| Fantasy Fiction posted September 18, 2017 | Chapters: |
...23 24 -25- 26... 
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Unleashed Chaos/A Novel of the Breedline series
A chapter in the book Unleashed Chaos
His Curse
by scongrove
Previously...
As Steven Pasquale—an Adalwolf with the ability to heal—manages to escape Dr. Markus Ludwig and his thuggish hired henchmen and two Breedline hybrids, he was shot in the chest. Now, unconscious in the hospital without an identity, Dr. Helen Carrington discovers Steven—whom they call John Doe—have the same healing abilities as the files she found years ago on a patient called SPECIMEN ONE. After years of studying the secret documented files, Helen finally discovers a cure to the aging process in the Breedline species. All she has to do is test the serum. And Alexander Crest agrees to be the guinea pig. When she shares the news with a colleague she trusts and has known for years—Dr. Carl Eaves—he agrees to help her and John Doe.
Later, someone at the hospital who’d witnessed John Doe’s mysterious healing abilities notified the news media. As word spread like wildfire, human reporters, police and crowds gathered outside the hospital as gossip spread about the hospital keeping an alien inside.
When Helen and her colleague, Dr. Carl Eaves found out, they immediately notified the Breedline Covenant. With Jem’s ability to use a portal, he transported John Doe from the hospital to the Covenant without being seen.
As John Doe came around, he became panicked, and used his abilities on Tim Ross—the Breedline head council—and shifted through his mind and all his past memories. Afterwards, Tim is threatened by Helen’s patient and calls a meeting with everyone in the Covenant. When Helen pleads with Tim to let her work with John Doe, he decides to agree as long as he’s guarded at all times.
When Alexander meets with Helen to take the cure, the passion between them heats up and the focus instantly shifts into a romantic interlude. After they consummate their bond, Helen changes into her Breedline wolf for the first time.
Meanwhile, Casey Barton prepares himself to meet Lila Demont's parents, worried his secret will be revealed.
Continued...
When Helen and Alexander walked into the kitchen, everyone at the table was finishing breakfast. Tim looked up and stared at Helen funny.
She did a quick check of her clothes, wondering if anything was inside out. “Good morning,” she said, glancing down at her feet. Helen noticed the hem of her pant leg was rolled up. Shaking her foot, it slid back down.
The silence stretched, and Helen blushed when the sounds of silverware softly dropped onto everyone’s plate with all eyes on her. And then they shifted their eyes to Alexander. His hair seemed a little out of place, almost tousled as if someone had been running their hands through the long waves.
“If you’re hungry, we have plenty left over,” Angel spoke out.
Jace chuckled and winked. “Yeah, I bet they’re hungry.”
“Hush Jace,” Tessa whispered, elbowing him in the ribs.
He jerked in response. “Ouch.”
Tessa motioned them over to the table. “Please, join us.”
As Alexander and Helen took a seat at the table, Angel handed them a plate and some silverware. Tim passed down the plate of pancakes, and Drakon gave them the dish of sausages.
Alexander inhaled, taking in the heavenly aroma. “Everything smells delicious.” He picked up the plate of pancakes and held it out to Helen.
“Thank you,” Helen said as she took one while Alexander forked three.
As they ate, Tessa occasionally glanced at them, trying to be patient. She pushed her plate to the side and let out a sigh. Not being able to hold back any longer, she blurted, “Alexander, did you take the cure?”
Alexander lowered his fork and swallowed. He pushed a strand of his hair behind his ear like he was trying to decide what to say. “Uh,” he muttered. “Not yet.”
When he said nothing further, Tessa looked at Helen confused. After an awkward moment, Helen cleared her throat. “I thought it would be best if he didn’t take it on an empty stomach.”
There was a short pause, and then Tessa’s mouth lifted at the corners. “Oh, I see.” The little smile on her face was a hint that she understood why they came to eat breakfast an hour after they’d planned for Alexander to take the cure. By the sparkle in Helen’s eyes and all the blushing, it was obvious they’d been making love all this time.
Alexander’s brows lifted. “Don’t worry,” he said reassuring. “I’m going to take the cure right after breakfast.”
Tim’s chair squeaked across the tile floor, getting everyone’s attention as he scooted closer to the table. He glanced at Helen and said, “How’s your patient doing?”
“I checked on him this morning, and he’s still weak but seems to be healing.”
“Would it be okay if I gave him a visit this afternoon?”
“Yes, of course,” Helen said. “Steven is eager to speak with you, too.”
As Tim engaged in conversation about Steven, Alexander watched Helen. Her head eased to one side, her hair falling farther down her shoulder. God, it was lovely, he thought. It reminded Alexander of fine mahogany that had been carefully varnished, glowing with reds and dark browns. He reached under the table and grasped her hand.
