should be. “H-hi,” she said bashfully.
In the silence that followed, she thought, and she had called him why? Oh, right. “I’m calling to see if you would like to talk?” she nervously asked. “I’m still in the Covenant’s exam room. Helen had an emergency at the hospital, and I rode with her... so?”
“Hmmm,” he said in amusement, smiling on the other end, and she felt the purr in his voice. “Sure, why not,” he said eagerly. “I’m upstairs in my room. I’ll meet you downstairs in the foyer.”
While he waited for her response, he had to shift the fly of his jeans due to the instant arousal he’d got just hearing her voice.
“Okay, meet you there,” she said smiling into the phone, excited by his enthusiasm.
****
The California Bates Hospital was state-of-the-art, thanks to the previously added emergency unit. The eleven story complex services included twenty-four-hour emergency care, women and infant services, cardiovascular care, behavioral health, orthopedics, and cancer diagnosis along with treatment.
When Helen arrived in the emergency unit, she reviewed the chart of the male patient with the gunshot wound. Five minutes later, the double doors swung open, and a nurse rushed in. “Dr. Carrington, we need you in surgery. The gunshot victim went into cardiac arrest. We got a rhythm back, but his blood pressure is sixty over forty and falling.”
Helen cursed under her breath. “Let’s get a blood type run, and I want his chest x-rays right away. Get an ultrasound of his heart—“
A scream ripped through the OR, catching Helen’s attention. Running down the hall with the nurse and other staff close behind, they entered the room. A nurse who’d been assisting the patient was flat up against the wall with a look of panic on her face, and Dr. Allman was lying on the floor unconscious. For a split second, everyone froze. The patient lying on the operating table was glowing.
Helen snapped into action and called out commands. Everyone refocused as the nurse in shock stuttered, “Dr. Allman just touched the patient… and collapsed.”
Kneeling down, Helen checked the physician lying on the floor. “He’s breathing,” she reassured, her voice sounding relieved. “I need him off the floor and out of here.”
Within seconds, paramedics were in the room with a gurney. After the doctor had been taken out, Helen looked over the patient’s x-rays. She frowned, leaning closer to the screen. It revealed exactly what she suspected: His tissue was healing, and no major internal organs appeared to be affected.
Helen approached the bed where the patient was hooked up to the anesthesia machines. With his chest prepped for surgery, the regions around it draped in surgical cloth. The Betadine solution made him look like he had an orange tan underneath all the glimmering light that surrounded his entire body. Looking closer, she saw the wound on his chest had already closed. What?
One of the medics that assisted with Dr. Allman stuck his head in the room. “Dr. Carrington?”
Looking away from the patient, Helen said, “How’s Dr. Allman doing?”
“He’s coming around,” the medic confirmed. “It appears he just passed out.”
“Well, I don’t blame him,” Helen muttered, shaking her head. “It’s not every day your patient starts glowing. But according to the x-rays, there’s no internal damage. He appears to be stable, other than...” Helen shrugged as she looked at the patient speechless.
****
When Lila made it to the foyer, Casey had just stepped down from the staircase and stopped when he saw her. When he lifted his hand to wave at her, she blushed and waved back.
As Casey approached, Lila watched as he moved with a smooth stride. He wore a black turtleneck that was clearly cashmere and a pair of designer jeans. In his expensive clothes, Casey was like something off the cover of a magazine. He looked glamorous, seductive, and out of her league.
Lila felt nervous. Seeing him again created an instant reaction. Her hands shook, and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. It wasn’t she thought she was beneath him, Lila had just never had this kind of reaction from any other guy she’d met.
“Would you like something to eat?” he asked.
Staring into his eyes, they were the colors of light gray, mixed with sparkling, lavender specks. What an odd color, Lila said to herself, lost in thought.
When she didn’t answer, he said, “Lila?”
She flinched. “Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, focused on Casey’s mesmerizing eyes. “What did you say?”
He smiled. “Are you hungry?”
“Uh, sure... I could eat.” Geez, she thought. I’ve got to stop this endless blushing every time he speaks. But he seemed delighted with her shyness, his smile as gentle as his words.
“We have leftovers from last night. Do you like roast beef? I can make us a roast beef sandwich?”
“That sounds delicious.”
As Casey took her hand and led her to the kitchen, it reminded him of the type of family Lila had. She was born into an ordinary Breedline household, with a prestigious bloodline. He, on the other hand, was not born a full-blooded Breedline. Before his eighteenth birthday, and his first change into the Breedline wolf, his parents told him the truth. He was adopted. Instead of being born a full-blooded Breedline, he was a Theriomorph—a species with the ability to shape-shift into a panther. Not to mention, he’d also been born with other odd gifts. He had visions of the future and the power of manipulation. Having the skills to control the minds of others was a threat to the Breedline species. Using the drug dopamine was the only way to suppress that side of him he desperately hated. His parents swore to keep his secret from the Covenant in fear of discrimination and rejection.
Lately, he’d been having some terrible visions of Tessa, their Breedline Queen. The situation put him in a predicament. Casey had to decide if he was going to act on his premonitions, which would give away his secret identity, or just let destiny take hold. Why bother upsetting everyone? he thought. No matter what he said, he couldn’t change the future.
Nonetheless, he had no business dating Lila... none at all. If her family found out, they wouldn’t accept what he was. They would see him as an outcast. Not a pure Breedline worthy of their daughter.
He’d never revealed his secret to anyone else in the Covenant. Now that his mother was gone, his father was the only one that knew what he truly was. Casey felt the ache in his chest and knew it for what it was: Regret.
Outside the kitchen door, Casey stepped ahead and held it open for Lila. Before she sat down, he pulled out a chair for her and asked, “What would you like on your sandwich?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I’m not picky. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
He clapped his hands together and said, “Two roast beef sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo coming up.”
Sitting in silence, surrounded by the sounds of Casey digging around in the refrigerator, Lila stroked a napkin with her forefinger, feeling a hunger of desire inside her heart. Deep down she knew what they’d experienced earlier. It was the Breedline bonding.
After Casey had prepared their sandwiches, he glanced back at the table. When he looked at Lila, she seemed lost in thought as she fiddled with her napkin.
As he came over with their plates, she turned in his direction, and all she could do was gawk at him with a girlish smile.
“You know,” he said as he set the plates on the table and sat down across from her, “I like the way you look at me.”
She put her hands over her face. “I’m sorry.” She giggled. “Is it that noticeable?”
He held his hand up. “Don’t apologize.” He winked. “I’m not complaining.”
She tried to get a grip, but there was no way to control her emotions as her cheeks flushed again.
“Shall we?” Casey said, picking up his sandwich. He waited until she took her first bite and then said, “How is it?”
He patiently waited for her to swallow, knowing she was raised with manners and would probably never talk with her mouth full.
She wiped her mouth. “It tastes fantastic. Thank you, Casey.”
Casey grinned at her response, but beneath the surface of him, she sensed he was stressed, and the anxiety came out in the shadows under his eyes and the tense set of his jaw. Apparently, Casey was making an effort to be normal for her benefit, and though she appreciated it, she wondered what was bothering him. She wanted to find out everything about him but didn’t know how to ask without putting pressure on him.
They were still strangers to one another even though they’d obviously bonded. Did she have the right to ask him anything personal? She wondered about his family and his bloodline. In spite of the fact that they’d just met, Lila felt as though she knew all she needed to, but realistically speaking, what did they share in common?
As she stroked the napkin, Lila’s mind was miles away, and though she wasn’t much of a talker, she found herself speaking because she simply couldn’t keep it all in anymore. Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced up at him in question. “Earlier… we bonded, didn’t we?”
His lavender eyes shifted over, staring at her with dead seriousness. “Yes, Lila,” he murmured, placing his hand on hers. “We did.”
She smiled, and he gave her hand a light squeeze. A delicate shiver danced over her skin when she felt his soothing gesture. Something as simple as the slight touch of his hand and Lila was shaking with need.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked.
“We could... kiss.”
