Page 11 of Julian

Julian brushed past Greyson and set his focus on Cassia. From across the street, he caught sight of a dark shadow emerging out of nowhere.

“Luna,” he called to her. “Stop!” Well shit.

“I’m done with this game,” he said as he disappeared.

Julian materialized in front of her. But as she turned to lock eyes with his, Julian caught sight of the black tornado churning toward them. Hellhounds growled, their howls growing louder. A chunk of debris flew through the air and smashed into her head. As she released a blood-curdling scream, Julian reached for her and they both disappeared.

* * *

“What the hell?” Rafe looked down to the woman who lay on the bed. “You brought her home again? You need to stop doing this.”

“I am not sure this is wise. We don’t even know what she is.” Greyson shook his head in disapproval.

“Why did you bring her back here?” Rafe asked.

“I couldn’t just leave her. I saw something back there. A shadow … it was like a cyclone. I don’t know what the hell it was, but it was strong. Something hit her in the head and knocked her out. I could have sworn I heard hellhounds. It doesn’t matter what it was, though. We need to keep her safe. I’ve got pretty strong wards on this house. It should keep whatever was back there away.”

“You sure now? I don’t trust witches, especially if you’re talking about anything built by Ilsbeth,” Greyson told him. “I know how this story goes and I don’t like the ending.”

“Ilsbeth has never stepped within a hundred feet of this house. I had a powerful witch from Brazil set it up a long time ago. Like I said … I don’t know how long it’ll last, because I don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

Julian glanced down to Cassia as she slept in his bed. Determined to find out the truth, he wouldn’t let her slip away so easily. The energy between them had aroused his soul, his wolf demanding she stay. But he suspected it was the mysterious woman who held all the cards.

2

Cassia dreamt of the Alpha, his piercing eyes locked on hers. Dominant and powerful, he growled, demanding her submission. The true creature inside whispered to her, urging her to give her gift to him. But her mind fought the desire and she imagined she was soaring in the air, flapping her wings. As consciousness woke in her dream, she twisted the story, fighting her attraction to him.

For days after the incident in Idaho, Cassia had been tempted to contact the Alpha. Though she resisted, her visions persisted and she told herself it was her duty to warn him, nothing more, nothing less.

Cassia had been living and working in New Orleans when she’d been invited to Idaho for a private reading. A millionaire, Raphael Montego Chapman, had written her telling her that his wife had been a huge fan of tarot. He requested her private services as a present for his wife at her birthday party. He’d written, telling her a friend from New Orleans had recommended Cassia to him.

Though initially hesitant, she’d agreed to go after he’d beseeched her to do it, offering nearly ten thousand dollars for a night of work. He’d flown her up in a private jet and paid for her room in a five-star hotel in Coeur d'Alene. Although she’d have to call off for the weekend, the money would more than make up for her lost work. After a lifetime of running, she’d save money for the next time she was forced to leave … the hellhounds would come for her again.

What she hadn’t expected was to walk into a cocktail party with one hundred of their closest friends. From old money bankers to A list actors, the mansion buzzed with clout and coke. In an atmosphere laced with dollar bills and drugs, the energy zipped and popped. The second she’d stepped into the home, she’d immediately sensed the dark magick.

Not a paranormal in sight, she only saw humans. But that never fooled her, as humans were just as capable of evil as paranormals. While most appeared innocent, going about their days without giving a thought to the occult, a small percentage either loathed the existence of paranormals or, worse, sought gain from the evil that only a demon could elicit. Favors. Trades. Outright deals. Quid pro quo. A deal with Hell never ended well.

The second she met Raphael and his wife Allegra, she detected their dark energy. Cassia’s blood ran cold as Allegra parted her lips to speak, the putrid stink of Hell lingering on her breath. She immediately backed away and attempted to leave, but Raphael moved to stop her, grabbing her arm. The partygoers swarmed her, attempting to drag her to the floor. Cassia fought back, and slipped free of their grip. With her dress torn, she took off running out of the house, into the wilderness of the Pacific northwest. Though the tendrils of dark energy clutched at her heels, she never looked back.

In the darkness of the forest, growling and thunder in the distance echoed in her ears. Cassia ducked behind a tree, the excruciating pain tearing through her gut. She struggled to shift. It was the only way she’d survive. Yet, her beast failed to transform, sending confusion sweeping through her mind. Terrified, she continued running but stumbled over a branch and began rolling down the hill, bashing her body against the rocks.

The Alpha’s power washed over her long before she saw him.

“Easy.” Julian reached out to her, embracing her in his arms as the cliff gave out. As they slid down the mountain in a river of debris, his mesmerizing deep brown eyes were the last thing she saw before she fell into the swirling tunnel of darkness. Help me.

Her dream morphed back into her nightmare. Flames engulfing her business. Running out of the building. The Alpha. My Alpha.

Cassia’s body tensed as she heard his voice. Her eyes flew open and she sucked an audible breath. As his fingers brushed over her shoulder, his electric energy zipped through her.

Where am I? Cassia jolted out of bed and scrambled to the wall. Her lungs fought for air, panting for breath.

“Don’t … don’t …” She shook her head and held out her hand, adrenaline pumping though her veins.

“It’s okay,” he told her, his voice lowered to a whisper as if he were speaking to a child. “Nothing will happen to you here.”

“The hellhounds,” she whispered. They’d come for me.

“It’s okay. You’re safe in here,” he promised. “No hellhounds. Just me.”

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