For a moment, she pretended it didn’t affect her, and then she turned in his direction and smiled. Gently squeezing her hand, he winked at her. He thought about what had happened earlier between them, recalling the soft sounds that escaped her lips when he’d touched her. He couldn’t wait to be with her again. Inhaling deeply, he hardened in a rush.
God, Helen thought. What was that scent? She breathed in deep and recognized the mix of intoxicating spices.
As Alexander glanced at her lips, her mouth was slightly open, and she appeared aroused. She might not have felt entirely comfortable with everyone at the table, but she definitely looked stimulated.
Leaning closer, he whispered something in her ear. She blushed again and nodded in response.
Helen graciously thanked everyone as she scooted her chair back. Glancing over at Alexander, she said, “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “Everything was delicious. Thank you.” He stood and reached for his plate.
Tessa put her hand out and said, “Don’t worry about that. Jace and I will take care of the dishes.”
Jace frowned. “We will?”
“Yes,” Tessa said, arching a brow. “We will.”
“I’ll help too,” Celina offered.
When Alexander and Helen left the kitchen, everyone sat in silence.
Breaking the stillness in the room, Kyle burst out, “They hooked up, didn’t they?”
“I think it’s cute,” Cassie said with a giggle.
Jace furrowed his brows. “Gross.”
“It’s not gross,” Tessa said. “It’s great to see them in love.”
“We need to invite Helen out for drinks,” Mia said. “I want to know details!”
“Good idea,” Angel agreed.
Shaking his head, Drakon chuckled. “If you’re having a girl’s night out, we need to invite Alexander out with the guys.”
“Yeah, that’s an excellent idea,” Jem implied, turning toward Jace. “You can plan it.”
“What?” Jace shrugged his shoulders. “Why me?”
“Please, honey,” Tessa pleaded. “Alexander would like that.”
“I’ll help,” Tim volunteered. “It would be nice to go out and relax for a change.”
Tessa glared at Jace. “No strip bars.”
“Honey, don’t worry.” Jace grinned, cocking a brow. “That would be the last thing on our mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”
Tim broke up the conversation and said, “Okay guys, let’s help clean the kitchen.”
****
Later that evening, close to five o’clock, Casey stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Before he got dressed to go to Lila’s parents for dinner, he’d need at least half an hour to rest after he took his dopamine. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Casey reached toward the nightstand and opened a drawer. Taking out a small syringe, he wrapped a tourniquet around the middle of his biceps. After Casey had filled the syringe, it took him a while to find a vein that was viable. Finally hitting the right spot, he drew back on the plunger and watched as the drug’s clear solution entered his body.
As he freed the tourniquet, he stared at his arm and thought of Lila. Halfway through the injection, his cell phone went off. A quick glance at the screen showed his father’s number. Pulling the needle out, he cursed as a beep indicated he’d missed the call.
Closing his eyes, he eased back onto the bed and let the drug take effect. He took an extra dose just in case. Up until now, he’d never cared about a relationship until Lila.
After enough time had passed, he stood with a groan and walked to his closet. The numbness spread through his body and shut out the voice in his head. The less his Theriomorph urges were triggered, the better he could function while socializing with others. If her family got wind of his secret, they would notify the Breedline Covenant. The hard reality was life had put him in a predicament he didn’t want.
Picking out an expensive outfit, he got dressed and checked his missed call. As he listened to his father’s message, his voice sounded troubled.
“Hello, Casey. Please give me a call as soon as you can. There’s something important I need to speak to you about.”
Casey frowned. He called him back, and when his father picked up, Casey said, “Dad, what’s going on?”
When there was a long pause, Casey got worried. “Dad, are you still there?”
“Please, son …” His voice grew rough. “Please don’t go to the Demont’s for dinner.” And then the line went dead.
“Dad?”
In the back of his mind, he had a sense as to why his father had told him not to go to Lila’s, but he ignored his warning. He couldn’t stay away from her. He absolutely couldn’t. Besides, maybe it was nothing. His father was always paranoid someone would find out his secret and leak it out. Ready to leave, he put his phone on vibrate and headed to Lila’s.
****
Lila couldn’t wait to see Casey as the evening drew near. With the clock ticking, it was getting close to six o’clock. Upstairs watching out from her bedroom window, she waited for Casey to show up for dinner and introduce him to her family.
“Miss Lila?” the butler called from downstairs. “Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sims. I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While she listened for sounds of movement downstairs, she thought of the bizarre dream she’d had last night. In the dream, she saw Casey without a stitch of clothes in the dark distance with his arms held out to her. His perfectly, naked body suddenly changed into a magnificent black panther, right before her eyes.