Lila’s jaw dropped, flushing from head to toe. Given the way those captivating eyes of his were looking at her, she was willing to let him do anything right at this moment. “O-okay,” she breathed.
Casey slid out of his chair and moved to the one next to her. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her quick and soft. When Casey pulled from their embrace, he had a slight smile on his lips. “You’re beautiful, Lila,“ he whispered.
As she stared into his spectacular eyes, Lila knew she was falling in love with him, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. The Breedline bond was real.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you... for the kiss.”
Lila sighed, her body feeling limp and useless in his presence. He seemed fragile as he spoke to her, his words so honest and humble.
“Casey...?”
He took her hand and lightly squeezed. “Yes?”
She sighed and said, “I want to know everything about you.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “Tell me about your family. Do they live close by?”
Darkness shadowed Casey’s face, tightening his mouth and drawing his brows together. “My mother died recently...” he said painfully, “and my father lives close by.”
Hearing the sadness in his voice, she frowned and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I—“
“No, it’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“Does your twin live here?” she asked.
His expression was of sorrow, even though he tried to mask it with a smile. It was evident he didn’t want to talk about his family, and she knew better than to press further.
“I’m sorry, Casey. I don’t mean to press if you don’t feel like talking about your family.”
“It’s fine,” he quickly replied. “It’s not as if... you can’t ask...”
As his words stumbled into each other, Casey felt panicked. Sure, Lila could ask... he just couldn’t tell her everything. Or maybe he should.
“I don’t know. I was adopted,” Casey said, sticking with as much truth as he could reveal. “Tim is my uncle... my Dad’s twin brother.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh... I didn’t know. Are you close to your uncle?”
Casey reached up and swept his long hair back. “Yeah,” he said smiling. “I guess you could say we are. He’s treated my father and me great since—“
Lila’s face softened, realizing what he was about to say. “I would like to introduce you to my parents,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “Are you free this weekend?”
He was speechless, staring at her face for a long time. He couldn’t say no. Just didn’t have the strength to turn her invitation down. It was wrong to get involved with Lila, but she was everything he wanted. He was very wrong for her, and he knew it. Then his mouth opened, and all he managed out was, “Okay.”
To be continued...
Previously...
As Dr. Helen Carrington searches for the cure to the Breedline aging process, she introduces her assistant Lila Demont to the Covenant’s head council, Tim Ross. While Helen and Tim have a private conversation, Lila accidently bumps into her future Breedline mate, Casey Barton.
Continued...
Looking up from the microscope, Helen called out, “Lila, I think I found it!”
Lila faced her with wide eyes. “Are you serious?”
Pulling her glasses from her face, Helen smiled ear to ear. “Yes,” she replied, nodding her head. “The cells stayed attached this time. I think we finally did it. We found the answer to the Breedline aging process. All we need to do now is test it.”
Lila’s lips cracked a smile. “That’s wonderful, Helen!” She reached out and wrapped her arms around Helen in a brief hug.
Helen’s eyes were wide with excitement. “Do you know what this means for our species?”
Before Lila opened her mouth to speak, Helen’s cell phone buzzed. When she retrieved it from the pocket of her white coat, it was a call coming from the hospital.
“This is Dr. Carrington,” she answered.
“We’ve got a trauma case, Dr. Carrington,” a nurse’s voice stated on the other end. “Male in his thirties with a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr. Allman has him stabilized, but he insisted you come in, or do you want me to call Dr. Eaves?”
“No, I’ll be there. Tell Dr. Allman I’m on my way.”
“Yes, Dr. Carrington.”
When the call ended, she looked at Lila. “I’ve got to head to the hospital. You okay to stay here?”
“Sure.” Lila nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
When Helen left the room, she hurried down the hall and into the foyer. Before reached the for door that exited the Covenant, she stopped and looked into a mirror hanging on the wall. Helen’s reflection was crystal-clear in the glass, from her white doctor’s coat to her Mahogany hair that was pulled up into a tight bun. Briefly staring at her face, thoughts came to mind of what she’d just discovered minutes ago. If her breakthrough were successful, she wouldn’t have to worry about any more wrinkles or gray hairs. Her age would permanently freeze in time.
****
Reaching into her satchel, Lila pulled out her phone and the notepad with Casey’s number on it. After she punched in the numbers and waited for an answer, all she could think about was him.
“Hello?”
The sound of his voice in her ear spread warmth throughout her body. “Casey?” she said after a moment.
“Hi, Lila,” he murmured, easing back against the headboard of his bed.
As Casey’s voice came through the phone, Lila sat up straight in her chair. His voice was sexy. Deep with a little sultry added, like a male’s should be. “H-hi,” she said bashfully.
In the silence that followed, she thought, and she had called him why? Oh, right. “I’m calling to see if you would like to talk?” she nervously asked. “I’m still in the Covenant’s exam room. Helen had an emergency at the hospital, and I rode with her... so?”
“Hmmm,” he said in amusement, smiling on the other end, and she felt the purr in his voice. “Sure, why not,” he said eagerly. “I’m upstairs in my room. I’ll meet you downstairs in the foyer.”
While he waited for her response, he had to shift the fly of his jeans due to the instant arousal he’d got just hearing her voice.
“Okay, meet you there,” she said smiling into the phone, excited by his enthusiasm.
****
The California Bates Hospital was state-of-the-art, thanks to the previously added emergency unit. The eleven story complex services included twenty-four-hour emergency care, women and infant services, cardiovascular care, behavioral health, orthopedics, and cancer diagnosis along with treatment.
When Helen arrived in the emergency unit, she reviewed the chart of the male patient with the gunshot wound. Five minutes later, the double doors swung open, and a nurse rushed in. “Dr. Carrington, we need you in surgery. The gunshot victim went into cardiac arrest. We got a rhythm back, but his blood pressure is sixty over forty and falling.”
Helen cursed under her breath. “Let’s get a blood type run, and I want his chest x-rays right away. Get an ultrasound of his heart—“
A scream ripped through the OR, catching Helen’s attention. Running down the hall with the nurse and other staff close behind, they entered the room. A nurse who’d been assisting the patient was flat up against the wall with a look of panic on her face, and Dr. Allman was lying on the floor unconscious. For a split second, everyone froze. The patient lying on the operating table was glowing.
Helen snapped into action and called out commands. Everyone refocused as the nurse in shock stuttered, “Dr. Allman just touched the patient… and collapsed.”
Kneeling down, Helen checked the physician lying on the floor. “He’s breathing,” she reassured, her voice sounding relieved. “I need him off the floor and out of here.”
Within seconds, paramedics were in the room with a gurney. After the doctor had been taken out, Helen looked over the patient’s x-rays. She frowned, leaning closer to the screen. It revealed exactly what she suspected: His tissue was healing, and no major internal organs appeared to be affected.
Helen approached the bed where the patient was hooked up to the anesthesia machines. With his chest prepped for surgery, the regions around it draped in surgical cloth. The Betadine solution made him look like he had an orange tan underneath all the glimmering light that surrounded his entire body. Looking closer, she saw the wound on his chest had already closed. What?
One of the medics that assisted with Dr. Allman stuck his head in the room. “Dr. Carrington?”
Looking away from the patient, Helen said, “How’s Dr. Allman doing?”
“He’s coming around,” the medic confirmed. “It appears he just passed out.”
“Well, I don’t blame him,” Helen muttered, shaking her head. “It’s not every day your patient starts glowing. But according to the x-rays, there’s no internal damage. He appears to be stable, other than...” Helen shrugged as she looked at the patient speechless.
****
When Lila made it to the foyer, Casey had just stepped down from the staircase and stopped when he saw her. When he lifted his hand to wave at her, she blushed and waved back.
As Casey approached, Lila watched as he moved with a smooth stride. He wore a black turtleneck that was clearly cashmere and a pair of designer jeans. In his expensive clothes, Casey was like something off the cover of a magazine. He looked glamorous, seductive, and out of her league.
