Pruitt
As he parked Haven’s truck behind the Fang Mobile, ’s heart sank. Discarded bloody tablecloths were laying on the front porch. He couldn’t stop thinking about what he had done—everything was fresh in his mind. I’ve gotta say it.
“Griff, before we go in, there’s so-something I need to tell you,” said with a long sigh. “I remember everything I did while under Luna’s control. She made me—I, um—I bit Zak.”
He flashed back to sinking his teeth into the vampire’s shoulder, infecting him with what was a deadly toxin for the vampire. He recalled the look on Zak’s face as his skin turned a sallow hue.
“ Oh, no .” Griff covered his mouth with one hand, clutching ’s hand with the other. “He—that means he, um—he’s...”
nodded, putting his head down on the steering wheel as his eyes welled with tears.
“You know—I know— he will know that it wasn’t your fault,” Griff exclaimed as he put his arms around his lover’s shoulders and squeezed him. “He’ll know because the minute you snapped out of it, you saved Orpheus.”
The two held each other for some time before going inside.
“Pru,” a shirtless Uriah—fresh out of the shower—was at the cabin’s entrance waiting for him. He studied the pained look on the werewolf’s face before wrapping him in his tattooed arms. “Don’t apologize for a thing. I know it wasn’t you. It was that blimey bitch, Luna. Orpheus already told us what happened.”
Griff stepped past them, making eye contact with Kale and Julian. The vampires flanked the couch, where a somber Orpheus lay upright. When Uriah finally let go, he directed him to the living room.
“Kale, Jules, Orpheus,” managed through tears. “I’ll never forgive myself. I’m so sorry.”
Kale and Julian’s faces remained hardened. The room was quiet.
“Th-there’s nothing to forgive,” Orpheus broke the silence, getting to his feet and embracing . “They explained everything—Luna’s parasitic control, Griff’s plan. It wasn’t you who killed Zak, , but it was you who saved me.”
squeezed Orpheus back, afraid to look up at the other bandmates. It surprised him when they joined the embrace, wrapping their arms around him just as Orpheus did.
“We all agreed to the risk,” Kale said softly.
“We know the real ,” added Julian. “We’re just glad you both are safe and back with us.”
Darcy appeared at the foot of the steps, Quinn just behind him. “,” began Darcy as the vampire hug pile-on ended, “I’m glad you’re back with us. Looks like Griff’s plan worked again.”
“Thank you for being there for Griff,” said before pulling the hesitant Darcy into a hug.
“It’s probably a good thing I was under Luna’s control,” Darcy replied, hugging back. “You know, to explain me being a jerk to you back in Mystic Hollow.”
“You’re like the prime target for mind control these days, huh?” managed a chuckle, messing up Darcy’s hair in a playful manner.
Darcy blushed as released him from his embrace. “Trust me, that’s all I’ve been hearing since I drank your boyfriend’s nasty concoction.”
“I’m glad Griff’s plan worked, too, buddy,” said Quinn as he gave a hug. “ For now, anyway .”
Griff, watching the multiple reunions with watery eyes, gave Darcy a playful punch to the shoulder. “Hey, I know I was gone when you woke up, but I’m glad you’re back with the good guys.”
“I’m so sorry about everything,” said Darcy, reaching for Griff’s closest hand and squeezing it. “I had no idea I was—um, well, a parasitic host.”
“In his defense,” began , “the control goes in and out.”
Uriah nodded. “That’s something we saw at the party.”
“It all depends on what she needs and who she needs it from,” added Darcy.
“And if a host she’s already infected bites you, they can control you, too,” acknowledged Griff. “Haven is the one who bit . It’s what made him vulnerable to Luna.”
“There’s more,” Darcy said as he took a seat on the bottom step of the stairwell. “I spoke to Alo, the, uh, handsome younger Native American werewolf that’s Haven’s best friend, and he didn’t remember getting infected.”
“Neither does Haven,” said Griff.
“Right,” continued Darcy. “Me neither. Which makes me think there’s something else going on.”
Griff thought aloud. “Maybe something like vampire compulsion, but for werewolves.”
“I thought our compulsion didn’t work on werewolves,” Julian chimed in.
“It doesn’t, unfortunately,” Uriah chimed in as he gave a squeeze. “Believe me, I’ve tried, and tried, and tried.” chuckled and playfully punched his vampire lover, earning a kiss as a reward.
“So, memory manipulation?” Quinn asked. “It’s a powerful magic.”
“Another werewolf that’s helping Luna?” shook his head, clearly upset. A knock at the door made him jump.
Griff pressed a kiss into ’s cheek before walking to the door. “Don’t worry. It’s just some new friends.” Haven, Fen, and Magnus greeted him as he opened the door, all of them in various states of undress as they hurriedly put their clothes on.