Summoned by his beauty, she walked across a foggy field to him, calling out his name over and over.
Noticing her presence, he raised his head and let out a screeching roar.
A sudden feeling of terror had shot through her veins and kick-started her heart as she dropped to her knees.
She had awoken with tears in her eyes and her body trembling in fear. Lila couldn’t understand the meaning of the dream, but her subconscious shouted danger.
When she heard the doorbell chime, she snapped back to reality. As Lila glanced out the window again, she saw Casey’s sleek, silver Maserati parked in the drive.
After a quick look in the mirror, Lila rushed downstairs as the butler was welcoming Casey inside. He was breathtaking. His long, wavy brown hair was groomed neatly and pulled back. Being a full-time model, Casey looked like he’d just finished a show and still had on the designer clothes.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase, she noticed the unusual lavender in his irises sparkle when she caught his eye.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.
As Lila reached for Casey’s hand, his blood warmed the instant he felt her touch.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Come.” She tugged his hand. “I want to introduce you to my parents.”
Before they entered the dining room, he took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. Stepping inside with Lila’s hand in his, he smelled a pleasant aroma of roasted duck. Across the room, Lila’s mother was placing a floral arrangement on the table, and her father was at the bar pouring himself a cocktail. Mr. Demont had a distinguished air about him. A year ago, he’d decided to retire from the head council of the Pennsylvania’s Covenant and move to California to be closer to the Breedline Queen.
Lila cleared her throat. “Mom… Dad,” she announced. “I’d like to introduce my friend, Casey Barton.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Casey,” her mother boasted as she came over to greet him properly.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Demont.” He reached for her hand. “It smells delicious.”
“Thank you, dear. We’re glad you could join us, and please call me Carol.”
Standing beside Lila, her father extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Casey.”
Looking up, he nervously greeted him with a firm handshake. “Thank you, sir.”
“Please.” He smiled. “You can call me Victor.”
When the butler finished setting up the table, Victor smoothed over his goatee with one hand and then motioned for everyone to sit down. “Please, let’s eat.”
As Casey slowly polished off everything on his plate, he had a sinking feeling in his gut. He wondered to himself if her parents approved of him so far.
An hour later, Mr. Sims cleared the table and took their plates to the kitchen. Casey’s stomach was in full revolt, and it wasn’t from the meal. His nerves were on pins and needles creating somersaults in his digestive tract. Before he came to Lila’s to meet her parents, he’d worried about his Theriomorph side creeping out. After taking a double dose of dopamine to keep it at bay, he had a headache along with nausea.
“Would anyone care for desert?” Carol offered. “Mr. Sims made a homemade peach cobbler.”
“No thank you,” Casey said, patting his stomach. “Everything was delicious, but I’m full.”
Victor cleared his throat. “I’ll have a small piece, honey.”
Sitting beside her daughter, Carol placed her hand on Lila’s. “Would you like some pie, dear?”
“No thanks, Mom. I couldn’t eat another bite.”
As the butler served Victor and Carol, he poured Lila and Casey a fresh cup of coffee.
When Victor finished his desert, he wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. “Casey, I met your father this afternoon.” He looked at Casey with narrowed eyes. “We had an interesting conversation over lunch.”
To be continued...
Book of the Month contest entry
Previously...
As Steven Pasquale—an Adalwolf with the ability to heal—manages to escape Dr. Markus Ludwig and his thuggish hired henchmen and two Breedline hybrids, he was shot in the chest. Now, unconscious in the hospital without an identity, Dr. Helen Carrington discovers Steven—whom they call John Doe—have the same healing abilities as the files she found years ago on a patient called SPECIMEN ONE. After years of studying the secret documented files, Helen finally discovers a cure to the aging process in the Breedline species. All she has to do is test the serum. And Alexander Crest agrees to be the guinea pig. When she shares the news with a colleague she trusts and has known for years—Dr. Carl Eaves—he agrees to help her and John Doe.
Later, someone at the hospital who’d witnessed John Doe’s mysterious healing abilities notified the news media. As word spread like wildfire, human reporters, police and crowds gathered outside the hospital as gossip spread about the hospital keeping an alien inside.
When Helen and her colleague, Dr. Carl Eaves found out, they immediately notified the Breedline Covenant. With Jem’s ability to use a portal, he transported John Doe from the hospital to the Covenant without being seen.
As John Doe came around, he became panicked, and used his abilities on Tim Ross—the Breedline head council—and shifted through his mind and all his past memories. Afterwards, Tim is threatened by Helen’s patient and calls a meeting with everyone in the Covenant. When Helen pleads with Tim to let her work with John Doe, he decides to agree as long as he’s guarded at all times.