Lila felt nervous. Seeing him again created an instant reaction. Her hands shook, and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. It wasn’t she thought she was beneath him, Lila had just never had this kind of reaction from any other guy she’d met.
“Would you like something to eat?” he asked.
Staring into his eyes, they were the colors of light gray, mixed with sparkling, lavender specks. What an odd color, Lila said to herself, lost in thought.
When she didn’t answer, he said, “Lila?”
She flinched. “Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, focused on Casey’s mesmerizing eyes. “What did you say?”
He smiled. “Are you hungry?”
“Uh, sure... I could eat.” Geez, she thought. I’ve got to stop this endless blushing every time he speaks. But he seemed delighted with her shyness, his smile as gentle as his words.
“We have leftovers from last night. Do you like roast beef? I can make us a roast beef sandwich?”
“That sounds delicious.”
As Casey took her hand and led her to the kitchen, it reminded him of the type of family Lila had. She was born into an ordinary Breedline household, with a prestigious bloodline. He, on the other hand, was not born a full-blooded Breedline. Before his eighteenth birthday, and his first change into the Breedline wolf, his parents told him the truth. He was adopted. Instead of being born a full-blooded Breedline, he was a Theriomorph—a species with the ability to shape-shift into a panther. Not to mention, he’d also been born with other odd gifts. He had visions of the future and the power of manipulation. Having the skills to control the minds of others was a threat to the Breedline species. Using the drug dopamine was the only way to suppress that side of him he desperately hated. His parents swore to keep his secret from the Covenant in fear of discrimination and rejection.
Lately, he’d been having some terrible visions of Tessa, their Breedline Queen. The situation put him in a predicament. Casey had to decide if he was going to act on his premonitions, which would give away his secret identity, or just let destiny take hold. Why bother upsetting everyone? he thought. No matter what he said, he couldn’t change the future.
Nonetheless, he had no business dating Lila... none at all. If her family found out, they wouldn’t accept what he was. They would see him as an outcast. Not a pure Breedline worthy of their daughter.
He’d never revealed his secret to anyone else in the Covenant. Now that his mother was gone, his father was the only one that knew what he truly was. Casey felt the ache in his chest and knew it for what it was: Regret.
Outside the kitchen door, Casey stepped ahead and held it open for Lila. Before she sat down, he pulled out a chair for her and asked, “What would you like on your sandwich?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I’m not picky. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
He clapped his hands together and said, “Two roast beef sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo coming up.”
Sitting in silence, surrounded by the sounds of Casey digging around in the refrigerator, Lila stroked a napkin with her forefinger, feeling a hunger of desire inside her heart. Deep down she knew what they’d experienced earlier. It was the Breedline bonding.
After Casey had prepared their sandwiches, he glanced back at the table. When he looked at Lila, she seemed lost in thought as she fiddled with her napkin.
As he came over with their plates, she turned in his direction, and all she could do was gawk at him with a girlish smile.
“You know,” he said as he set the plates on the table and sat down across from her, “I like the way you look at me.”
She put her hands over her face. “I’m sorry.” She giggled. “Is it that noticeable?”
He held his hand up. “Don’t apologize.” He winked. “I’m not complaining.”
She tried to get a grip, but there was no way to control her emotions as her cheeks flushed again.
“Shall we?” Casey said, picking up his sandwich. He waited until she took her first bite and then said, “How is it?”
He patiently waited for her to swallow, knowing she was raised with manners and would probably never talk with her mouth full.
She wiped her mouth. “It tastes fantastic. Thank you, Casey.”
Casey grinned at her response, but beneath the surface of him, she sensed he was stressed, and the anxiety came out in the shadows under his eyes and the tense set of his jaw. Apparently, Casey was making an effort to be normal for her benefit, and though she appreciated it, she wondered what was bothering him. She wanted to find out everything about him but didn’t know how to ask without putting pressure on him.
They were still strangers to one another even though they’d obviously bonded. Did she have the right to ask him anything personal? She wondered about his family and his bloodline. In spite of the fact that they’d just met, Lila felt as though she knew all she needed to, but realistically speaking, what did they share in common?
As she stroked the napkin, Lila’s mind was miles away, and though she wasn’t much of a talker, she found herself speaking because she simply couldn’t keep it all in anymore. Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced up at him in question. “Earlier… we bonded, didn’t we?”
His lavender eyes shifted over, staring at her with dead seriousness. “Yes, Lila,” he murmured, placing his hand on hers. “We did.”
She smiled, and he gave her hand a light squeeze. A delicate shiver danced over her skin when she felt his soothing gesture. Something as simple as the slight touch of his hand and Lila was shaking with need.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked.
“We could... kiss.”
Lila’s jaw dropped, flushing from head to toe. Given the way those captivating eyes of his were looking at her, she was willing to let him do anything right at this moment. “O-okay,” she breathed.
Casey slid out of his chair and moved to the one next to her. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her quick and soft. When Casey pulled from their embrace, he had a slight smile on his lips. “You’re beautiful, Lila,“ he whispered.
As she stared into his spectacular eyes, Lila knew she was falling in love with him, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. The Breedline bond was real.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you... for the kiss.”
Lila sighed, her body feeling limp and useless in his presence. He seemed fragile as he spoke to her, his words so honest and humble.
“Casey...?”
He took her hand and lightly squeezed. “Yes?”
She sighed and said, “I want to know everything about you.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “Tell me about your family. Do they live close by?”
Darkness shadowed Casey’s face, tightening his mouth and drawing his brows together. “My mother died recently...” he said painfully, “and my father lives close by.”
Hearing the sadness in his voice, she frowned and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I—“
“No, it’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“Does your twin live here?” she asked.
His expression was of sorrow, even though he tried to mask it with a smile. It was evident he didn’t want to talk about his family, and she knew better than to press further.
“I’m sorry, Casey. I don’t mean to press if you don’t feel like talking about your family.”
“It’s fine,” he quickly replied. “It’s not as if... you can’t ask...”
As his words stumbled into each other, Casey felt panicked. Sure, Lila could ask... he just couldn’t tell her everything. Or maybe he should.
“I don’t know. I was adopted,” Casey said, sticking with as much truth as he could reveal. “Tim is my uncle... my Dad’s twin brother.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh... I didn’t know. Are you close to your uncle?”
Casey reached up and swept his long hair back. “Yeah,” he said smiling. “I guess you could say we are. He’s treated my father and me great since—“
Lila’s face softened, realizing what he was about to say. “I would like to introduce you to my parents,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “Are you free this weekend?”
He was speechless, staring at her face for a long time. He couldn’t say no. Just didn’t have the strength to turn her invitation down. It was wrong to get involved with Lila, but she was everything he wanted. He was very wrong for her, and he knew it. Then his mouth opened, and all he managed out was, “Okay.”
To be continued...
As Dr. Helen Carrington searches for the cure to the Breedline aging process, she introduces her assistant Lila Demont to the Covenant’s head council, Tim Ross. While Helen and Tim have a private conversation, Lila accidently bumps into her future Breedline mate, Casey Barton.
Continued...
Looking up from the microscope, Helen called out, “Lila, I think I found it!”
Lila faced her with wide eyes. “Are you serious?”
Pulling her glasses from her face, Helen smiled ear to ear. “Yes,” she replied, nodding her head. “The cells stayed attached this time. I think we finally did it. We found the answer to the Breedline aging process. All we need to do now is test it.”
Lila’s lips cracked a smile. “That’s wonderful, Helen!” She reached out and wrapped her arms around Helen in a brief hug.
Helen’s eyes were wide with excitement. “Do you know what this means for our species?”
Before Lila opened her mouth to speak, Helen’s cell phone buzzed. When she retrieved it from the pocket of her white coat, it was a call coming from the hospital.
“This is Dr. Carrington,” she answered.
“We’ve got a trauma case, Dr. Carrington,” a nurse’s voice stated on the other end. “Male in his thirties with a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr. Allman has him stabilized, but he insisted you come in, or do you want me to call Dr. Eaves?”
“No, I’ll be there. Tell Dr. Allman I’m on my way.”
