Authors: Jessa Hawke
“He said I can find the keeper.” Caleb said almost dumbfounded.
“Of course you can.” Anton exclaimed finally realizing what Gustav realized. “You are a Storm. You have the gift of sight!”
“What do you mean?” Hailey asked.
Anton looked to Caleb who had now understood what it all meant too.
“It means that we are all totally lost. I have no way of knowing how to work my powers, especially now that Gustav is gone.” Caleb said as he slumped down at the now empty field where there once was a pool of Haitian blood.
“Do not say that. How hard could it be?” Anton inquired.
“It is hard. It was so hard for my father that it took him fifty years for the power to manifest. This was when he had all of the elders of the Storm pack teaching him. Me? How about me? I'm all alone with no one to tell me what to do.” Caleb explained.
Caleb paused for a while. “Look. We need to find another way to solve this dilemma. Trust me on this one. Depending on me to find the keeper is not going to be very fruitful.”
Anton nodded. “We can’t force your powers, definitely not. It is supposed to grow out of you organically...”
“Sure.” Hailey said sincerely trying to comfort the obviously distraught Caleb. “But please Caleb. Do not ever say that you are alone.” Hailey said with a stern voice.
“I will always be with you through thick or thin. I will be here.” She finished.
Anton looked a little uncomfortable at the sight of the two being all too chummy. So he spoke up just to break the sweetness between the Hailey and Caleb.
“That’s all nice but we have one thing you guys are forgetting all too quickly.” Anton said with a dark demeanor.
“If you have not noticed at all…” Now Anton just sounded downright mean. “Gustav is dead. He was murdered and I’m betting the Khiones got to him.”
“He is right.” Caleb agreed.
Something needed to be done about the Khiones. Hailey felt this deeply in her heart and mid the whole time. It was not just about protecting herself now; it was about revenge. She needed to avenge Gustav.
“The Khiones must have found out about this rendezvous.” Hailey pitched.
“I doubt that.” Caleb rebutted. “If they knew he was meeting someone, and if they suspected it was someone who had something to do with the sacrifice, then they would have stayed here or at least left a watch.”
“There is not a single living soul around us for half a mile.” Anton replied. “I can’t even sense a wolf anywhere near us here.” Anton finished.
“Then what happened to Gustav? Are you two saying this wasn’t the Khiones?” Hailey asked.
“To be honest, I didn’t sense anything wolf-like on Gustav’s body.” Anton said, defeating her original theory of the Khiones being the perpetrators of the crime.
“Exactly. Those wolves have a distinct smell and I’m pretty sure the smell would rub off.” Caleb added.
“So guys, who could it have been? I am pretty sure if it were a wolf pack, you would have said it by now.” Hailey looked frustrated.
“Wait.” Anton stopped. “What did Gustav tell you exactly?” He looked to Caleb for an answer.
“I don’t get what you mean? He said I could find the keeper.” Caleb replied.
“No! Hailey exclaimed. “He never said keeper.”
“Exactly.” Anton exclaimed. “Gustav said only you can find HER.”
*****
They decided to continue their conversation someplace safer and more private. Although they had finally concluded that the Khiones must still be oblivious to Hailey’s existence and that they were not Gustav’s murderer, they were faced with another dilemma.
Only one person could find the keeper and that was Caleb with his power to see through mist and cloaks. But he could not manifest his powers in time enough to save Hailey. At least they knew one thing for sure: that the keeper was a female.
“How do you guys think he figured that one out?” Hailey asked.
“I have no clue, but I’m thinking he met the keeper.” Caleb said.
“There is no way Gustav could have uncovered her identity without meeting her in person.” Anton continued Caleb’s line of thought. “That must mean the keeper killed him.”
“Ughhh… who is this keeper?” Hailey threw herself onto the bed of her little apartment.
Hailey started crying frustrated, defeated tears. A friend was murdered trying to protect her. This was the worst day of her life, she felt.
“Okay.” Caleb said in the most sullen tone he had ever spoken his whole entire life. That key was the biggest decision he had made so far. It was far bigger than his decision to have a threesome with Anton and Hailey. This was an okay, signifying his willingness to revisit the past that he had abandoned so long ago and to embrace the situation – the cards he had been dealt.
