Madeline Freeman - Destiny Sealed

Ava's world is in turmoil.

As the new alpha of the world's only pack of hybrids, she's barely able to get a handle on her new responsibilities when a threat emerges. Ava's rival, the witch Kiara, is obsessed with restoring balance to the world by any means necessary--even if it means wiping out life as we know it.

Ava believes she can face anything with her soulmate Jack by her side, but every day that passes without them merging drives them farther apart. When the time comes to stop Kiara, can she depend on him to fight with her?

The sun shines down on me as I stand in the field where Jacks pack celebrated my first night here. That night, I was still a stranger. But now these grounds are as familiar as the back of my hand. My life now is unrecognizable from what it was just a couple of months agoback when I was friendless and unwanted, working in a call center and dealing with peoples frustration over things I couldnt control. In that lifemy human lifeI had come to grips with the fact that I would always be alone. I had accepted that I should never get attached because people inevitably leave.

My life changed when Jack accepted me into his pack. The werewolves at the enclave became my friends, my family. To them, my past didnt matter. My mortal life was gone, and all that mattered was the new immortal one before me. They celebrated my arrival with a party unlike anything Id ever experienced.

My eyes stray to the place where Marisol and Fiona twirled flaming batons, treating me to a routine they had been perfecting for who knows how long. Neither of them are here today. Turned into hybrids, both are now dead. I still ache where their presence used to be.

The clearing fills more by the minute. As more people file in, my gaze flicks to Echo, who stands with Dagny, Luke, Lola, and Brady. Despite her nearness to them, an air of separateness clings to her. She looks different from the girl we saved from the void two days ago. Can it have only been two days? Some of the gauntness in her face is already disappearing, no doubt due to virtually limitless access to foodsomething I get the sense was more of a privilege in the void. Its also clear shes had a shower. Her dark hair, which before had been oily and unkempt, is now smooth and shiny. However, despite all these improvements, one thing that is missing is the sparkle in her eyethe one that appeared when she met Mel. The two have of them had only just begun to get to know each other when Mel died in battle. Now the theyll never mergeto rejoin the two have of their shared soul.

I glance at Jack. Will he and I ever have that chance?

As the last stragglers file in, one of them catches my attention. Dr. Ostler hovers on the edge of the group, almost bouncing on the balls of his feet, reminding me of a child waiting in line at a carnival. But the doctor is no child. The oldest werewolf Ive ever encountered, he was in his late sixties when he turned. Like Echo, we met him only a couple of days ago. He has devoted his supernatural lifetime to studying werewolves and vampires. Jack and I discussed it this morning, and we decided there would be no better person to look at the hybrids to make sure there was no lasting damage inflicted on them by Kiara, the witch who created them, or Gavin, their former alpha.

If I could have your attention. Jacks voice isnt loud, but it carries. As his words ring through the clearing, the quiet shuffling of those assembled dies down. He looks at the group to his lefthis pack, his werewolves. I know youve all had to put up with a lot these last several weeks. I thank you for continuing to trust me. Our enemies are still out there, but I am confident with your continued help, they will be over soon. He turns his attention to the smaller group of nineteen individuals who stand apart from the main body. They look from Jack to me and back again, clearly unsure what will happen. Jack nods to me and takes a half step back.

When I killed Gavin last night, I became your alpha. An unfamiliar sensation sweeps through me, but somehow I can identify it with no problem. Each of these hybrids is connected to me, and their agreement that I am their leader pours into me. I push back to them my sense of gratitude before going on. We are a small packonly twenty of us. And there will never be more. There can never be more. We all know too well the horrors our kind can be used for when directed by people with evil intents.

I almost wish I had said nothing. The waves of shame and hopelessness left in the wake of last nights massacre fill me nineteen times over. None of them was in control of their actions last night. They were all under Gavins alpha command. Ive tried to convince them not to carry the burden of guilt for their actions, but the memories are too fresh for them. More than anything, I wish I could take the feelings from them so they would never have to experience them again.

What matters is what happens as we move forward. Our pack is small, and strength comes in numbers. That's why Ive decided to join our pack with Jacks.

Murmurs of surprise rise upand not just from the hybrids. Some of the werewolves whisper among themselves as I continue.

Not only was Jack my alpha before the magic of the sanctuary severed my ties to his pack, but hes also my half. I trust him with my life. Whats more, I trust him with all of yours. I turn to Jack and nod, and he takes a step forward.

To the members of my pack, Im positive you will accept these newcomers. You accepted Ava without question, even after you learned what she was. Remember, these hybrids, until recently, were weres just like you. I trust you will continue to make them feel at home as they adjust to our family. Jack meets my eyes and smiles.

I do my best to smile back. Im not having second thoughts. This was my idea. Still, I cant help being nervous as Dakota, the packs alpha female, moves to Jacks side. I drop to my knee in front of them and bow my head in submission. Unlike a challenge fight for dominance within a pack, when two packs join, the act of one alpha submitting to another is all it takes. My mind shifts to thoughts of all the reshuffling that will have to occur within the pack hierarchy. I have no frame of reference for how long it will take, but I cant dwell on it now. This is the right move from my packfor my hybridsand thats all that matters.

Jack and Dakota each place a hand on one of my shoulders. I prepare myself for some kind of sensation as my alpha bond transfers to the two of them, but nothing happens. I curse myself silently for being so unfocused and train my thoughts on all the reasons I want this to happen. The hybrids are already vulnerable. Not only am I unconvinced that Kiara will give up on her plans to use them to kill off humans to restore balance to the planet, but I cant be sure how other werewolf pacts will react when word spreads that there are now twenty of us. When I was the only hybrid, multiple packs were more than willing to turn me over for a bounty. But it was more than just the money that fueled their desire. Many werewolves still think that what I am is an abomination. These hybrids will be safer once theyre assimilated into a pack of weres who accepts them as they are.