“Yes, Dr. Carrington.”
When the call ended, she looked at Lila. “I’ve got to head to the hospital. You okay to stay here?”
“Sure.” Lila nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
When Helen left the room, she hurried down the hall and into the foyer. Before reached the for door that exited the Covenant, she stopped and looked into a mirror hanging on the wall. Helen’s reflection was crystal-clear in the glass, from her white doctor’s coat to her Mahogany hair that was pulled up into a tight bun. Briefly staring at her face, thoughts came to mind of what she’d just discovered minutes ago. If her breakthrough were successful, she wouldn’t have to worry about any more wrinkles or gray hairs. Her age would permanently freeze in time.
****
Reaching into her satchel, Lila pulled out her phone and the notepad with Casey’s number on it. After she punched in the numbers and waited for an answer, all she could think about was him.
“Hello?”
The sound of his voice in her ear spread warmth throughout her body. “Casey?” she said after a moment.
“Hi, Lila,” he murmured, easing back against the headboard of his bed.
As Casey’s voice came through the phone, Lila sat up straight in her chair. His voice was sexy. Deep with a little sultry added, like a male’s should be. “H-hi,” she said bashfully.
In the silence that followed, she thought, and she had called him why? Oh, right. “I’m calling to see if you would like to talk?” she nervously asked. “I’m still in the Covenant’s exam room. Helen had an emergency at the hospital, and I rode with her... so?”
“Hmmm,” he said in amusement, smiling on the other end, and she felt the purr in his voice. “Sure, why not,” he said eagerly. “I’m upstairs in my room. I’ll meet you downstairs in the foyer.”
While he waited for her response, he had to shift the fly of his jeans due to the instant arousal he’d got just hearing her voice.
“Okay, meet you there,” she said smiling into the phone, excited by his enthusiasm.
****
The California Bates Hospital was state-of-the-art, thanks to the previously added emergency unit. The eleven story complex services included twenty-four-hour emergency care, women and infant services, cardiovascular care, behavioral health, orthopedics, and cancer diagnosis along with treatment.
When Helen arrived in the emergency unit, she reviewed the chart of the male patient with the gunshot wound. Five minutes later, the double doors swung open, and a nurse rushed in. “Dr. Carrington, we need you in surgery. The gunshot victim went into cardiac arrest. We got a rhythm back, but his blood pressure is sixty over forty and falling.”
Helen cursed under her breath. “Let’s get a blood type run, and I want his chest x-rays right away. Get an ultrasound of his heart—“
A scream ripped through the OR, catching Helen’s attention. Running down the hall with the nurse and other staff close behind, they entered the room. A nurse who’d been assisting the patient was flat up against the wall with a look of panic on her face, and Dr. Allman was lying on the floor unconscious. For a split second, everyone froze. The patient lying on the operating table was glowing.
Helen snapped into action and called out commands. Everyone refocused as the nurse in shock stuttered, “Dr. Allman just touched the patient… and collapsed.”
Kneeling down, Helen checked the physician lying on the floor. “He’s breathing,” she reassured, her voice sounding relieved. “I need him off the floor and out of here.”
Within seconds, paramedics were in the room with a gurney. After the doctor had been taken out, Helen looked over the patient’s x-rays. She frowned, leaning closer to the screen. It revealed exactly what she suspected: His tissue was healing, and no major internal organs appeared to be affected.
Helen approached the bed where the patient was hooked up to the anesthesia machines. With his chest prepped for surgery, the regions around it draped in surgical cloth. The Betadine solution made him look like he had an orange tan underneath all the glimmering light that surrounded his entire body. Looking closer, she saw the wound on his chest had already closed. What?
One of the medics that assisted with Dr. Allman stuck his head in the room. “Dr. Carrington?”
Looking away from the patient, Helen said, “How’s Dr. Allman doing?”
“He’s coming around,” the medic confirmed. “It appears he just passed out.”
“Well, I don’t blame him,” Helen muttered, shaking her head. “It’s not every day your patient starts glowing. But according to the x-rays, there’s no internal damage. He appears to be stable, other than...” Helen shrugged as she looked at the patient speechless.
****
When Lila made it to the foyer, Casey had just stepped down from the staircase and stopped when he saw her. When he lifted his hand to wave at her, she blushed and waved back.
As Casey approached, Lila watched as he moved with a smooth stride. He wore a black turtleneck that was clearly cashmere and a pair of designer jeans. In his expensive clothes, Casey was like something off the cover of a magazine. He looked glamorous, seductive, and out of her league.
Lila felt nervous. Seeing him again created an instant reaction. Her hands shook, and her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. It wasn’t she thought she was beneath him, Lila had just never had this kind of reaction from any other guy she’d met.
“Would you like something to eat?” he asked.
Staring into his eyes, they were the colors of light gray, mixed with sparkling, lavender specks. What an odd color, Lila said to herself, lost in thought.
When she didn’t answer, he said, “Lila?”
She flinched. “Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, focused on Casey’s mesmerizing eyes. “What did you say?”
He smiled. “Are you hungry?”
“Uh, sure... I could eat.” Geez, she thought. I’ve got to stop this endless blushing every time he speaks. But he seemed delighted with her shyness, his smile as gentle as his words.
“We have leftovers from last night. Do you like roast beef? I can make us a roast beef sandwich?”
“That sounds delicious.”
As Casey took her hand and led her to the kitchen, it reminded him of the type of family Lila had. She was born into an ordinary Breedline household, with a prestigious bloodline. He, on the other hand, was not born a full-blooded Breedline. Before his eighteenth birthday, and his first change into the Breedline wolf, his parents told him the truth. He was adopted. Instead of being born a full-blooded Breedline, he was a Theriomorph—a species with the ability to shape-shift into a panther. Not to mention, he’d also been born with other odd gifts. He had visions of the future and the power of manipulation. Having the skills to control the minds of others was a threat to the Breedline species. Using the drug dopamine was the only way to suppress that side of him he desperately hated. His parents swore to keep his secret from the Covenant in fear of discrimination and rejection.
Lately, he’d been having some terrible visions of Tessa, their Breedline Queen. The situation put him in a predicament. Casey had to decide if he was going to act on his premonitions, which would give away his secret identity, or just let destiny take hold. Why bother upsetting everyone? he thought. No matter what he said, he couldn’t change the future.
Nonetheless, he had no business dating Lila... none at all. If her family found out, they wouldn’t accept what he was. They would see him as an outcast. Not a pure Breedline worthy of their daughter.
He’d never revealed his secret to anyone else in the Covenant. Now that his mother was gone, his father was the only one that knew what he truly was. Casey felt the ache in his chest and knew it for what it was: Regret.
Outside the kitchen door, Casey stepped ahead and held it open for Lila. Before she sat down, he pulled out a chair for her and asked, “What would you like on your sandwich?”
She shrugged. “Oh, I’m not picky. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
He clapped his hands together and said, “Two roast beef sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo coming up.”
Sitting in silence, surrounded by the sounds of Casey digging around in the refrigerator, Lila stroked a napkin with her forefinger, feeling a hunger of desire inside her heart. Deep down she knew what they’d experienced earlier. It was the Breedline bonding.
After Casey had prepared their sandwiches, he glanced back at the table. When he looked at Lila, she seemed lost in thought as she fiddled with her napkin.
As he came over with their plates, she turned in his direction, and all she could do was gawk at him with a girlish smile.
“You know,” he said as he set the plates on the table and sat down across from her, “I like the way you look at me.”
She put her hands over her face. “I’m sorry.” She giggled. “Is it that noticeable?”
He held his hand up. “Don’t apologize.” He winked. “I’m not complaining.”
She tried to get a grip, but there was no way to control her emotions as her cheeks flushed again.
“Shall we?” Casey said, picking up his sandwich. He waited until she took her first bite and then said, “How is it?”
He patiently waited for her to swallow, knowing she was raised with manners and would probably never talk with her mouth full.
She wiped her mouth. “It tastes fantastic. Thank you, Casey.”
