MISSY

"We should definitely go back to the trampoline place again," Sol giggled. "That place was so much fun!"

"Agreed," I said, squeezing Maddox's arm, which was comfortably nestled between mine as I leaned against him. "Thank you for planning that," I added, looking up at him without moving my head. His cedar and citrus scent filled me with a calm warmth, and I enjoyed his proximity.

He shrugged. "I just wanted to have a day with you and our friends." "I think you already thanked me at dinnerthoroughly," he added, linking me mentally. My face burned as I tried to hide my blush, but of course, Emmett scoffed.

"Ughquit linking her, Maddox," he groaned, throwing a pillow at Maddox.

Maddox simply shrugged and replied, "Maybe you should focus on why you don't have anyone to link with." He deftly avoided the pillow and laid his head on mine.

Julie snapped back, "Too bad she doesn't exist," her laughter filling the room as Emmett stared, speechless.

Allie blushed and looked away. I wasn't sure why, but I decided not to draw attention to it. We were relaxing in the living room after school, enjoying the cool breeze from the open door. I cuddled into Maddox's side, ignoring my growling stomach, not wanting to interrupt the moment.

"I think someone's hungry," Maddox murmured in my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm fine," I lied, my stomach protesting loudly.

He pulled his arm away. "I'll be back." I groaned at the loss of his warmth, but he stopped, pulled his hoodie over his head, and his shirt briefly revealed his sculpted stomach before he handed me the hoodie. He leaned down, kissing my lips and forehead. "I hope this will do until I get back."

Even Sol groaned at the display, but I didn't care. His scent clung to the hoodie as I pulled it over my head.

"While you're all complaining about the lack of love in your lives, is anyone else hungry?" Maddox called from the kitchen.

Everyone admitted to being hungry, and gratefully accepted his offer of food.

MADDOX

"I swear, she'd ignore her hunger for days if I didn't feed her," I muttered, turning on the sink to wash my hands before preparing food.

A chill ran down my spine. I felt watched. I checked the room and the window, but saw no one. I gathered the pizza ingredients and started browning the sausage, but the uneasy feeling persisted.

Tom spoke up, "Something's wrong. I can feel it."

"I know, but I can't place it."

Then I smelled it—a scent I thought I'd never encounter again. It smelled like Bygrave, butoff.

"I can smell you," I whispered, my mind racing. I knew I'd killed Bygrave outside Warwick's hideout.

Laughter drifted from the living room. He must be outside the kitchen window, upwind of the front door. They didn't know yet, and I needed to keep him away from Missy.

My heart pounded. A Sire in broad daylight on pack land was audacious, especially one with a grudge against me.

"Do you think we can get him away from the house?" I asked Tom.

He paced, muttering, "I don't know. I don't think it's that vampire."

"Who could it be?" I asked.

A feminine voice called from beyond the window, "I found you." An impossibly beautiful woman appeared, smiling intently. "I believe you're the one who killed my destined."

"Destined?" I asked. Then it hit me. "Likeyour mate?"

She spat, her smile vanishing. "Yes. Don't use your animalistic terms. Harly was my soul. My Charlotte. We don't all find our destined; it's rarer than your mating. You took that from me. Now, you'll pay."

"Alpha, the mate of the Sire I killed is here. She's talking about revenge. I don't know if she brought other vampires. I need help," I linked Liam, hoping for immediate reinforcements.

Liam linked back, "Assume she has more vampires. They just attacked my mother. I'm trying to get to you, but protect my daughter if I can't. Protect Missy."

"Yes, sir. I'll protect her." Help might not arrive. I had the Sire's mate here to kill me. The living room fell silent.

Missy's voice called from the doorway, "Maddox? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, all good! Be right there," I lied, hoping she'd be ignored. Charlotte's fight was with me. I was about to link Missy when she said, "Okay, I love you!"

Charlotte gasped, her eyebrows shooting up. "Killing you would be too easy now. You need to feel what I feel. When you beg for death, then I'll decide."

I linked Missy: "Vampire version of a Luna here. Get everyone out. NOW!" Charlotte turned to flee, but I lunged at the window, grabbing her hair. The blonde strands felt brittle in my grasp as I dangled from the window, yanking her back.

Screams erupted from the living room. Tom was begging to be released; Missy was in danger.

Charlotte strained, "You didn't think I'd come alone, did you? I'm going to make you watch as I drink from her veins."

I tightened my grip, grinding her face into the siding. The wood groaned. A flash of pain in my hand—she'd cut herself free, scratching me, and was heading for Missy.

"NO!" I roared.

Without thinking, I shifted and launched myself through the exploding window. Four vampires blocked me. They weren't Sires, but they were old. Stopping Charlotte from hurting Missy was all that mattered.

"How the hell do I get past them?" I wondered.

Tom growled, "Kill them all. Get to Missy."

"Let's do it."

MISSY

"Okay, I love you!" I yelled.

Something felt off. Maddox was unusually quiet in the kitchen. I could faintly smell something familiar. No one else seemed to notice, so I focused on the smell. Then it hit me: I saw myself in that cold, dark room, the vampire attacking.

"They're here," I knew.

Maddox's voice invaded my mind, "Vampire version of a Luna here. Get everyone out. NOW!"

Emmett asked incredulously, "What do you mean 'they're here'?"

"Vampires" I managed before an explosion in the kitchen. Everyone jumped up. As I turned to run to Maddox, the vampire stood in the doorway. She looked like a cruelly crafted goddess, deceivingly beautiful.

"Which one of you is the lady of the house?" she sneered. Everyone looked at me. She smiled, her eyes locking onto mine. "So, it's you I'll be killing today."

Sol squeaked, "W-w-we won't let you!" She was pale with terror.

The woman declared, "I won't give you that choice, but I applaud the effort. Her mate killed my Harly, and I'll make him watch her die. You'll be collateral."

"Let them go! Do whatever you want with me!" I pleaded.

She chided, "Ah, but they don't have to. They're all the same as you. You all need to be scrubbed from the Earth. It's what Harly would have wanted, and what I'll give him." She gestured, and multiple vampires flooded the room. All hell broke loose.