Falling into the White

By Christine Michelle

Failed werewolf to leader of my kind...
Only me!
In order to unite the two breeds of werewolves, the Ancients and the Lessers, I have to put a stop to the tyrannical rule of the current werewolf King - Antoine DéLune. It won’t happen until I come into my full power.
That won’t happen unless I choose a mate. I have to choose between Evan - whose claim I already accepted once or Mikael, his brother - who they forced into my life.
One will help me embrace my destiny, while the other is fated to destroy it.
There’s no way of knowing which one is my future or my end.
Oh, and the kicker, Antoine DéLune is their father!

This is book TWO of The Ancients Series. This paranormal romantic suspense story MUST be read in order. The main character's story concludes in book 4, but all four of those books are already available!
1 - Shadows of the Ancients
2 - Falling into the White
3 - Branches of the Willow
4 - Bound by the Moon

*Note: This book was originally released in May, 2014. It has been updated, given a new cover, and is listed as a 2nd edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moonlit Dreams Publications
• Release date: May 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311253644

Book preview

Falling into the White

Christine Michelle

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Moonlit Dreams Publications

Copyright © 2014 Christine M. Butler

2nd Edition © 2021 Christine M. Butler

3rd Edition © 2023 Christine Michelle

All rights reserved 

Scanning, uploading, copying, and/or any distribution of this book, either electronically or otherwise without express written permission from the publisher (author), is illegal and punishable by law and will incur civil penalties. Small quotes and snippets may be used for review purposes only where they do not contain information that would spoil the book for potential readers. 

Help support authors you love by only purchasing legitimate copies of their work through trusted sources. Trusted source links and updated pricing can be found on the publisher’s website at

https://www.moonlitdreams.org/

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Multiple images used for cover creation and interior files licensed via Adobe Stock.

Smashwords Edition

Contents

1.Not Quite a Double

2.Friends and Family

3.Puppy Love

4.Just a Walk

5.Witches on the Quad

6.Spa Day

7.Mixed Signals

8.Lunch From Hell

9.It Matters

10.Fate Intercedes

11.White Wolf Dreams

12.Packs United

13.Daddy Issues

14.Roses at Dawn

15.Small Worlds

16.In the End

17.Virgin Blood

18.Reap and Sow

19.Bound

20.Away

21.Retribution

22.Epilogue

What's Next

Also By

About the Author

1

Not Quite a Double

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Ashley: Which guy are you with today? I saw your Jeep parked outside Angelique’s. You are on a date, right?

Ilooked down at the text from Ashley, but I didn’t respond right away. When I got here, I slid into my favorite booth near the back, but now I was second guessing my choice of seating. 

Excuse me, may I switch to that table over there? I asked the waitress who came to take my drink order.

Sure thing, sweetie. Is it just you today?

No, I’m meeting someone. Can I get a water with lemon and some of those Louisiana chips too, please?

Yes, ma’am! I’ll be right back.

There was nothing interesting about my phone, yet I stared at it for a full two minutes once my new seat had been claimed. My nerves were getting the best of me. I planned to arrive a few minutes early so that I could pick my seat out first and work out what I wanted to say beforehand. As I was contemplating exactly that another text came through and I decided to stop thinking so damn much. It was stressing me out. Instead, I chose to respond to Ashley’s text.

Jessica: Yes, Ash. I will tell you all about it later, I promise.

Ashley: In full detail! 

Ashley: Wait, which one is it?

I smiled, and was about to tell her, but I felt a tingle of power wash over me that had me and when I glanced up it was to see the most gorgeous smile in the world, and it was aimed directly at me. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a black polo shirt that was stretching the limits of decency as it highlighted every ripple of muscle in his upper arms and torso, and there were black boots too. He strutted over to the table and leaned down to place a quick kiss on my cheek. As he did, a few strands of his black hair came loose to frame his chiseled jawline. Cobalt blue eyes stared down into my own, sending tingles through my whole body. Evan took the seat directly to my right, pulling his chair just a bit closer as he scooted it back in.