Casey grinned at her response, but beneath the surface of him, she sensed he was stressed, and the anxiety came out in the shadows under his eyes and the tense set of his jaw. Apparently, Casey was making an effort to be normal for her benefit, and though she appreciated it, she wondered what was bothering him. She wanted to find out everything about him but didn’t know how to ask without putting pressure on him.
They were still strangers to one another even though they’d obviously bonded. Did she have the right to ask him anything personal? She wondered about his family and his bloodline. In spite of the fact that they’d just met, Lila felt as though she knew all she needed to, but realistically speaking, what did they share in common?
As she stroked the napkin, Lila’s mind was miles away, and though she wasn’t much of a talker, she found herself speaking because she simply couldn’t keep it all in anymore. Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced up at him in question. “Earlier… we bonded, didn’t we?”
His lavender eyes shifted over, staring at her with dead seriousness. “Yes, Lila,” he murmured, placing his hand on hers. “We did.”
She smiled, and he gave her hand a light squeeze. A delicate shiver danced over her skin when she felt his soothing gesture. Something as simple as the slight touch of his hand and Lila was shaking with need.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked.
“We could... kiss.”
Lila’s jaw dropped, flushing from head to toe. Given the way those captivating eyes of his were looking at her, she was willing to let him do anything right at this moment. “O-okay,” she breathed.
Casey slid out of his chair and moved to the one next to her. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her quick and soft. When Casey pulled from their embrace, he had a slight smile on his lips. “You’re beautiful, Lila,“ he whispered.
As she stared into his spectacular eyes, Lila knew she was falling in love with him, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. The Breedline bond was real.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you... for the kiss.”
Lila sighed, her body feeling limp and useless in his presence. He seemed fragile as he spoke to her, his words so honest and humble.
“Casey...?”
He took her hand and lightly squeezed. “Yes?”
She sighed and said, “I want to know everything about you.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “Tell me about your family. Do they live close by?”
Darkness shadowed Casey’s face, tightening his mouth and drawing his brows together. “My mother died recently...” he said painfully, “and my father lives close by.”
Hearing the sadness in his voice, she frowned and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I—“
“No, it’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“Does your twin live here?” she asked.
His expression was of sorrow, even though he tried to mask it with a smile. It was evident he didn’t want to talk about his family, and she knew better than to press further.
“I’m sorry, Casey. I don’t mean to press if you don’t feel like talking about your family.”
“It’s fine,” he quickly replied. “It’s not as if... you can’t ask...”
As his words stumbled into each other, Casey felt panicked. Sure, Lila could ask... he just couldn’t tell her everything. Or maybe he should.
“I don’t know. I was adopted,” Casey said, sticking with as much truth as he could reveal. “Tim is my uncle... my Dad’s twin brother.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh... I didn’t know. Are you close to your uncle?”
Casey reached up and swept his long hair back. “Yeah,” he said smiling. “I guess you could say we are. He’s treated my father and me great since—“
Lila’s face softened, realizing what he was about to say. “I would like to introduce you to my parents,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “Are you free this weekend?”
He was speechless, staring at her face for a long time. He couldn’t say no. Just didn’t have the strength to turn her invitation down. It was wrong to get involved with Lila, but she was everything he wanted. He was very wrong for her, and he knew it. Then his mouth opened, and all he managed out was, “Okay.”
To be continued...
NOTE: This is not part of the chapter. A reference for terms and characters, especially for new readers:
BREEDLINE - A species of humans that have the ability to change from human form into a wolf. They are not like the old legend of the Lycanthropy myth. Breedline species can shift into their wolf at will. The moon has no power over them. They do not pass their ability to other humans with a bite or scratch like the Lycanthropy myth.
The Breedline gene is passed down to offspring that are born identical twins. Although they live amongst human, their species must be kept secret.
In wolf form, they have super strength, speed, and heightened senses. Their lifespan is the same as a normal human, but they are immune to illness and disease. Only a silver bullet to the brain will kill them. All males change into their wolf at the age of eighteen. Females do not go through the change until they make love to their Breedline bonded mate.
BREEDLINE TWINS - Identical twins that are born from either one or both parents of the Breedline species. They have a strong, unbreakable bond from birth, are born with telepathic abilities, and have the power to sense the other's emotions or injuries. In some cases, the bond between twins are so strong, if one dies, the other twin may pass on, especially if they don't have a mate.
BREEDLINE BONDING - The male Breedline spends their life in search of their bonded mate. When the male comes in contact with her, he instantly feels a simultaneous, desirable attraction and she becomes the most important thing in his life. He is there to love, protect, and cherish her until death. Once they are mated, they bond for life. It is possible for them to have more than one mate in their lifespan.
BELOVED - A word used by a Breedline to express the bond to their mate.
DOUBLE BONDED - In some cases, male Breedline twins bond with the same female; but one will carry a stronger bond. Usually one of them must sacrifice for the other twin.
BREEDLINE COVENANT - The Breedline species must live within the boundaries of a Covenant, which is only formed with their species. The Covenant is governed and ruled by a head council. The council keeps their laws in order and oversees the species population.
THE BREEDLINE QUEEN - Over centuries the Breedline Covenant is ruled by a true Queen. If there is no Queen living, the Covenants are governed by an appointed head council until another Queen is born. A Breedline Queen is born once every one hundred years. Her massive stature, black fur, and red eyes are the Queen's trademarks. Her alpha wolf has twice the strength, speed, and size of any Breedline. The Queen is expected to rule over all the Breedline Covenants where she will be respected and obeyed by all Breedline. This is their absolute True Law.
THE QUEENS RING - This ring has been passed down to all Breedline Queens for generations. When the new Queen places the ring on, it instantly shifts in size to fit her finger.
TRUE LAW - All Breedline Covenants have an ancient book of laws. If either sex disobeys the Breedline laws, they can be shunned, or no longer protected by their Covenant. If a Breedline takes another life out of revenge, or evil - other than protecting their life, and the life of another - they will never have the ability to shift back human and cast out as a rogue wolf.
ROGUE WOLF - A Breedline shunned by their Covenant for taking another life out of revenge or evil and forced to live as a wolf until death without the ability to change human again. Some rogue wolves form into packs, which can be dangerous for other Breedline species.
RED (BLOOD) MOON - When the full moon passes through the amber shadow of the earth, producing a midnight eclipse visible across North America. So begins a lunar eclipse tetrad, a series of four consecutive total eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals. This incredible light beams into the heart of earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the moon into a great red orb. During this time, all Breedline species that are mated have a strong desire to create offspring. This is also a time when Breedline females are more fertile for the conception of twins.
CHIANG-SHIH DEMON (Kiang shi, a.k.a Ramael Arminius) - An ancient demon that inhabits the body of a Breedline fetus before it's born, or during a Breedline's death. It continues to take the soul over the natural lifespan of the child, or the deceased Breedline. When the demon possesses a fetus, it breaks the bonding and telepathic abilities of their twin when they are born. If the demon possesses a deceased Breedline's body, it must do so before the soul passes on. If the soul is not intact, the body will soon die.
In most cases, the Chiang-shih demon will take the life of the other twin, even before their birth. The twin that is born with the demon will bring only evil to whomever they encounter. Their sole purpose is to gain full control of another soul and seek world domination.
There are two ways the demon is cast from the soul it possesses: By its firstborn son, and the Angel of Mercy, Zadkiel. The Beast is the only one who can kill a Chiang-shih demon.
THE BEAST - He is the second born son of the Chiang-shih demon. When provoked into a rage, he will shift into his Beast instead of his Breedline wolf. The Beast is an enormous, dangerous two-footed creature that has wolf-like features. One bite has enough venom to kill the Chiang-shih demon and leave the soul of the person the demon possessed unharmed.
SHADOW WALKER (a.k.a Shadow Figure, or Black Mass) - The perception of a patch of shadow as a living, humanoid figure, particularly interpreted by the Breedline as the presence of a malevolent entity. When a Breedline species dies and does not pass on to the other side, they are left to roam the earth as a shadow of themselves - a ghost. They will not pass on until they have settled unfinished business before their death.