“What do you mean okay?” Hailey asked.
“I’ll do it. I’ll activate my powers to find the keeper.” Caleb said.
*****
The next couple of days were a blur to the threesome. Anton stuck his nose into every single book and old text they had in their very expansive library. He needed to know as much as he could about the Storms and their powers so they he could try to help Caleb activate his power to see.
Hailey, although told by the other two to just quit, went to her old box of memorabilia. She didn’t really have much in it, but it was better than just doing nothing. She just wanted to feel she was needed at least to some degree, no matter how little that degree was.
Caleb on the other hand researched every single diary, notebook and planner he still had that belonged to his grandfather and father.
“The power to see is the power to not see.” Caleb muttered. This was something repeatedly stated all over the files he had.
“What does that mean?” He asked himself.
One more curious thing was the fact that the rituals of the Alpha were never put down into writing. Just like Anton and the Alpha’s before him, the Storms had a ritual which was essentially sacrificing the Alpha to the moon for him to actually receive his license to lead his pack.
Caleb could only remember so little from the time he witnessed his father’s ritual. All he could recall was a loud and agonized scream. It lasted so long and it echoed all throughout their mansion up on Providence.
Then he heard his phone ring. It was playing a song he specifically tagged for one person if that person called. The ring tone was “Fuck You”, and he knew automatically from who it was from – Anton!
“Yes?” Caleb said with a tinge of annoyance in his voice that Anton easily caught on to.
“I figured it out.” Anton said. The darkness of his expression was intense and very deliberate.
“What did you figure out?” Caleb said a bit scared now.
Anton took a deep breath before he said anything.
“Hello?” Caleb asked.
“I’m here… I just… I think we should meet up, all three of us, right now.” Anton said. “I finally figured out why it takes such a long time for a Storm to get his power, and why you do not get to read it in any of your diaries. I mean, whoever would want to have a lasting memory of it is beyond me too.”
“You are scaring the shit out of me. Okay. Meet you in five. “Caleb answered.
They had decided to come to Caleb’s house. When they arrived, Caleb could finally see that darkness in Anton when he called.
“Tell me now.” Caleb demanded.
Hailey was utterly quiet the whole time and just propped herself beside Caleb, across from Anton.
“Here read this.” Anton gave Caleb a piece of parchment paper. It was a letter that was really old and written in a delicate and ornate fashion.
Dear Romano,
I have just come back from the Alpha ritual of the Storms and now I am beginning to fear for my little boys.
I am scared. I never thought it would be this gruesome. But I tell you this, you must help me, or else, I shall die from the fright of seeing my children go through the same amount of pain their alpha had just experienced tonight. They are cruel people, my dear Romano. I now regret why I chose to marry Vlad. I regret why I chose to be with him over you. I was scared of what their father could do to me or my family.
The letter was between Romano Dominguez and a woman who called herself his “White Lily”.
I fear that even if I object with all my might and power, I could not change the destiny of my children. They will have to go through the same thing. It is quite scary how they can only gain their powers if they undergo this ritual.
I know my children will want to go through it. But probably just like all other Storms, they shall choose to do so later in their lives to make sure they survive.
It’s funny that we wolves fear them because of their power, but the truth is, very few of them have it, and for good reason too. I cannot imagine my children going through it even when they become of proper age.
No! I cannot see them blinded only to receive that power of sight. I cannot take it as a mother.
You must rescue me.
With love,
Your White Lily.
Caleb shivered in place. The silence ate them all up before he finally stood before both of them and said, “I’ll do it. The power to see can never be had if I still see with my old eyes. I understand it now.”
Anton fell silent at the proclamation of Caleb.
“No. I can’t let you. What if something goes wrong? Even your forefathers were scared to do it when they could count on the knowledge all of them had at that time.” Hailey said with a forceful tone.
“What if it doesn’t work? What if that letter is fake?” Hailey shot daggers with her eyes at Anton.
“What if I don’t do anything?” Caleb asked. “What if the mark wears off and we don’t know how to taint you. What if they find out about you and take you away from me?” Caleb was getting all too emotional.
“I do not even think I could live with myself, Hails.” Caleb finished.