Jess, I’m sorry if I’m running a little late. I was caught up with a delivery issue at the bar.

It’s okay, Evan. The waitress hasn’t even brought my water and chips yet. As if on cue, she came walking up and placed them down on the table, not really paying attention to us at all. She was preoccupied with someone who had just walked in up front. 

Evan cleared his throat, I’ll take a glass of sweet tea and a menu too, please.

Yes sir, she started, and when she looked down and saw who she was talking to, I swear her jaw nearly hit the table. Um, I will… apparently the sheer sight of Evan left her speechless. I couldn’t blame her for that. I’ll be right back, hon.

Funny, I teased, she didn’t seem to have that problem when she was taking my drink order. laughed at him, until I spied the reason the woman had been so preoccupied to begin with. A tall, very handsome man with short brown hair, that was threatening to finally flop over into his eyes if he didn’t get it cut soon, was sauntering toward our table like he owned the place. The smile on his face exuded confidence, as if he were comfortable anywhere he went, and those bright emerald eyes of his were shining like the jewels they mimicked. 

Sorry, I got hung up in the parking lot. The new bike sure does get people talking. Mikael said as he came in to sit on the opposite side of the table from his brother. He proceeded to park his ass in the chair to my left, and even scooted slightly closer, as if he already knew Evan had done the same. We were not, nor had we ever been, on kissing terms, so he never attempted to greet me the way Evan had, thankfully.

Evan’s chair slid back, as if he were preparing to jump across the table at his brother. What is he doing here? He breathed through clenched teeth.

Please, calm down, I thought we could all talk this out like adults and make a plan.

Evan noticed that Mikael was not the least bit surprised to be sitting here with the two of us. I had already warned Mikael about the fact that this was going to be a group date so we could all get on the same page about what was going to happen before I officially started dating the both of them. Not that I wanted to date them both. Their father, Antoine-King of the Werewolves, couldn’t order me to bond with his older son; but he did command me to at least date and try getting to know him between now and the summer solstice. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Dating Mikael meant pissing off Evan, but not doing it meant facing untold pain in order to defy Antoine. I knew that for a fact because I had already attempted it. 

I called them both here to figure out a way to do this with rules, so that I wasn’t forced to endure more lectures from Evan, disappointment when I turned Mikael down, or pain when as I disobeyed Antoine again. I hadn’t told Evan about the fact that Mikael would be here though. I may be the fated white wolf ruler one day when I come into my full power, but for now I was still a woman new to the dating scene, and wishing it weren’t this complicated. I knew Evan wouldn’t show up if his brother would be here.

You knew I’d be here? Evan asked his brother.

Of course, I did. Jess told me she wanted to talk to both of us, to get some things straight so that there were no hard feelings or problems down the road.

Evan looked at me in an accusatory manner then. You never told me about that. He snapped at me.

Because every time I tried to suggest it, last week, you just got angry and ended the conversation or walked away. I figured if we all just showed up at the same place you would… I wasn’t quite sure how to phrase the rest of what I wanted to say to him, and I tripped over my words as I desperately attempted to come up with a polite way of telling him to just cooperate and stop being an ass.

That I’d what? He snapped again, impatiently.

Have to deal with it. Be an adult. Get over yourself. Mikael offered helpfully. Well, he did it a little more sarcastically than helpful. 

I heaved out a very unpleasant sigh. I seem to have underestimated your reaction. Please, this is hard enough on me, must you make it worse? I asked Evan. When Mikael snickered, I rounded on him too. That was meant for you too. You’re both making this beyond difficult for me.

Evan looked pointedly at Mikael. It doesn’t have to be. He could be a real man, respect your wishes, and end this madness now.

If I thought you were what was best for Jess, I would, but you’re not. So, I won’t. Silence greeted his comment. I was staring open mouthed at Mikael, and Evan looked like he was ready to commit murder right there in my favorite restaurant. As if we couldn’t get better timing the waitress came back, nearly drooling all over herself as she attempted to get Mikael’s order. 