ZADKIEL (Tzadqiel, a.k.a "Righteousness of God") - The Archangel of freedom, benevolence, and mercy, and the Patron Angel of all who forgives. Breedline species tradition considers him to be the Angel of Mercy.
SUCCUBUS (a.k.a CREEPERS) - Creatures that search for, and feeds off the blood of the Breedline species. Creepers are skilled at extreme sexual pleasure, and the ecstasy they create is exceedingly intense and highly addictive. They cast off a scent that hypnotizes Breedlines into overwhelming sexual urges. They use their human-like bodies and beautiful features to control and influence their thoughts.
They have the ability to reach into the Breedline's mind during sleep, casting a spell of dreams about sexual contact, or intercourse. And one much less obvious manifestation of Creepers is nightmares - realistic, graphic, terrifying nightmares that rob the Breedline of sleep. Over a period, it can lead to severe fatigue and depression, leaving them emotionally and spiritually drained. Death can occur if they completely take over the Breedline's body.
HALF-BREED - This species is born with the genes from both Breedline and succubus. They can bond with either a full-blood Breedline or another half-breed. They do not have the ability to change into the Breedline wolf, but they do need blood from them to survive. With the power to hypnotize, most Breedlines have minimal respect and credence toward the half-breed species.
WICCA (or Wise One) - According to the Breedline species, a Wicca is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. A Wicca is also considered to be a demonic spirit. It is unclear to the Breedline if they act under the orders of the devil, or they are simply not understood and treated as outcasts. They have the ability to do white magic (good) or dark (evil).
KATAKO (a.k.a Lucas, or Dark Shadow) - He is the Chiang-shih demon's offspring that is born both Breedline and Wiccan. After one year, the Katako develops into an adult with the mind of a child, without reaching full maturity. It has the power to appear translucent, or become completely invisible. Being born half Breedline, it can shift into a wolf and transform, or mimic another creature with the power to instantly travel from one place to another. Their true purpose of creation is to bring forth the souls stuck in purgatory by using one drop of its blood. The Breedline Queen's bite is the only way to destroy it.
GOLEMS (a.k.a The Death Army) - Evil creatures created by dark Wiccans with the power of necromancy. By releasing the souls of demons stuck in purgatory, the Wicca can give them the ability to shape into a creature that is made from earth. These creatures have various qualities, such as mass strength, enormous stature, and the power to consume their victims by saturating them with mud.
GUARDIANS (a.k.a Spirits of the Forest) - They originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wicca. They have the ability to stay invisible with the power to move through any barrier and over any distance instantly.
THERIOMORPH - This species is born with the genes of a Breedline, but do not have the ability to change into a Breedline wolf. They shape shift into an enormous black panther. They possess powers of mind manipulation and random visions of the future. They must use the drug dopamine to suppress their urges. Their eye color shifts into a glowing lavender when their Theriomorph nature takes over. The Breedline see them as a threat to their species.
Jace Chamberlain (a.k.a The Beast) - He is a Breedline species which later discovers his birth father - who is possessed by the Chiang-shih demon - murdered his mother when he and his twin brother were four years old. Raised by their new foster family and their uncle Jacks, he later discovers he was born with a curse of the Beast. With the help of his twin brother Jem, and his bonded mate Tessa, they help him cope with his rage to keep the Beast at bay. He's an IT engineer and is the lead singer and plays acoustic guitar in the band Chaos.
Jem Chamberlain (a.k.a The Chosen Son) - He is a Breedline species and Jace's twin brother. He carries the gene of the Chiang-shih demon that gives him the power to create a portal, and a force of electric energy used as a weapon and other powers he discovers later. His bonded mate is Mia Blackwood, and he's an IT engineer and the drummer in the band Chaos.
Tessa Fairchild - She was born into the human world and later discovers she's a Breedline. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her Aunt and Uncle without the knowledge of being born a twin. After she meets Jace, they become bonded mates. During her first change into her Breedline wolf, she is the new Breedline Queen. She is an inspiring artist.
Dr. John and Sarah Chamberlain - They are Jace, Jem and Cassie's adopted human parents. They are physicians in a children's unit, and also donates their time to the emergency center.
Chester and Amelia Ewan - They are called Guardians - a species originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wiccan.
Jackson Gray - He is Jace and Jem's biological uncle, Katlyn Gray's older brother. Although he carries the gene of the Breedline, he does not shift into a wolf. Only Breedlines born with an identical twin have the ability to change into their wolf. He's a medical supply pilot.
Mia Blackwood - She is a half-breed and Jem's bonded mate. Abandoned at birth and raised in human foster care, she later finds her twin sister, Eve.
EVE - She is a half-breed and Sebastian's bonded mate. Growing up in human foster care, she spent her entire childhood abused until Sebastian saves her. Scorned from her past, she lashes out in anger, living a life of crime later to discover her twin sister, Mia Blackwood. After realizing the Chiang-shih demon possesses Sebastian, Eve clings to the past in hopes of reuniting with her beloved. Now that Sebastian is finally free of the demon, she has trust issues, worried he has an alternative plan for their sons.
Sebastian Crow - He is a half-breed, and Eve's bonded mate. After he had been killed by Jace in self- defense, he was possessed by the Chiang-shih demon after the Angel of Mercy cast him out of Alexander's body. As he tried to portray Sebastian's life, Eve finally figured out his secret. Keeping her captive only to survive on her blood, he later develops feelings for her. The demon creates a death army, determined to dominate the world and unleash his wrath amongst humans and the Breedline. Now free from the demon, he is determined to reunite with his beloved Eve who is kept prisoner by the Breedline Covenant awaiting trial for her past crimes against them.
Alexander Crest - He is a Breedline who was possessed by the Chiang-shih demon before birth. Murdering his family, Alexander kidnapped his twin's bonded mate, Katlyn Gray. Keeping her prisoner against her will, she becomes pregnant with his twins. As she managed to escape before she gave birth, Alexander eventually kills her in a fit of rage. Returning for his chosen son twenty-two years later, he is determined to convince him to join his army. After the battle between the Breedline, the demon is finally cast out of Alexander setting his soul free. For the demon's past crimes, Alexander is pardoned and must reside in the Breedline Covenant. Praying for forgiveness, he reunites with his twin sons, Jace and Jem. As he fights to keep his new family safe, romance blossoms with Dr. Helen Carrington.
Tim Ross - He is a Breedline species and head council of the California Covenant. Angel, his bonded mate - who is a half-breed - has Tim's daughter they named Natalie, after her sister.
Angel - She is a half-breed and Tim's bonded mate.
Natalie - She is a half-breed and Tim and Angel's daughter.
Kyle Jones - He is a Breedline species that resides in the California Covenant. Having lost his family to a house fire at childhood, his uncle Tim Ross has raised him since. Celina Baldolf is his bonded mate. He's a mechanic and also Jace and Jem's close friend, and plays bass in the rock band Chaos.
Casey Barton - He was born of the Breedline species, and lives in the California Covenant. He was adopted by Tim Ross's brother and carries a deep dark secret, afraid to reveal to the Breedline. He is a clothing model and plays backup bass and keyboards in the band Chaos.
Dr. Helen Carrington - She is a Breedline species and a physician at the California Bates hospital for both Breedlines and humans. Later, she discovers Jace and Jem carry a gene, possibly used for a cure to stop the aging process in her species. After Alexander's demon is banished, he is pardoned for all past crimes and welcomed into the Breedline Covenant. When he meets Helen, they become bonded mates.
Drakon Hexus - He is a Breedline species. At a young age, his first bonded mate was killed by her father. In a rage, he hunts and kills her murderer, breaking the Breedline's True Law. Shunned by his Covenant and forced to live as a rogue wolf, he's promised his humanity back if he joins the Chiang-shih demon's army. After Drakon discovers the demon's plans to destroy all humans and half-breeds, he betrays him and joins forces with the Breedline. As time passes, he bonds with another mate, Cassie Chamberlain.