When Alexander meets with Helen to take the cure, the passion between them heats up and the focus instantly shifts into a romantic interlude. After they consummate their bond, Helen changes into her Breedline wolf for the first time.
Meanwhile, Casey Barton prepares himself to meet Lila Demont's parents, worried his secret will be revealed.
Continued...
When Helen and Alexander walked into the kitchen, everyone at the table was finishing breakfast. Tim looked up and stared at Helen funny.
She did a quick check of her clothes, wondering if anything was inside out. “Good morning,” she said, glancing down at her feet. Helen noticed the hem of her pant leg was rolled up. Shaking her foot, it slid back down.
The silence stretched, and Helen blushed when the sounds of silverware softly dropped onto everyone’s plate with all eyes on her. And then they shifted their eyes to Alexander. His hair seemed a little out of place, almost tousled as if someone had been running their hands through the long waves.
“If you’re hungry, we have plenty left over,” Angel spoke out.
Jace chuckled and winked. “Yeah, I bet they’re hungry.”
“Hush Jace,” Tessa whispered, elbowing him in the ribs.
He jerked in response. “Ouch.”
Tessa motioned them over to the table. “Please, join us.”
As Alexander and Helen took a seat at the table, Angel handed them a plate and some silverware. Tim passed down the plate of pancakes, and Drakon gave them the dish of sausages.
Alexander inhaled, taking in the heavenly aroma. “Everything smells delicious.” He picked up the plate of pancakes and held it out to Helen.
“Thank you,” Helen said as she took one while Alexander forked three.
As they ate, Tessa occasionally glanced at them, trying to be patient. She pushed her plate to the side and let out a sigh. Not being able to hold back any longer, she blurted, “Alexander, did you take the cure?”
Alexander lowered his fork and swallowed. He pushed a strand of his hair behind his ear like he was trying to decide what to say. “Uh,” he muttered. “Not yet.”
When he said nothing further, Tessa looked at Helen confused. After an awkward moment, Helen cleared her throat. “I thought it would be best if he didn’t take it on an empty stomach.”
There was a short pause, and then Tessa’s mouth lifted at the corners. “Oh, I see.” The little smile on her face was a hint that she understood why they came to eat breakfast an hour after they’d planned for Alexander to take the cure. By the sparkle in Helen’s eyes and all the blushing, it was obvious they’d been making love all this time.
Alexander’s brows lifted. “Don’t worry,” he said reassuring. “I’m going to take the cure right after breakfast.”
Tim’s chair squeaked across the tile floor, getting everyone’s attention as he scooted closer to the table. He glanced at Helen and said, “How’s your patient doing?”
“I checked on him this morning, and he’s still weak but seems to be healing.”
“Would it be okay if I gave him a visit this afternoon?”
“Yes, of course,” Helen said. “Steven is eager to speak with you, too.”
As Tim engaged in conversation about Steven, Alexander watched Helen. Her head eased to one side, her hair falling farther down her shoulder. God, it was lovely, he thought. It reminded Alexander of fine mahogany that had been carefully varnished, glowing with reds and dark browns. He reached under the table and grasped her hand.
For a moment, she pretended it didn’t affect her, and then she turned in his direction and smiled. Gently squeezing her hand, he winked at her. He thought about what had happened earlier between them, recalling the soft sounds that escaped her lips when he’d touched her. He couldn’t wait to be with her again. Inhaling deeply, he hardened in a rush.
God, Helen thought. What was that scent? She breathed in deep and recognized the mix of intoxicating spices.
As Alexander glanced at her lips, her mouth was slightly open, and she appeared aroused. She might not have felt entirely comfortable with everyone at the table, but she definitely looked stimulated.
Leaning closer, he whispered something in her ear. She blushed again and nodded in response.
Helen graciously thanked everyone as she scooted her chair back. Glancing over at Alexander, she said, “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “Everything was delicious. Thank you.” He stood and reached for his plate.
Tessa put her hand out and said, “Don’t worry about that. Jace and I will take care of the dishes.”
Jace frowned. “We will?”
“Yes,” Tessa said, arching a brow. “We will.”
“I’ll help too,” Celina offered.
When Alexander and Helen left the kitchen, everyone sat in silence.
Breaking the stillness in the room, Kyle burst out, “They hooked up, didn’t they?”
“I think it’s cute,” Cassie said with a giggle.
Jace furrowed his brows. “Gross.”
“It’s not gross,” Tessa said. “It’s great to see them in love.”
“We need to invite Helen out for drinks,” Mia said. “I want to know details!”
“Good idea,” Angel agreed.
Shaking his head, Drakon chuckled. “If you’re having a girl’s night out, we need to invite Alexander out with the guys.”