Can I get a... he paused for a minute eyeing the two of us first, aw, hell, what do you have on tap? 

The waitress smiled sweetly at him and listed off five different beers they had on tap, including one from a Louisiana brewery.

I’ll take the Parade Ground, when in a fake Cajun restaurant might as well drink like it’s the real thing. I was seriously contemplating ordering one too, or maybe ten. Damn the werewolf metabolism. Beer never even gave me a momentary buzz. 

Our waitress smiled sweetly, before popping a hip out and winking at Mikael. Anytime you want a little bit of Louisiana, you just let me know.

Are you from there?

Born and breed, sugar! She said with another wink. I was beginning to think she had something in her eye. Then she looked at me, and I’m not quite sure what she saw on my face, but she added, I’ll be right back with that beer, and scurried off to another table.

Mikael didn’t miss a beat. No fair, little wolf! You brought us together to tell me I don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell with you, and then you go scaring off the flirty wait staff. Tsk, tsk. 

Of course, he would have to call me out. I don’t even know why Mikael flirting with the waitress bothered me. Actually, it wasn’t really me it bothered, but my wolf. She liked Evan, but she also found something appealing about Mikael. Apparently, she was keeping her options open, even if I wasn’t. I needed to have a serious talk with my wolf. Whatever. My not so clever response was lame, but it was the best I had at the moment. Listen, this is…

I stopped because Evan scooted his chair out and moved to stand up. He stood there and threw a few twenty dollar bills out onto the table. Lunch is on me, but I’m not sitting here with him through any discussion. He leaned down, kissed the top of my head, and turned to leave.

Evan Dé Lune! Yeah, I raised my voice at him, and didn’t care if it drew the entire restaurant’s attention. If you leave me sitting here alone with your brother, he will be the only one I discuss things with from now on! I was angry. More than that, I was tired of his shit, and hurt that he would continue to put me in this position. The fact that his arrogance allowed him to continue to walk away from me, this problem, and everything involved with that, as if it were my doing, was preposterous. Even more preposterous was that he thought I’d be there waiting for him in the end if he didn’t pull his head out of his ass sometime soon.

See you later, Ev! Mikael called out. I tossed a glare his way that I was sure would shut him up, but it only made him break out into full blown laughter. Jerk.

Evan was not happy. He sat back down in a huff. Fine! Can we get this over with? I have a business to go run.

I have abso-fucking-lutely no clue where to start. You two are so freaking difficult to deal with that I completely forgot everything I wanted to say. What is it with your family?

I love when you talk dirty. Mikael had his chin planted firmly on a fist that rode up from the elbow he had on the table. My mom would have smacked my arm out from underneath me for sitting down to a meal like that. I rolled my eyes at Mikael while Evan growled.

I am so not talking dirty to you! Evan was fiddling with his now empty sweet tea glass, and I went to put my hand on his, but he pulled away. I threw my hands up in the air, blew out a giant sigh, and got ready to leave myself. You know what? Fuck you! I said to Mikael, because he was being an antagonizing dick and I didn’t want to deal with it. And fuck you too! I said to Evan, because he was being a jerk, and treating me like this was all my choice, my fault, when his father was the one who put us all in this situation. I’m done with all of this! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. I grinned maniacally then. If I am not dating one of you, I don’t have to date the other. I can just go live my happy little life without any of you DéLunes bothering me. I bent to grab my bag that I had put on the floor beside me, and the look of sheer panic on Mikael’s face when I did, stopped me cold in my tracks. What?"

You can’t. He said softly.

I can, and I will.

Did you forget the part where my father threatened to lock you up in a cage? I make light of this situation, because I’m trying to make the best of a bad one. Make no mistake though, Jess, my father will do whatever it takes to make sure his family stays in power. You can’t simply choose to walk away from the both of us.

You would do that? Evan looked hurt, not worried. He ignored everything his brother just said and focused on the fact that I had rejected him too.