Cassie Chamberlain - Adopted at age two by Jace and Jem's adopted parents after her mother abandons her. Later, she discovers she is a Breedline species and bonds with the handsome Drakon Hexus. She is a nurse practitioner, specializing in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Malachi O'Conner - He was born a Breedline species, and shunned by the Breedline Covenant after breaking their True Law. Alexander Crest's demon later forced him into joining his army of rogue wolves. After he had tried to escape, he endured cruel torture from the Alexander's Chiang-shih demon. He was later rescued by the Breedline and pardoned for his past crimes.
Celina Baldolf - She is a Breedline species with the power of a Wiccan, but only practices white witchcraft. Her twin sister Taliah - a dark Wicca - murdered their parents when they were twelve years old. Dr. Helen Carrington is their aunt, and Kyle Jones is Celina's Breedline bonded mate. She is an editor for a local publishing company.
Taliah Baldolf - She is a Breedline species and the mother of the Katako. Using her powers as a dark Wiccan, she joins forces with the Chiang-shih demon to create his death army. After she threatens to kill the Breedline Queen, the Beast overpowers her and sends her to her death.
Samuel Mercier - He is a Breedline and a council member from France that has secretly turned against his own Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon. He and his other Breedline traitors go into hiding after the Breedline destroy the demon, desperate to seek revenge against the Covenant.
Fredrick Mercier - He is a Breedline and Samuel Mercier's identical twin. Also, he's a council member from France that has secretly turned against the Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon.
Corbin Azzo - He is a Breedline and a council member that has turned against the Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. BREEDLINE - A species of humans that have the ability to change from human form into a wolf. They are not like the old legend of the Lycanthropy myth. Breedline species can shift into their wolf at will. The moon has no power over them. They do not pass their ability to other humans with a bite or scratch like the Lycanthropy myth.
The Breedline gene is passed down to offspring that are born identical twins. Although they live amongst human, their species must be kept secret.
In wolf form, they have super strength, speed, and heightened senses. Their lifespan is the same as a normal human, but they are immune to illness and disease. Only a silver bullet to the brain will kill them. All males change into their wolf at the age of eighteen. Females do not go through the change until they make love to their Breedline bonded mate.
BREEDLINE TWINS - Identical twins that are born from either one or both parents of the Breedline species. They have a strong, unbreakable bond from birth, are born with telepathic abilities, and have the power to sense the other's emotions or injuries. In some cases, the bond between twins are so strong, if one dies, the other twin may pass on, especially if they don't have a mate.
BREEDLINE BONDING - The male Breedline spends their life in search of their bonded mate. When the male comes in contact with her, he instantly feels a simultaneous, desirable attraction and she becomes the most important thing in his life. He is there to love, protect, and cherish her until death. Once they are mated, they bond for life. It is possible for them to have more than one mate in their lifespan.
BELOVED - A word used by a Breedline to express the bond to their mate.
DOUBLE BONDED - In some cases, male Breedline twins bond with the same female; but one will carry a stronger bond. Usually one of them must sacrifice for the other twin.
BREEDLINE COVENANT - The Breedline species must live within the boundaries of a Covenant, which is only formed with their species. The Covenant is governed and ruled by a head council. The council keeps their laws in order and oversees the species population.
THE BREEDLINE QUEEN - Over centuries the Breedline Covenant is ruled by a true Queen. If there is no Queen living, the Covenants are governed by an appointed head council until another Queen is born. A Breedline Queen is born once every one hundred years. Her massive stature, black fur, and red eyes are the Queen's trademarks. Her alpha wolf has twice the strength, speed, and size of any Breedline. The Queen is expected to rule over all the Breedline Covenants where she will be respected and obeyed by all Breedline. This is their absolute True Law.
THE QUEENS RING - This ring has been passed down to all Breedline Queens for generations. When the new Queen places the ring on, it instantly shifts in size to fit her finger.
TRUE LAW - All Breedline Covenants have an ancient book of laws. If either sex disobeys the Breedline laws, they can be shunned, or no longer protected by their Covenant. If a Breedline takes another life out of revenge, or evil - other than protecting their life, and the life of another - they will never have the ability to shift back human and cast out as a rogue wolf.
ROGUE WOLF - A Breedline shunned by their Covenant for taking another life out of revenge or evil and forced to live as a wolf until death without the ability to change human again. Some rogue wolves form into packs, which can be dangerous for other Breedline species.
RED (BLOOD) MOON - When the full moon passes through the amber shadow of the earth, producing a midnight eclipse visible across North America. So begins a lunar eclipse tetrad, a series of four consecutive total eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals. This incredible light beams into the heart of earth's shadow, filling it with a coppery glow and transforming the moon into a great red orb. During this time, all Breedline species that are mated have a strong desire to create offspring. This is also a time when Breedline females are more fertile for the conception of twins.
CHIANG-SHIH DEMON (Kiang shi, a.k.a Ramael Arminius) - An ancient demon that inhabits the body of a Breedline fetus before it's born, or during a Breedline's death. It continues to take the soul over the natural lifespan of the child, or the deceased Breedline. When the demon possesses a fetus, it breaks the bonding and telepathic abilities of their twin when they are born. If the demon possesses a deceased Breedline's body, it must do so before the soul passes on. If the soul is not intact, the body will soon die.
In most cases, the Chiang-shih demon will take the life of the other twin, even before their birth. The twin that is born with the demon will bring only evil to whomever they encounter. Their sole purpose is to gain full control of another soul and seek world domination.
There are two ways the demon is cast from the soul it possesses: By its firstborn son, and the Angel of Mercy, Zadkiel. The Beast is the only one who can kill a Chiang-shih demon.
THE BEAST - He is the second born son of the Chiang-shih demon. When provoked into a rage, he will shift into his Beast instead of his Breedline wolf. The Beast is an enormous, dangerous two-footed creature that has wolf-like features. One bite has enough venom to kill the Chiang-shih demon and leave the soul of the person the demon possessed unharmed.
SHADOW WALKER (a.k.a Shadow Figure, or Black Mass) - The perception of a patch of shadow as a living, humanoid figure, particularly interpreted by the Breedline as the presence of a malevolent entity. When a Breedline species dies and does not pass on to the other side, they are left to roam the earth as a shadow of themselves - a ghost. They will not pass on until they have settled unfinished business before their death.
ZADKIEL (Tzadqiel, a.k.a "Righteousness of God") - The Archangel of freedom, benevolence, and mercy, and the Patron Angel of all who forgives. Breedline species tradition considers him to be the Angel of Mercy.
SUCCUBUS (a.k.a CREEPERS) - Creatures that search for, and feeds off the blood of the Breedline species. Creepers are skilled at extreme sexual pleasure, and the ecstasy they create is exceedingly intense and highly addictive. They cast off a scent that hypnotizes Breedlines into overwhelming sexual urges. They use their human-like bodies and beautiful features to control and influence their thoughts.
They have the ability to reach into the Breedline's mind during sleep, casting a spell of dreams about sexual contact, or intercourse. And one much less obvious manifestation of Creepers is nightmares - realistic, graphic, terrifying nightmares that rob the Breedline of sleep. Over a period, it can lead to severe fatigue and depression, leaving them emotionally and spiritually drained. Death can occur if they completely take over the Breedline's body.
HALF-BREED - This species is born with the genes from both Breedline and succubus. They can bond with either a full-blood Breedline or another half-breed. They do not have the ability to change into the Breedline wolf, but they do need blood from them to survive. With the power to hypnotize, most Breedlines have minimal respect and credence toward the half-breed species.
WICCA (or Wise One) - According to the Breedline species, a Wicca is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. A Wicca is also considered to be a demonic spirit. It is unclear to the Breedline if they act under the orders of the devil, or they are simply not understood and treated as outcasts. They have the ability to do white magic (good) or dark (evil).