He looked to Anton, and gave him a slight nod. Anton knew Caleb was serious and sure. He knew that Caleb knew that if it were him in that exact position, he would do the same.
“Tonight, when the moon is full and the wolf’s bane is dry, you Dominguez will blind me.” Caleb said while Hailey rushed out of the door crying frantically at Caleb’s declaration.
“I swear by the moon Storm, I will aid you as you ascend as an Alpha.” Anton said. There was silence after as the two men looked to each other for comfort they badly needed.
Tonight, Caleb was going to go blind.
TO BE CONTINUED
To read Book Four oF the “Alpha Enchantment” Series, please click
HERE
. Or at
http://www.amazon.com/BBW-ROMANCE-Alpha-Enchantment-Part-ebook/dp/B00P4HIXCG
*BONUS EROTIC ROMANCE COLLECTION*
No Ordinary Threesome
Falling for the Billionaire
Menage with My Best Friend's Brother
Players Gonna Play
By: Passion Fire Books
No Ordinary Threesome
Chapter 1 PACKING
“I’ve got my hand on a mannequin's ass, right now, can’t this wait, Lin?” I say, impatiently, into my cell phone, which is balanced precariously between my ear and shoulder.
Apparently it can’t, as she continues to babble in my ear. Problem is, she’s on hyperdrive over what to pack for our two week holiday in Europe.
“Sugar plum,” I interrupt her mid stream, “I haven’t even opened my suitcase yet, but if you really want my input, then I’d say pack as little as possible. The climate is hot in Italy, and the guys are even hotter. Now go pack your thongs and skimpiest and let me finish my last day at work,” I tell her, and promptly cut her off before she starts up again.
“Nessy, you done out there yet!” a voice yells from behind the wall dividers.
“Nope, everyone keeps interrupting me,” I yell back. “I’m an artiste, it takes time to arrange my displays. You want your window to look good, or a bloody mess?”
A head of dark bushy hair, afro style, pops over the half wall separator.
“I just heard you talking to someone, so I thought you’d done.”
“Yeah, it was Lin, she can’t decide what to pack. Now leave me be or I won’t be getting home to do my own packing, I’ll be stuck here all night.”
“What!” Hannah gasps at me, “my packing was done a week ago. Don’t tell me you haven’t even started yet, Nessy?”
“What’s the rush,” I reply, “look, a big woman like me, can only fit a few items in such a low luggage allowance, so how difficult can it be. Unlike a skinny, thin stick such as you, who can probably fit her entire wardrobe in her suitcase.”
Hannah is always the organized one amongst us, whereas Lin is such a dizzy head and can never make her mind up, as for me, well anything goes. There will be no fuss or last minute panicking with my packing, I already know what I’m taking and it’s all slinky and sexy.
We might be a strange combination of friends, but we are all inseparable. We’ve known each other since junior high and we all get on well. Lin is Chinese American, with long slick dark hair and the most stunning oriental features I have ever seen. Not that she would agree with that, she’s extremely shy and always embarrassed when someone tries to compliment her. She has a very fit body too, but then being a professional dancer she needs to keep in top shape. When she dances she’s a different person altogether, gone is that shy disorganized girl, replaced by a graceful and confident woman.
Now Hannah, she’s the complete opposite, she is so well organized that I’m convinced she’s border line OCD. Everything has to be in its rightful place. That’s why no one gets near her store window display, except me. She doesn't let me do it as a favor for old friends, no. I do Hannah’s displays because I’m very, very good at what I do, and only the best is good enough for her.
As for me, well, I’m a big girl, not in height, I’m only a petite 5ft 3in tall, but that’s the only petite thing about me. I am a voluptuous 200lb big, beautiful woman, with curves all in the right place. Size 22 dress and a bust size of 40H. I’ve tried all the diets including Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, you name it, I’ve tried it, but they just don't work for me. Dieting makes me miserable and unsociable and my friends hate it when I’m on one. Now I just accept who I am and what I am, and I’m much happier for it.
Hannah’s voice interrupts my thoughts, “If we miss that flight because you couldn’t be bothered to think about your packing, I will never forgive you, Nessy,” she threatens.