Yes, I would, because you’re being an ass! And he’s already an ass. I nodded to Mikael. I can’t do this with you blaming me every few minutes for what has to happen, and him antagonizing everyone. I can’t. I won’t. I don’t even care, at this point, if your father does try to lock me up in a cage. The fact is, he can’t force me to bond with anyone. Tears threatened to spill free from my eyes. I wasn’t on the verge of crying because I was sad though. They were pissed off tears. I’m the one your father tossed in the center of the ring for you to fight over, but guess what? I’m coming out with more wounds than either of you. If you keep this up, there won’t be anything left to think about fighting over, because I will hate you both in equal measure. That seemed to do the trick, because they both calmed down and promised to be on their best behavior for the rest of the meal. Our waitress came back and took our orders, but I wasn’t hungry anymore, so I asked for mine to be made to go. Mikael ordered a steak, rare. 

I’ll have that right out for you, doll.

Do you not see me sitting here? I snapped at her.

Excuse me? She asked, startled by my tone.

I’m sitting right here, and you’re flirting openly with someone I’m having lunch with. Do you even expect a tip?

I thought you were with that one, she pointed at Evan.

I’m with both. When she looked at me funny, I smiled sweetly, Yeah, I said both! 

I’ll get your food out to you soon. She said and walked off without another word. Mikael looked amused, and Evan was back to looking pissed. 

You didn’t have to take everything out on the poor girl, how was she to know?

Well, I’m in a mood, and she rubbed me the wrong way.

I think she was offering to rub me the right way, though! Mikael waggled his brows at me, and I just glared at him. Tough crowd. He took a sip of the beer the waitress finally brought out to him. So, where do we start? What are your ground rules?

No more togetherness. I don’t want to be in the same room with both of you anymore if I can help it.

Easy enough, Mikael offered.

Done. Evan added.

No questions. I don’t want either of you asking what I did on a date with the other. I thought for a moment and added, If there is something major that you need to know, I will tell you. They both nodded in agreement. Sundays are off limits, for both of you. It’s my personal day where I don’t have to deal with anything if I don’t want to. My class schedule is also not to be interrupted unless it’s life or death. Thankfully, Ashley’s dad was able to get me an excuse for the time I missed when Marcus… My gut clenched as I said his name, and I paused to swallow down the bile. Evan’s hand came up to hold mine, and Mikael offered me a sympathetic smile that I didn’t want. I hated looking weak. 

I couldn’t help my reaction though. The scar I had to see on my shoulder when I dressed every day was a constant reminder of just how out of control my life had gotten. I was trying to take some of that control back for myself. Anyway, I don’t want to miss anymore, because I would really like to graduate one day. It’s my personal goal, and I don’t want it fucked with. It’s something I had before any of you came along. It’s mine. I want it.

Point taken, Mikael said softly, while Evan just squeezed the hand he was still holding.

I couldn’t think of anything else to add in that moment, so we sat for a while in an uncomfortable silence. When our food came, the bus boy and the manager brought it over. Our waitress was nowhere to be seen. Shelly had an emergency, and took off for the rest of the day, the manager explained. I’ll take care of anything you need for the rest of the time you’re here.

Thank you, I all but whispered. Great, now I got to feel bad for running a woman out of work. I was just a giant ray of sunshine! Mikael held up his empty beer glass and before the manager, Geoff, could walk away, he also held up two fingers. Geoff just nodded at him and turned for the bar.

I nibbled on my chips as the two of them ate their food. I wasn’t really sure where to go from here. Did we set up a date night schedule, or would I be forever trapped in an endless fight about who got dibs on a certain day? I groaned inwardly at the thought. Both Evan and Mikael stopped eating to look at me. Apparently, I had groaned outwardly too. I looked back and forth between them and noticed a surprisingly astute look cross Mikael’s face.

Thinking about how we’re going to schedule things?

The shock that registered in my body language was apparent, and I was about to ask him how he read my damn mind, but he started telling me before I could.