KATAKO (a.k.a Lucas, or Dark Shadow) - He is the Chiang-shih demon's offspring that is born both Breedline and Wiccan. After one year, the Katako develops into an adult with the mind of a child, without reaching full maturity. It has the power to appear translucent, or become completely invisible. Being born half Breedline, it can shift into a wolf and transform, or mimic another creature with the power to instantly travel from one place to another. Their true purpose of creation is to bring forth the souls stuck in purgatory by using one drop of its blood. The Breedline Queen's bite is the only way to destroy it.
GOLEMS (a.k.a The Death Army) - Evil creatures created by dark Wiccans with the power of necromancy. By releasing the souls of demons stuck in purgatory, the Wicca can give them the ability to shape into a creature that is made from earth. These creatures have various qualities, such as mass strength, enormous stature, and the power to consume their victims by saturating them with mud.
GUARDIANS (a.k.a Spirits of the Forest) - They originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wicca. They have the ability to stay invisible with the power to move through any barrier and over any distance instantly.
THERIOMORPH - This species is born with the genes of a Breedline, but do not have the ability to change into a Breedline wolf. They shape shift into an enormous black panther. They possess powers of mind manipulation and random visions of the future. They must use the drug dopamine to suppress their urges. Their eye color shifts into a glowing lavender when their Theriomorph nature takes over. The Breedline see them as a threat to their species.
Jace Chamberlain (a.k.a The Beast) - He is a Breedline species which later discovers his birth father - who is possessed by the Chiang-shih demon - murdered his mother when he and his twin brother were four years old. Raised by their new foster family and their uncle Jacks, he later discovers he was born with a curse of the Beast. With the help of his twin brother Jem, and his bonded mate Tessa, they help him cope with his rage to keep the Beast at bay. He's an IT engineer and is the lead singer and plays acoustic guitar in the band Chaos.
Jem Chamberlain (a.k.a The Chosen Son) - He is a Breedline species and Jace's twin brother. He carries the gene of the Chiang-shih demon that gives him the power to create a portal, and a force of electric energy used as a weapon and other powers he discovers later. His bonded mate is Mia Blackwood, and he's an IT engineer and the drummer in the band Chaos.
Tessa Fairchild - She was born into the human world and later discovers she's a Breedline. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her Aunt and Uncle without the knowledge of being born a twin. After she meets Jace, they become bonded mates. During her first change into her Breedline wolf, she is the new Breedline Queen. She is an inspiring artist.
Dr. John and Sarah Chamberlain - They are Jace, Jem and Cassie's adopted human parents. They are physicians in a children's unit, and also donates their time to the emergency center.
Chester and Amelia Ewan - They are called Guardians - a species originated during the Middle Ages with the purpose of protecting all creatures, especially the Breedline from the destruction of any creation made by a dark Wiccan.
Jackson Gray - He is Jace and Jem's biological uncle, Katlyn Gray's older brother. Although he carries the gene of the Breedline, he does not shift into a wolf. Only Breedlines born with an identical twin have the ability to change into their wolf. He's a medical supply pilot.
Mia Blackwood - She is a half-breed and Jem's bonded mate. Abandoned at birth and raised in human foster care, she later finds her twin sister, Eve.
EVE - She is a half-breed and Sebastian's bonded mate. Growing up in human foster care, she spent her entire childhood abused until Sebastian saves her. Scorned from her past, she lashes out in anger, living a life of crime later to discover her twin sister, Mia Blackwood. After realizing the Chiang-shih demon possesses Sebastian, Eve clings to the past in hopes of reuniting with her beloved. Now that Sebastian is finally free of the demon, she has trust issues, worried he has an alternative plan for their sons.
Sebastian Crow - He is a half-breed, and Eve's bonded mate. After he had been killed by Jace in self- defense, he was possessed by the Chiang-shih demon after the Angel of Mercy cast him out of Alexander's body. As he tried to portray Sebastian's life, Eve finally figured out his secret. Keeping her captive only to survive on her blood, he later develops feelings for her. The demon creates a death army, determined to dominate the world and unleash his wrath amongst humans and the Breedline. Now free from the demon, he is determined to reunite with his beloved Eve who is kept prisoner by the Breedline Covenant awaiting trial for her past crimes against them.
Alexander Crest - He is a Breedline who was possessed by the Chiang-shih demon before birth. Murdering his family, Alexander kidnapped his twin's bonded mate, Katlyn Gray. Keeping her prisoner against her will, she becomes pregnant with his twins. As she managed to escape before she gave birth, Alexander eventually kills her in a fit of rage. Returning for his chosen son twenty-two years later, he is determined to convince him to join his army. After the battle between the Breedline, the demon is finally cast out of Alexander setting his soul free. For the demon's past crimes, Alexander is pardoned and must reside in the Breedline Covenant. Praying for forgiveness, he reunites with his twin sons, Jace and Jem. As he fights to keep his new family safe, romance blossoms with Dr. Helen Carrington.
Tim Ross - He is a Breedline species and head council of the California Covenant. Angel, his bonded mate - who is a half-breed - has Tim's daughter they named Natalie, after her sister.
Angel - She is a half-breed and Tim's bonded mate.
Natalie - She is a half-breed and Tim and Angel's daughter.
Kyle Jones - He is a Breedline species that resides in the California Covenant. Having lost his family to a house fire at childhood, his uncle Tim Ross has raised him since. Celina Baldolf is his bonded mate. He's a mechanic and also Jace and Jem's close friend, and plays bass in the rock band Chaos.
Casey Barton - He was born of the Breedline species, and lives in the California Covenant. He was adopted by Tim Ross's brother and carries a deep dark secret, afraid to reveal to the Breedline. He is a clothing model and plays backup bass and keyboards in the band Chaos.
Dr. Helen Carrington - She is a Breedline species and a physician at the California Bates hospital for both Breedlines and humans. Later, she discovers Jace and Jem carry a gene, possibly used for a cure to stop the aging process in her species. After Alexander's demon is banished, he is pardoned for all past crimes and welcomed into the Breedline Covenant. When he meets Helen, they become bonded mates.
Drakon Hexus - He is a Breedline species. At a young age, his first bonded mate was killed by her father. In a rage, he hunts and kills her murderer, breaking the Breedline's True Law. Shunned by his Covenant and forced to live as a rogue wolf, he's promised his humanity back if he joins the Chiang-shih demon's army. After Drakon discovers the demon's plans to destroy all humans and half-breeds, he betrays him and joins forces with the Breedline. As time passes, he bonds with another mate, Cassie Chamberlain.
Cassie Chamberlain - Adopted at age two by Jace and Jem's adopted parents after her mother abandons her. Later, she discovers she is a Breedline species and bonds with the handsome Drakon Hexus. She is a nurse practitioner, specializing in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Malachi O'Conner - He was born a Breedline species, and shunned by the Breedline Covenant after breaking their True Law. Alexander Crest's demon later forced him into joining his army of rogue wolves. After he had tried to escape, he endured cruel torture from the Alexander's Chiang-shih demon. He was later rescued by the Breedline and pardoned for his past crimes.
Celina Baldolf - She is a Breedline species with the power of a Wiccan, but only practices white witchcraft. Her twin sister Taliah - a dark Wicca - murdered their parents when they were twelve years old. Dr. Helen Carrington is their aunt, and Kyle Jones is Celina's Breedline bonded mate. She is an editor for a local publishing company.
Taliah Baldolf - She is a Breedline species and the mother of the Katako. Using her powers as a dark Wiccan, she joins forces with the Chiang-shih demon to create his death army. After she threatens to kill the Breedline Queen, the Beast overpowers her and sends her to her death.
Samuel Mercier - He is a Breedline and a council member from France that has secretly turned against his own Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon. He and his other Breedline traitors go into hiding after the Breedline destroy the demon, desperate to seek revenge against the Covenant.
Fredrick Mercier - He is a Breedline and Samuel Mercier's identical twin. Also, he's a council member from France that has secretly turned against the Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon.
Corbin Azzo - He is a Breedline and a council member that has turned against the Covenant to help the Chiang-shih demon.
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