Thankfully, those are her final words, as she storms off to leave me alone so I can get on with making her window look amazing, while she’s away. It’s her new special collection from the Paris fashion houses. I know she wants to make a special impression for a photography session she’s having done, for a magazine article. She’ll be having a Skype interview while we’re away. All this is making her a little bit more stressed than usual, so I’m trying to give it my full attention.
We all need this holiday to relax and unwind from the busy everyday lives that we all put ourselves through. Given that the climate around here is so cold at this time of year, we decided to go hunting the sun shine, with the added bonus of meeting some sexy European guys. I just cannot wait to get there.
A quick check of my watch tells me that I need to get a move on. I really do need to get home and do said packing, as the flight leaves at midnight. Time to up the pace and get my skates on.
Chapter 2 Pudding or Desert?
Unbelievably, by chance or pure miracle, we manage to arrive on time and in one piece. We’ve checked in to the rooms, unpacked, and now we’re out sunbathing on a hot sunny beach. The sand is a pale golden yellow and the sea, a deep turquoise blue, it is simply magnificent. It’s not just the beach that’s hot, the guys are too, well-tanned muscular bodies with the skimpiest of swim ware, I feel like I’m in heaven.
I’m relaxing on a sun lounger with a long cool drink in my hand, and eyeing up the local talent as it passes me by. I have my two-piece bathing costume on, with the straps hanging off my shoulders so I get an all over tan. Lin and Hannah are splashing about in the sea, like two big kids. I love these guys and I am so pleased to be here with them. The water that looks beautiful and clear, I’m gonna have to try it out soon. Right now, I’m looking at a couple of fliers of the local nightlife, this place is full of exotic clubs and bars and we have two whole weeks to try them all out. Oh, this is glorious, no work for two weeks, just fun, fun and more fun.
As I look over the tops of my sunglasses, I note a couple of guys observing the girls in the sea, they look hot, but as soon as they speak I lose interest. Their unmistakable Southern American drawl puts me off. Now I’ve nothing against my American compatriots, it’s the local talent I’m interested in over the next couple of weeks. The girls feel the same and the two guys soon realise that they are not interested in them, and slope off looking for other opportunities
My stomach starts to rumble and I realise that we haven’t eaten since we arrived, so I round up the girls and we head for the hotel’s dining room.
Thankfully the hotel has air conditioning, I love the sun but it’s so good to feel the cool air from the air con. We find a good spot where we can see the ocean from our window as we check out the menu.
“What you going to have?” Lin asks me.
“Well, you know what they say, when in Rome, blah, blah. It’s gotta be a big bowl of pasta with seafood for me, what about you?”
Lin doesn't answer me, because she is sat with her mouth slightly agape staring at something. I look up form the menu to see what has attracted her attention, and find myself looking upon the most handsomest guy I’ve ever set eyes on, and he is stood right by me. What’s even better, it’s not the girls he’s looking at with a twinkle in his eyes, but me.
“My name is Antonio and I am here to serve you tonight,” he tells us, with excellent English, and an unmistakable Italian lilt. It’s so sexy that I feel an excited quiver ripple in my tummy. He is a big guy, at least 6ft tall and with a broad chest and shoulders to match and a dark shock of thick, wavy hair. His face has strong Italian features, with the deepest brown eyes I have ever seen; maybe they’re even black. I could sink into them and be lost forever.
“Well, Nessy, tell the waiter what you want?” Hannah's voice interrupts my musings.
“Oh, I, erm, I’ll have whatever the waiter recommends,” I stutter out.
He stands close to me and leans down, pointing out items on the menu. He so close he's almost touching me and I can smell his masculine, musky odor. He smells delicious.
“Might I recommend that whilst in Italy, you must try the swordfish, the Puttanesca sauce is delicious, and I’m sure madam will enjoy this dish. Accompanied with a glass of Pinot Grigio, to clean the palate.”
“Yes, that sounds perfect, thank you,” I have no idea what he’s suggested and I want to keep him here, right by my side, suggesting things all night. “Can you also recommend a pudding?” I always have to have something sweet, it’s how I keep my figure just as I want it.
“What is this pu... pudding, you say?” my sexy Italian waiter asks me.