Looking to , Fen blushed as he buttoned up his pants. “Sorry, went for a wolf run and ran into this handsome mug.”
“Griff,” a shirtless Haven spoke softly, an apologetic look on his face.
“You don’t have to apologize.” Griff pulled him into a hug. “Thank you for getting home.”
could feel Haven’s nervous energy from across the room. “Besides the whole ballroom blow-out, I guess we haven’t officially met yet,” Haven said as the young witch released him. “Guys, I’m Haven. , I…”
Haven’s voice trailed off as hugged him. “Thanks for the save, Hemming.”
“It’s the least I can do for biting you—and, um, accidentally taking control of you many, many times,” Haven muttered. “S-sorry about that. Truthfully.”
“ Oh, right ,” appeared dumbfounded. “Wow, I guess I didn’t even think about that. Was that like the whole time or what?”
The sound of Uriah clearing his throat cut and Haven’s interaction short.
Haven turned to face the vampire. “Speaking of,” began Uriah, stepping forward and looking him up and down.
Haven’s face went red in front of the taller man. “Uh, you must be Uriah, the?—”
“ Vampire scum ,” Uriah said with a wink. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the other werewolf in this little love circle. I’ve heard—and experienced—so much.”
still wasn’t used to hearing Haven’s thoughts, his voice surprising him as it echoed through his head. ? Oh, god, that’s the vampire that I—um, I mean, the one I made … I basically had sex with all these guys without their consent. This is so awkward. I feel like I could die.?
looked at Haven with a knowing grin on his face and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about Uriah. He liked it. We both did.”
“We all did,” Griff added, his face as red as Haven’s.
watched as Uriah put his hands on his hips and blew air through his lips, a sudden coyness to his demeanor as he spoke to the blonde werewolf. “Uh, well, what they said, I guess. We’ll, um, have to do it again.”
Fen raised a brow as he walked past the group. “What is it I’m missing?”
“Exactly what I was wondering, love,” added Magnus as he stepped around Haven and came inside.
“Pru, Darce—while you were out of commission, we replaced you with two new werewolf buddies,” Uriah said with some sarcasm in his voice. “Meet Fen and Magnus. Maybe we do this: first name, last name, wolf power.”
“ The Silver Wolf, ” Fen said as he greeted . “Fenrir Phillips, but you can call me Fen. I’m your guy for premonitions, visions, those kinds of things. I believe we’ve briefly met.”
“The guy in the bathroom with Griff’s glasses? Right,” said as he shook his hand.
“Also known as the First Werewolf, eh?” Magnus said as he patted on the back. “Magnus Every, supersonic howl. Think I’m playing you tonight in the big game.”
“You’re the linebacker for Moonhaven, aren’t you?” said with a smile. “Speaking of the game, I?—”
“We’ll talk about that in a moment,” interrupted Uriah. “Darcy?”
“Darcy Landon here. Guess I didn’t know— still don’t, technically —I was a werewolf. Powers to be determined, I guess, but I’m also a witch,” Darcy added as he raised his hand and waved to Fen and Magnus.
“Always happy to show you the ropes when it comes to lycanthropy, brother,” Magnus beamed. “Get it, ropes? ‘Cause you’ve been all tied up since we first met.”
“Oh, yeah,” Darcy stuttered. “I-I remember you guys helped us get out of the manor.”
Fen nodded in Darcy’s direction. “And I remember you gave me some interesting little visions.”
? Anyone know about those visions?? asked.
? Not yet,? Griff telepathically replied. ? Remind me to ask later.?
Haven’s voice echoed only in ’s head. ? I keep forgetting we can talk here. I’ve never met him until last night.?
Uriah added some comic relief. ? Lil’ psychic wolf probably just found out the size of his knob just by touchin’ him. You know, like he did with me.?
raised an eyebrow. ?I’ve missed a lot, haven’t I??
Uriah nudged his quarterback boyfriend. “Pru, how about your introduction?”
“Uh, Mondamin,” began, “I can sense people’s emotions, and—well, kind of weird, but if I kiss someone or am intimate with them, I can read their thoughts and communicate with them telepathically.”
“Juicy,” gawked Fen. “So, if you’re the First Werewolf, and Uriah is the First Vampire, what’s the connection with Griff? He looks a little young to be the First Witch.”
“Original Witches are immortal, by the way. Thanks ,” Quinn chimed in from a nearby recliner.
“I’m a descendant of the First Witch,” Griff said with a nervous smile. “They were her familiars, and now they’re mine. Also, I killed her during our homecoming weekend.”
“ Way romantic ,” Fen said with a nod.