“Yeah, that’s an excellent idea,” Jem implied, turning toward Jace. “You can plan it.”
“What?” Jace shrugged his shoulders. “Why me?”
“Please, honey,” Tessa pleaded. “Alexander would like that.”
“I’ll help,” Tim volunteered. “It would be nice to go out and relax for a change.”
Tessa glared at Jace. “No strip bars.”
“Honey, don’t worry.” Jace grinned, cocking a brow. “That would be the last thing on our mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”
Tim broke up the conversation and said, “Okay guys, let’s help clean the kitchen.”
****
Later that evening, close to five o’clock, Casey stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Before he got dressed to go to Lila’s parents for dinner, he’d need at least half an hour to rest after he took his dopamine. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Casey reached toward the nightstand and opened a drawer. Taking out a small syringe, he wrapped a tourniquet around the middle of his biceps. After Casey had filled the syringe, it took him a while to find a vein that was viable. Finally hitting the right spot, he drew back on the plunger and watched as the drug’s clear solution entered his body.
As he freed the tourniquet, he stared at his arm and thought of Lila. Halfway through the injection, his cell phone went off. A quick glance at the screen showed his father’s number. Pulling the needle out, he cursed as a beep indicated he’d missed the call.
Closing his eyes, he eased back onto the bed and let the drug take effect. He took an extra dose just in case. Up until now, he’d never cared about a relationship until Lila.
After enough time had passed, he stood with a groan and walked to his closet. The numbness spread through his body and shut out the voice in his head. The less his Theriomorph urges were triggered, the better he could function while socializing with others. If her family got wind of his secret, they would notify the Breedline Covenant. The hard reality was life had put him in a predicament he didn’t want.
Picking out an expensive outfit, he got dressed and checked his missed call. As he listened to his father’s message, his voice sounded troubled.
“Hello, Casey. Please give me a call as soon as you can. There’s something important I need to speak to you about.”
Casey frowned. He called him back, and when his father picked up, Casey said, “Dad, what’s going on?”
When there was a long pause, Casey got worried. “Dad, are you still there?”
“Please, son …” His voice grew rough. “Please don’t go to the Demont’s for dinner.” And then the line went dead.
“Dad?”
In the back of his mind, he had a sense as to why his father had told him not to go to Lila’s, but he ignored his warning. He couldn’t stay away from her. He absolutely couldn’t. Besides, maybe it was nothing. His father was always paranoid someone would find out his secret and leak it out. Ready to leave, he put his phone on vibrate and headed to Lila’s.
****
Lila couldn’t wait to see Casey as the evening drew near. With the clock ticking, it was getting close to six o’clock. Upstairs watching out from her bedroom window, she waited for Casey to show up for dinner and introduce him to her family.
“Miss Lila?” the butler called from downstairs. “Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sims. I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While she listened for sounds of movement downstairs, she thought of the bizarre dream she’d had last night. In the dream, she saw Casey without a stitch of clothes in the dark distance with his arms held out to her. His perfectly, naked body suddenly changed into a magnificent black panther, right before her eyes.
Summoned by his beauty, she walked across a foggy field to him, calling out his name over and over.
Noticing her presence, he raised his head and let out a screeching roar.
A sudden feeling of terror had shot through her veins and kick-started her heart as she dropped to her knees.
She had awoken with tears in her eyes and her body trembling in fear. Lila couldn’t understand the meaning of the dream, but her subconscious shouted danger.
When she heard the doorbell chime, she snapped back to reality. As Lila glanced out the window again, she saw Casey’s sleek, silver Maserati parked in the drive.
After a quick look in the mirror, Lila rushed downstairs as the butler was welcoming Casey inside. He was breathtaking. His long, wavy brown hair was groomed neatly and pulled back. Being a full-time model, Casey looked like he’d just finished a show and still had on the designer clothes.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase, she noticed the unusual lavender in his irises sparkle when she caught his eye.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.
As Lila reached for Casey’s hand, his blood warmed the instant he felt her touch.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Come.” She tugged his hand. “I want to introduce you to my parents.”
Before they entered the dining room, he took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. Stepping inside with Lila’s hand in his, he smelled a pleasant aroma of roasted duck. Across the room, Lila’s mother was placing a floral arrangement on the table, and her father was at the bar pouring himself a cocktail. Mr. Demont had a distinguished air about him. A year ago, he’d decided to retire from the head council of the Pennsylvania’s Covenant and move to California to be closer to the Breedline Queen.
Lila cleared her throat. “Mom… Dad,” she announced. “I’d like to introduce my friend, Casey Barton.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Casey,” her mother boasted as she came over to greet him properly.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Demont.” He reached for her hand. “It smells delicious.”
