Though Thomas’s love was unconditional, I knew his acceptance would always have conditions.
I was now the potential threat he and Winifred had feared.
Eighteen
Present...
“You’ve been doing that a lot since we left,” Thomas said coming to stand behind me. His hands settled on my shoulders as I continued staring out the hotel window. Bethi, Gabby, Luke, and Clay were now barely visible in the glow of the streetlights. They were on their way to find the fifth member of our little group. Bethi’s excited nervousness and her desperation had been palpable.
I was relieved that only the four were going. Emmitt, Michelle, and Jim were a door down from our room. Close enough to keep safe, though Gabby had assured the Elders she would be watching for Urbat. So far, their net hadn’t closed on this area.
“Doing what?” I asked, gently laying my hand on his.
“Drifting off. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I don’t,” I answered honestly. He wouldn’t accept less. “Mostly I’m thinking about my past.” And what I would do to keep the ones I loved safe.
“You’re worried.”
“I am. I’m worried that my secrets, when you hear them, will be more than your Claim can withstand.”
He turned me, and I met his serious, dark gaze.
“You’ve always been stubborn. But, I can’t believe that after all these years, you still doubt me.”
“It’s not doubt in you or your ability to love me. I’ll never doubt either. I’m worried you won’t be able to forgive me everything.”
He frowned. “Now, you’re worrying me.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I love you, Thomas. More than ever.” I sighed and looked out the window once more. “Something is pulling at me. Something dark and ominous. It’s whispering to me to be strong, to wait. It’s telling me the end is near. The end to what? I don’t know. But I sense it’s not going to be good. When Bethi started talking about Judgements and balance, it felt right.”
I sighed again and said the words that had been weighing on my mind.
“The cycle is almost at its end. I feel like it’s the end of our time here, of me.”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading. Gabby and Clay, Emmitt and Michelle, Bethi and Luke, and Thomas and Charlene aren’t done yet! The series continues with Isabella’s story (keeping reading for an exclusive sneak peek).
Did you know that reviews on reader and retailer sites help shape the future of the Judgement Series? I try to read them all and listen to what each says. Because so many of you have asked for more, I’ve decided to write novellas from Clay, Emmitt, and Thomas’ point of view. I can’t wait to share their stories. Keep leaving the reviews, and I’ll keep listening!
Want to keep up to date on the Judgements? Sign up for my newsletter at http://melissahaag.com and be one of the first to know when another book releases. Stalk my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag for news on giveaways or other great reads.
Appendix
The Judgements:
Hope — Gabby, recently Claimed Clay [Book 1: Hope(less)]
Prosperity — Michelle, Mate to Emmitt, son of Charlene [Book 2: (Mis)fortune]
Wisdom — Bethi, Mate to Luke [Book 3: (Un)wise]
Strength — Charlene, Emmitt’s mother, Mate to the werewolf leader Thomas [Book 4, (Un)bidden]
Peace — Isabelle [Book 5: (Dis)content, anticipated release 2015]
Courage — [Book 6: (Sur)real, anticipated release early 2016]
Additional Characters:
Clayton Michael Lawe: Future Mate to Gabby.
Samuel Riddeclass="underline" An Elder of the werewolves.
Winifred Lewis: An Elder of the werewolves.
Thomas Cole: Mate to Charlene, leader of the largest pack.
Emmitt Alexander Cole: Son to Thomas and Charlene; Mate to Michelle.
Jim Grayson Cole: Brother to Emmitt; son to Thomas and Charlene.
Grayson (Grey) Cole: Brother to Thomas and an Elder of the werewolves
Carlos Cole: Found in the woods and essentially adopted by Grey, so he uses Grey’s last name.
Gregory Meur: Cousin to Thomas; Mate to Mary.
Mary Meur: Charlene’s friend and Gregory’s Mate.
Paul Hantus: Mary’s uncle
Henry Hantus: Mary’s father
Paul and Henry Meur: Gregory and Mary’s children, named after her father and uncle.
Blake Torrin: Leader of the Urbat
The light’s Gabby sees:
Werewolf — Blue center with a green halo
Urbat — Blue center with a grey halo
Human — Yellow center with a green halo
The Judgements:
Charlene — Yellow with a red halo
Gabby — Yellow with an orange halo
Michelle — Yellow with a blue halo
Bethi — Yellow with a purple halo
Isabelle — Yellow with a white halo
Olivia — Yellow with a brown halo
Exclusive peek of Isabelle’s story
Coming 2015
The phone rang before my alarm. Hell hath no fury like a woman woken before her alarm. I fumbled to find the phone in the dark.
“Hello?” My voice crackled.
“Hey, Z. This is your reminder to pack your bag. You promised to cover tonight.”
I growled. “Ethan. You are sick to call me this early. I said I’ll be there. Now, leave me alone.” I ended the call without a goodbye.
The phone rang again before I could drop it back on the nightstand.
“What?” I answered.
“I’ve dusted your gloves, babe. You’re overdue.”
The call disconnected, and I smiled in the dark. Only Ethan—that huge pain in the butt I called friend—could annoy me and make me smile at the same time. He was right. I needed to go in and really purge.
Hitting the bag at home helped, but I suffered from a slow build up. Ethan compared it to PMS. I grew moodier until I started an actual fight. Except the fights were never fair. In my anger, I pulled too much of my opponent’s emotions, and they tended to just stand there with a stupid smile as I hit them. But, I couldn’t avoid the fights. I needed them. Hitting an actual person drained me way more than the bag, and it was the only thing that helped when I got like this. I hated fighting, but didn’t see any other choice.
With a sigh, I slid from the sheets and shuffled to the bathroom. My long, red hair was a tangled mess, and I scowled at myself in the mirror.
I already felt edgy. It would be a long day.