“Why are you telling me all this?” Kasey asked in confusion and surprise. “I mean why did you feel I needed to know this? Why now, at least?” What did they expect her to do with this information? It was too much too soon. She needed time to process it all. She’d always been attracted him, and he’d made it clear he wanted her, too, but love? That wasn’t something she had been expecting.

Toni snorted. “Because men are idiots and expect all women to know what they’re feeling. Shifters are the worst. They find their mates and that’s it. There is no doubt in their minds that we won’t come crawling to them. It's just a matter of when. Brannon would have eventually gotten around to telling you, but it wouldn’t be the first thing on his mind. Getting you naked and marking you are.”

Kasey nodded slowly, but she wasn’t sure what they wanted her to say. Did they really know his feelings? Could he really be in love with her? She didn’t know, but they were right about one thing. He definitely wanted to get her naked. “He asked me to dinner, nothing else.”

“Dinner, when?” Caelan asked as he smiled. “Knowing him, he’s itching to get you alone again, especially after last night. He came too close to losing you. He isn’t going to let that happen again.”

“Tonight. What do you mean almost lost me?”

“He’s right,” Toni confirmed. “He was freaking out when you left the restaurant without saying a word or giving anyone a chance to talk to you. We took a chance you went back to your apartment, but what if you’d gone to your father’s? What chance would we have had to see you then? And on that note, you need to go home and get ready. We’ve got you covered. Go home, primp, relax and do whatever you need to do for tonight.”

“It’s only like two-thirty. I’ve got plenty of time to get ready after work…” Kasey trailed off as she realized that if she did indeed wait until after work she wouldn’t be able to go by and see Artemis. “Are you sure, you guys won’t mind if I take off?”

“Not at all. Trust me, it’s almost expected. Pretty sure all of us took half days when we had our first date with the guys. Get out of here and have fun, just remember what we said. He loves you.”

Kasey nodded—she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get it out of her mind. Could he really be in love with her? That thought kept repeating in her head as she grabbed her things and told Layla she was leaving. She left a message on Brannon’s phone letting him know she’d meet him at her apartment if he really wanted to do dinner and then she called a cab to take her to her father’s house. Layla could take the car home and she’d meet her there soon.

The cabbie whistled as he pulled up to the gates outside her father’s home. “You live here, lady?”

“It’s my father’s place, but yes, I grew up here. Thank you for the ride,” Kasey said as she passed the man his fare and a tip. She climbed out of the car, entered the code, and slipped through the door on the side and began the trek up the driveway.

“Artemis?” she called as she entered the home. “Hello?”

“Kasey, you came. Thank you so much,” Artemis said. “In here,” she said as she led the way into the small parlor. “I had a latte made for you in the hopes you’d come soon. It’s my way of saying thank you.”

“Thank you, that was very kind of you.” Kasey accepted the cup and took a sip of the warm frothy drink. “This is delicious.”

“I’ll be right back.” Artemis turned and headed back out of the room. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll only be a moment.”

Kasey looked around the room, drinking her coffee and waiting. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she vaguely heard voices coming back into the room. She tried to turn her head, but it was so heavy.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” Artemis singsonged. “Since you’re so damn hard to kill, I’ve decided to use you instead. Keeping you alive will make your father happy at least.”

“What...did…” That was all she could get out before her world went black again. The next time she woke, her head was a lot lighter, but her stomach was revolting. “Sick,” she managed to choke out as she rolled to her side and began throwing up everything she’d eaten in the last month. At least, that’s what it felt like.

“Don’t worry, that’s to be expected. In the morning, she won’t remember any of this anyway. But our plan will be set in motion,” Artemis whispered from her vantage point over Kasey. She tried to turn her head to see who she talking to, but she couldn’t find the energy.

“And my son?”

“Elias will be fine. He’s already begun the change. By morning, he’ll be his new self and we’ll be halfway to our goal.”

“What is it that you’ve given Kasey? Will it turn her like my son?” the unknown voice asked. “Will she be okay?”

Artemis laughed evilly. “She’ll be fine. The stupid wretch is the key to my revised plan. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

“What’s changed? You never mentioned anything new.”

“The teenagers are solidly under my spell. When it’s time, they’ll destroy the mountain leaders and leave the packs open for new leadership. That’s where your son comes in. His latent shifter genes have been activated. And with the help of my magic, he’ll be even more powerful than anyone who could oppose him. He’ll take over the mountain and unite the packs, prides, and clans as one under him. Kasey here will be his mate. When my child comes of age, he’ll get the same potion and become stronger than a normal shifter. Our children will rule the mountain. We’ll rule the mountain through them.”

“I don’t want to rule the mountain. I just want my family to have its rightful place in the shifter world. No more being ignored by our people just because we aren’t able to shift. It’s still our birthright; we deserve to live among them.”

“Fine, your son can hold the mountain until my child is old enough to control them all. Then he can step down and take his place as a prince.”

“And Kasey, what of her?”

“I’ll have no use of her once my child takes over. As long as she keeps taking the potion, as does your son, they will believe they are mated. They will be under my control.”

“You’re devious, and I am in awe of you,” the voice said. “Cheers to our lineage controlling what should have been ours all along.”