“Thank you, dear. We’re glad you could join us, and please call me Carol.”
Standing beside Lila, her father extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Casey.”
Looking up, he nervously greeted him with a firm handshake. “Thank you, sir.”
“Please.” He smiled. “You can call me Victor.”
When the butler finished setting up the table, Victor smoothed over his goatee with one hand and then motioned for everyone to sit down. “Please, let’s eat.”
As Casey slowly polished off everything on his plate, he had a sinking feeling in his gut. He wondered to himself if her parents approved of him so far.
An hour later, Mr. Sims cleared the table and took their plates to the kitchen. Casey’s stomach was in full revolt, and it wasn’t from the meal. His nerves were on pins and needles creating somersaults in his digestive tract. Before he came to Lila’s to meet her parents, he’d worried about his Theriomorph side creeping out. After taking a double dose of dopamine to keep it at bay, he had a headache along with nausea.
“Would anyone care for desert?” Carol offered. “Mr. Sims made a homemade peach cobbler.”
“No thank you,” Casey said, patting his stomach. “Everything was delicious, but I’m full.”
Victor cleared his throat. “I’ll have a small piece, honey.”
Sitting beside her daughter, Carol placed her hand on Lila’s. “Would you like some pie, dear?”
“No thanks, Mom. I couldn’t eat another bite.”
As the butler served Victor and Carol, he poured Lila and Casey a fresh cup of coffee.
When Victor finished his desert, he wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. “Casey, I met your father this afternoon.” He looked at Casey with narrowed eyes. “We had an interesting conversation over lunch.”
To be continued...
As Steven Pasquale—an Adalwolf with the ability to heal—manages to escape Dr. Markus Ludwig and his thuggish hired henchmen and two Breedline hybrids, he was shot in the chest. Now, unconscious in the hospital without an identity, Dr. Helen Carrington discovers Steven—whom they call John Doe—have the same healing abilities as the files she found years ago on a patient called SPECIMEN ONE. After years of studying the secret documented files, Helen finally discovers a cure to the aging process in the Breedline species. All she has to do is test the serum. And Alexander Crest agrees to be the guinea pig. When she shares the news with a colleague she trusts and has known for years—Dr. Carl Eaves—he agrees to help her and John Doe.
Later, someone at the hospital who’d witnessed John Doe’s mysterious healing abilities notified the news media. As word spread like wildfire, human reporters, police and crowds gathered outside the hospital as gossip spread about the hospital keeping an alien inside.
When Helen and her colleague, Dr. Carl Eaves found out, they immediately notified the Breedline Covenant. With Jem’s ability to use a portal, he transported John Doe from the hospital to the Covenant without being seen.
As John Doe came around, he became panicked, and used his abilities on Tim Ross—the Breedline head council—and shifted through his mind and all his past memories. Afterwards, Tim is threatened by Helen’s patient and calls a meeting with everyone in the Covenant. When Helen pleads with Tim to let her work with John Doe, he decides to agree as long as he’s guarded at all times.
When Alexander meets with Helen to take the cure, the passion between them heats up and the focus instantly shifts into a romantic interlude. After they consummate their bond, Helen changes into her Breedline wolf for the first time.
Meanwhile, Casey Barton prepares himself to meet Lila Demont's parents, worried his secret will be revealed.
Continued...
When Helen and Alexander walked into the kitchen, everyone at the table was finishing breakfast. Tim looked up and stared at Helen funny.
She did a quick check of her clothes, wondering if anything was inside out. “Good morning,” she said, glancing down at her feet. Helen noticed the hem of her pant leg was rolled up. Shaking her foot, it slid back down.
The silence stretched, and Helen blushed when the sounds of silverware softly dropped onto everyone’s plate with all eyes on her. And then they shifted their eyes to Alexander. His hair seemed a little out of place, almost tousled as if someone had been running their hands through the long waves.
“If you’re hungry, we have plenty left over,” Angel spoke out.
Jace chuckled and winked. “Yeah, I bet they’re hungry.”
“Hush Jace,” Tessa whispered, elbowing him in the ribs.
He jerked in response. “Ouch.”
Tessa motioned them over to the table. “Please, join us.”
As Alexander and Helen took a seat at the table, Angel handed them a plate and some silverware. Tim passed down the plate of pancakes, and Drakon gave them the dish of sausages.
Alexander inhaled, taking in the heavenly aroma. “Everything smells delicious.” He picked up the plate of pancakes and held it out to Helen.
“Thank you,” Helen said as she took one while Alexander forked three.
As they ate, Tessa occasionally glanced at them, trying to be patient. She pushed her plate to the side and let out a sigh. Not being able to hold back any longer, she blurted, “Alexander, did you take the cure?”