“Oh, Nessy, you have to be more refined when in Europe,” Hannah informs me and promptly tugs at my waiter’s sleeve, “she means her dessert, Antonio. If she doesn’t get her dessert, she’ll waste away.”
“Ahh, we wouldn't want that now, would we?” he says, bending over me again. “For dessert, I recommend an evening with me,” he says winking at me.
I look on speechless, and feel very flattered. My two friends are attractive girls and usually always get the boys first. It seems this guy likes his women big and beautiful, how can I resist a night of love.
“Oh, I’ll order a large slice of that,” I say.
“Excellent choice, madam,” my waiter tells me, smiling with a lopsided grin and an added dimple to match. “I will return once your meal is over, and escort you to the town.”
I say nothing, what can I say. I’ve just been chatted up by the sexiest waiter in Italy. He leaves us to get our drinks and I sigh a huge breath, followed my fanning myself.
“Oh boy!” I exclaim, “isn’t he gorgeous?” I ask the girls, not that I need their opinion.
“He is one sexy dude, Nessy, you sure you can handle him alone,” Lin says, always the humorous one.
“I’m putting up my ‘Not to be Disturbed’ sign tonight,” I inform them, jokingly. “I think I’m in love, this is the one, the special one, I feel it in my tummy.”
“Nessy, you need to be careful, these holiday romances always end in tears.” Hannah decides to give her usual sensible input.
“I’m not interested in anything long term, Hannah, I just want a little bit of fun while I’m on my holiday, where’s the harm in that?”
The food arrives and it is delicious, just as the waiter recommended it would be, but I am too distracted to enjoy it properly, all I can think about is my impending date with the sexy Antonio. Every time he comes to the table he gives me a wide sexy smile and pays me more attention than the other two girls, always flattering me and complementing me on my looks. If I didn't know better, I’d think the girls were a little jealous.
Finally, the meal is over and my date arrives on time, dressed in faded jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt which shows off his firm muscular frame. I can’t believe my luck, first day here and I have a date with a sexy hunk. After making my farewells to the girls, he whisks me off into the town.
Chapter 3 A Private Beach Party
We have a wonderful time, my chaperone is an amazing gentleman and attends to my every need, treating me with respect and paying me full attention, all evening. As we come out of a quiet, little bar, off the beaten track, he heads towards the beach.
“Antonio?” I say, “why me?” I have to ask the big question.
“Why you, what?” he replies, questioningly.
“Why did you ask me out?” I dare to push the question further.
“Why not you?” he laughs as he puts his arm around my shoulder. “You are a beautiful sexy woman, why would I not ask you out?”
I look into his face to see if he’s mocking me, but all I see is a genuine smile, and a little twinkle in his eyes.
He stands in front of me and gently puts an arm around me and a finger under my chin, as he lifts up my face, me presses his soft lips onto mine. I cannot resist. My first kiss from a sexy Italian guy, who would have thought I’d beat my friends and be the first out on a date. I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach as he gently strokes my cheek, while his lips are pressed to mine. We must look an odd couple, he tall and slender and me short, and very curvy. I’m almost standing on my tiptoes to get that kiss.
“Shall we go and walk by the sea?” he says, pulling away from my lips. “The beach is beautiful in the moonlight and there will be very few people around now.”
We walk towards the seashore hand in hand. The beach is deserted, as he said it would be, and the light of the moon glitters on the sea, giving it a perfectly romantic ethereal glow.
We get to the shoreline and he embraces me again, kissing me full on the lips, more firmly this time and with more passion. His tongue pushes into my mouth and I moan lightly, opening up my lips a little more to let his tongue explore my mouth. Ohh, he tastes so good, and I feel a little disappointed when he pulls away.
He takes my arm in his and we continue our walk along the moonlit beach. We both remove our shoes and walk closer to the sea, letting the warm water rush over our feet. My head is resting on his side as we walk, I feel very much the lucky girl tonight, and it’s not over yet.
As we walk along the beach, the darkness surrounds us, until we can hardly see where we are treading, the only light we have now, is the moonlight.
“Let us go sit up there, where it is dry and sheltered by the rocks,” Antonio suggests.
He’s right, it’s a perfect spot. A balmy evening with the sound of crashing waves and the moonlight casting a silver glow over everything. Perfect bliss.