Book One
I killed a girl last night. I
did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the
dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the
part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that
when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping
teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she
was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the
moment he showed up.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are
staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill
them.
Book Two
Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.
At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?
Book Three
Hybrids.
If I had to choose one word to sum up all of my problems, this would be it.
Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to watch my best friend slowly becoming a monster. Without hybrids, I could let go of the mentality “hunt or be hunted.” CHAS wouldn’t be scouring the Earth, intent on slaughtering and using Alex to do it. Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to be on guard that losing my temper meant losing my shape. There would be no monster inside me, struggling to get out.
Then again, without hybrids, I wouldn’t have Wesley St. John.
Excerpt From Book 4:
“I’m exercising my right to have an opinion. And enforce it when someone doesn’t listen,” Nick said.
He was choosing his words carefully. He wanted to challenge me but he was wary of how to go about it. Something dark and lethal shifted inside him. No, I was wrong. He didn’t want to challenge me so much as pick a fight. With anyone. Nick wanted to taste blood. It no longer mattered whose.
This was my fear with the hybrids.
The reason I checked on them, babysat them, kept them hidden in the woods. There was something dark and ugly inside them. Some kept it farther from the surface than others, but all of them had it. Even George. The thirst, the longing for blood. Not only to spill it but to taste it.
Nick’s thirst was overwhelming now. I could feel it in my head. I could see it in his eyes. He couldn’t fight it any longer. He’d decided he didn’t want to.
With mouth open, jaws flexed, he leaped.
All I could think was, this is why Alex hates us.
****
“Hey, sleepyhead,” I said into the silence.
Alex’s doctor insisted coma patients had been known to wake up claiming to hear the voices of those who’d visited while they were under. He’d said I should talk as often as possible. Sometimes, I felt silly doing it, but other times, like today, it was nice to be able to vent without judgment.
Other people’s reactions had a tendency to weigh heavily. I was already carrying an entire pack’s worth of emotion. I didn’t need any more. And this way, I could tell Alex absolutely anything, including things I’d never say if he were awake.
So while I sat, I told him about all that had happened in the last few days: Nick, Vera’s collapse, my expulsion, and the growing certainty that Steppe wanted to do more than dissolve a peace treaty and kick me out of school.
“It’s building toward something,” I said. “And I don’t know what it is, but it’s … close. Like it’s right around the corner.” I looked down at my hands and realized I’d been twisting them together. I freed my fingers and reached out, wrapping my fingers gently around Alex’s.
“Honestly, I’m afraid to look around that corner. I know whatever’s waiting is going to be bigger than me. Bigger than I’m capable of. And it would be so much easier to handle if you were awake. At least then your sarcasm would make me determined to beat whatever this is. But with you like this… I need you to wake up, okay?”
And I need to know I didn’t kill you.
***
The sun dipped behind the trees, casting shadows and making it darker here than it was elsewhere. More was gathering than dusk.
I shivered.
Derek looked at his watch, then the darkening sky. “Cambria should’ve been back by—”
“Here!” She emerged through a break in the trees a few yards away. Through the bond, I sensed Chris hanging back. He was thinking about how much Cord disliked him and he didn’t want to make this moment harder. George stayed with him, both of them watching us from the cover of branches, silent sentries.
It amazed me how much I’d come to appreciate Chris. But once we’d bonded and he’d fought for me in the clearing against Kane, things between us shifted, though slowly at first. Somehow, I hadn’t realized until now, I trusted him. To keep the pack safe in the woods when I was away. To walk my best friend home amidst possible danger and threat of death. To understand Cord’s anger wasn’t personal and give her the space she needed. I sent him a Thank you through the bond, letting him know I understood what he was doing.
“Where have you been and why aren’t you on the trail?” Derek asked, meeting Cambria halfway across the yard and pulling her into a hug. He’d been going for stern, but the way he smiled when he held her made it clear his irritation was feigned.
She kissed his nose and explained, “Chris said it would be good if we created multiple trails between here and camp for when Steppe’s men come.”
“Which will be soon,” Cord said. “We need to go.”
Derek ignored her and kissed Cambria on the mouth. “That was a good idea. I missed you.”
When she smiled at him, the sunshine in her hair was nothing compared to the light in her eyes. “I missed you too.” They kissed again, oblivious to the rest of us.
It still amazed me, the relationship that had sprung up between them. Cambria hadn’t necessarily been flighty when it came to guys but I’d never seen her this serious for any length. Then again, none of those boys had been Derek. Even I could admit he was hot. And when he wasn’t standoffish and actually decided to be friendly with me, I could see what drew her to him. He wasn’t nearly as serious as he pretended to be. And he loved Cambria, that much was clear from the way he saw past the summer-sunrise hairdo to the person inside.
I waited for them to break apart, but their kiss deepened. Arms tangled. I was pretty certain they’d forgotten we were all here. And about to go on the lam with a truck bed full of weapons. Or anything else remotely pertaining to reality. Geez.
After a minute, Jack cleared his throat.
“We’re burning daylight,” Cord called wryly.
“And a hell of a lot of calories from the looks of it,” Wes added.
“Yeah, yeah,” Derek said, finally breaking away enough to formulate words. He slung his arm over Cambria’s shoulder and faced the group, a goofy smile on his lips. He wiggled his eyebrows. “If you’re jealous, Cord, I can give you the same goodbye.”
About the Author
Heather Hildenbrand
Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. Since 2011, she’s published more than eight YA & NA novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She splits her time between coastal Virginia and the island of Guam and loves having a mobile career and outrageous lifestyle of living in two places.
Heather is also a publishing and success coach bent on equipping and educating artists who call themselves authors. She loves teaching fellow writers how to create the same freedom-based lifestyle she enjoys. For more information visitwww.phoenixauthorink.com and find out how to create your own OutRAGEous Life.
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Our Kind of Love