Alexander lowered his fork and swallowed. He pushed a strand of his hair behind his ear like he was trying to decide what to say. “Uh,” he muttered. “Not yet.”
When he said nothing further, Tessa looked at Helen confused. After an awkward moment, Helen cleared her throat. “I thought it would be best if he didn’t take it on an empty stomach.”
There was a short pause, and then Tessa’s mouth lifted at the corners. “Oh, I see.” The little smile on her face was a hint that she understood why they came to eat breakfast an hour after they’d planned for Alexander to take the cure. By the sparkle in Helen’s eyes and all the blushing, it was obvious they’d been making love all this time.
Alexander’s brows lifted. “Don’t worry,” he said reassuring. “I’m going to take the cure right after breakfast.”
Tim’s chair squeaked across the tile floor, getting everyone’s attention as he scooted closer to the table. He glanced at Helen and said, “How’s your patient doing?”
“I checked on him this morning, and he’s still weak but seems to be healing.”
“Would it be okay if I gave him a visit this afternoon?”
“Yes, of course,” Helen said. “Steven is eager to speak with you, too.”
As Tim engaged in conversation about Steven, Alexander watched Helen. Her head eased to one side, her hair falling farther down her shoulder. God, it was lovely, he thought. It reminded Alexander of fine mahogany that had been carefully varnished, glowing with reds and dark browns. He reached under the table and grasped her hand.
For a moment, she pretended it didn’t affect her, and then she turned in his direction and smiled. Gently squeezing her hand, he winked at her. He thought about what had happened earlier between them, recalling the soft sounds that escaped her lips when he’d touched her. He couldn’t wait to be with her again. Inhaling deeply, he hardened in a rush.
God, Helen thought. What was that scent? She breathed in deep and recognized the mix of intoxicating spices.
As Alexander glanced at her lips, her mouth was slightly open, and she appeared aroused. She might not have felt entirely comfortable with everyone at the table, but she definitely looked stimulated.
Leaning closer, he whispered something in her ear. She blushed again and nodded in response.
Helen graciously thanked everyone as she scooted her chair back. Glancing over at Alexander, she said, “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “Everything was delicious. Thank you.” He stood and reached for his plate.
Tessa put her hand out and said, “Don’t worry about that. Jace and I will take care of the dishes.”
Jace frowned. “We will?”
“Yes,” Tessa said, arching a brow. “We will.”
“I’ll help too,” Celina offered.
When Alexander and Helen left the kitchen, everyone sat in silence.
Breaking the stillness in the room, Kyle burst out, “They hooked up, didn’t they?”
“I think it’s cute,” Cassie said with a giggle.
Jace furrowed his brows. “Gross.”
“It’s not gross,” Tessa said. “It’s great to see them in love.”
“We need to invite Helen out for drinks,” Mia said. “I want to know details!”
“Good idea,” Angel agreed.
Shaking his head, Drakon chuckled. “If you’re having a girl’s night out, we need to invite Alexander out with the guys.”
“Yeah, that’s an excellent idea,” Jem implied, turning toward Jace. “You can plan it.”
“What?” Jace shrugged his shoulders. “Why me?”
“Please, honey,” Tessa pleaded. “Alexander would like that.”
“I’ll help,” Tim volunteered. “It would be nice to go out and relax for a change.”
Tessa glared at Jace. “No strip bars.”
“Honey, don’t worry.” Jace grinned, cocking a brow. “That would be the last thing on our mind.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever.”
Tim broke up the conversation and said, “Okay guys, let’s help clean the kitchen.”
****
Later that evening, close to five o’clock, Casey stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Before he got dressed to go to Lila’s parents for dinner, he’d need at least half an hour to rest after he took his dopamine. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Casey reached toward the nightstand and opened a drawer. Taking out a small syringe, he wrapped a tourniquet around the middle of his biceps. After Casey had filled the syringe, it took him a while to find a vein that was viable. Finally hitting the right spot, he drew back on the plunger and watched as the drug’s clear solution entered his body.
As he freed the tourniquet, he stared at his arm and thought of Lila. Halfway through the injection, his cell phone went off. A quick glance at the screen showed his father’s number. Pulling the needle out, he cursed as a beep indicated he’d missed the call.
Closing his eyes, he eased back onto the bed and let the drug take effect. He took an extra dose just in case. Up until now, he’d never cared about a relationship until Lila.
After enough time had passed, he stood with a groan and walked to his closet. The numbness spread through his body and shut out the voice in his head. The less his Theriomorph urges were triggered, the better he could function while socializing with others. If her family got wind of his secret, they would notify the Breedline Covenant. The hard reality was life had put him in a predicament he didn’t want.
Picking out an expensive outfit, he got dressed and checked his missed call. As he listened to his father’s message, his voice sounded troubled.
“Hello, Casey. Please give me a call as soon as you can. There’s something important I need to speak to you about.”
Casey frowned. He called him back, and when his father picked up, Casey said, “Dad, what’s going on?”
When there was a long pause, Casey got worried. “Dad, are you still there?”
“Please, son …” His voice grew rough. “Please don’t go to the Demont’s for dinner.” And then the line went dead.
“Dad?”
In the back of his mind, he had a sense as to why his father had told him not to go to Lila’s, but he ignored his warning. He couldn’t stay away from her. He absolutely couldn’t. Besides, maybe it was nothing. His father was always paranoid someone would find out his secret and leak it out. Ready to leave, he put his phone on vibrate and headed to Lila’s.
****
Lila couldn’t wait to see Casey as the evening drew near. With the clock ticking, it was getting close to six o’clock. Upstairs watching out from her bedroom window, she waited for Casey to show up for dinner and introduce him to her family.
“Miss Lila?” the butler called from downstairs. “Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sims. I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While she listened for sounds of movement downstairs, she thought of the bizarre dream she’d had last night. In the dream, she saw Casey without a stitch of clothes in the dark distance with his arms held out to her. His perfectly, naked body suddenly changed into a magnificent black panther, right before her eyes.
Summoned by his beauty, she walked across a foggy field to him, calling out his name over and over.
Noticing her presence, he raised his head and let out a screeching roar.
A sudden feeling of terror had shot through her veins and kick-started her heart as she dropped to her knees.
She had awoken with tears in her eyes and her body trembling in fear. Lila couldn’t understand the meaning of the dream, but her subconscious shouted danger.
When she heard the doorbell chime, she snapped back to reality. As Lila glanced out the window again, she saw Casey’s sleek, silver Maserati parked in the drive.
After a quick look in the mirror, Lila rushed downstairs as the butler was welcoming Casey inside. He was breathtaking. His long, wavy brown hair was groomed neatly and pulled back. Being a full-time model, Casey looked like he’d just finished a show and still had on the designer clothes.
Standing at the bottom of the staircase, she noticed the unusual lavender in his irises sparkle when she caught his eye.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.
As Lila reached for Casey’s hand, his blood warmed the instant he felt her touch.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Come.” She tugged his hand. “I want to introduce you to my parents.”
Before they entered the dining room, he took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. Stepping inside with Lila’s hand in his, he smelled a pleasant aroma of roasted duck. Across the room, Lila’s mother was placing a floral arrangement on the table, and her father was at the bar pouring himself a cocktail. Mr. Demont had a distinguished air about him. A year ago, he’d decided to retire from the head council of the Pennsylvania’s Covenant and move to California to be closer to the Breedline Queen.
Lila cleared her throat. “Mom… Dad,” she announced. “I’d like to introduce my friend, Casey Barton.”
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Casey,” her mother boasted as she came over to greet him properly.
Casey bowed his head. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Demont.” He reached for her hand. “It smells delicious.”
“Thank you, dear. We’re glad you could join us, and please call me Carol.”
Standing beside Lila, her father extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Casey.”
Looking up, he nervously greeted him with a firm handshake. “Thank you, sir.”
“Please.” He smiled. “You can call me Victor.”
When the butler finished setting up the table, Victor smoothed over his goatee with one hand and then motioned for everyone to sit down. “Please, let’s eat.”
As Casey slowly polished off everything on his plate, he had a sinking feeling in his gut. He wondered to himself if her parents approved of him so far.
An hour later, Mr. Sims cleared the table and took their plates to the kitchen. Casey’s stomach was in full revolt, and it wasn’t from the meal. His nerves were on pins and needles creating somersaults in his digestive tract. Before he came to Lila’s to meet her parents, he’d worried about his Theriomorph side creeping out. After taking a double dose of dopamine to keep it at bay, he had a headache along with nausea.
“Would anyone care for desert?” Carol offered. “Mr. Sims made a homemade peach cobbler.”
“No thank you,” Casey said, patting his stomach. “Everything was delicious, but I’m full.”
Victor cleared his throat. “I’ll have a small piece, honey.”
Sitting beside her daughter, Carol placed her hand on Lila’s. “Would you like some pie, dear?”
“No thanks, Mom. I couldn’t eat another bite.”
As the butler served Victor and Carol, he poured Lila and Casey a fresh cup of coffee.
When Victor finished his desert, he wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. “Casey, I met your father this afternoon.” He looked at Casey with narrowed eyes. “We had an interesting conversation over lunch.”
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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