I was thinking the same thing, when you groaned, I figured it dawned on you too.

Why not first come first serve? Evan said sarcastically.

Yes, that way you can claim every day until the solstice. Mikael shot back.

Well, I already did, when I claimed her publicly, but apparently that doesn’t matter when daddy steps in and carves out a few days for you on her calendar. For the first time in all of this I finally got to see Mikael peeved. He growled, but held his position at the table, unlike Evan who had already come half out of his seat.

And this is why I groaned in frustration. How do you want to do this? Every other day? Tuesdays and Thursdays for one Monday’s and Wednesdays for the other? I mean, seriously, what are the two of you going to be okay with?

I’ll be okay with him taking a hike, and not coming back. Beyond that, I’m not okay with any of this. Not at all. Evan wiped his mouth and hands with his napkin and looked down at his phone again. Our distributors brought the wrong fucking beer to the bar this morning. I need to go make sure everything was corrected. How about the two of you figure out the scheduling issue and get back to me. I’m not going to be happy with whatever is decided, so there’s no need for my input. With that, he got up and left.

I sat there stunned for a few moments. Evan was having a hard time with everything and I understood that. The fact that he just continued to bail out and leave everything to me, and then would no doubt blame me later when he didn’t like how things turned out, rubbed me the wrong way entirely.

Jess, Mikael started and then paused momentarily. I… he sighed. I watched an internal struggle playing out on his face. There’s a part of me that wants to let you off the hook, and let you go. And then there’s the part of me that likes you. My wolf fucking loves you and demands that I do whatever it takes. I could ignore him, but then there’s the part of me that doesn’t like the choices my brother is making where you’re concerned. That, above all the others, is why I won’t remove myself from the equation just yet. I hope you don’t hate me for it, but I can’t just walk away. Honestly, even if I could, I don’t think my father would allow it. His schemes usually have some twisted end game that the rest of us fail to see.

It never even occurred to me that Mikael might actually be interested in me as anything other than the miraculous white wolf of power, but then Ashley’s speech from a while back was nagging at the back of my mind. Mikael had cared enough to come looking for me, before he knew what I was. I had to at least respect that. Mikael downed the rest of his beer that the manager had slipped on the table just as Evan was leaving. 

How about we alternate Saturdays, and the rest of the days of the week are a free for all. I smiled at that, but then he added, I do at least want a fair shake, Jess.

I can promise you an equal amount of time, but beyond that, I’m not sure what I can…

I understand. You had my brother before I ever came along, and I didn’t exactly make the best first impression. I’ll work on changing your mind, if you can manage to keep it open.

I couldn’t say anything to that. Saying okay would mean a part of me was giving up on what I had with Evan, and even though he was being a royal pain in my ass about all this, I couldn’t fault him for it. I certainly wasn’t ready to give up on him. I gave Mikael a tight smile and reached down for my bag. 

I’ll do what I can, I finally said to him as I stood to go. He got up and placed another bill on the table, I wasn’t sure the denomination, because I was already walking away. I was pretty sure the staff at Angelique’s were about to get a healthy tip for their troubles today though. As I reached the door, I realized Mikael had stopped to talk to the manager momentarily, but before I could push the door all the way open, he was there by my side holding it for me. Mikael walked me to my Jeep, closed the door for me, and leaned in quickly to kiss my cheek. I didn’t try to stop him, but mostly because he was there and gone so fast that I barely had time to register the gesture for what it was. As he walked away, I took the time to zip the window back up in my Jeep before I took off. I suddenly felt chilled to the bone, and it had nothing to do with the cooler air temperatures.

Jessica: are you busy?

I texted into my phone, needing my best friend.

Ashley: Nope. How was the date? You never even told me which one you were with!

Jessica: Both of them. Can I come over?

Ashley: I kind of want to make a bad threesome joke right now, but I won’t. The door is open, and Asi’s working, get over here and spill!

2

Friends and Family

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G et in here and tell me everything! Ashley grabbed my arm and pulled me through the door to her apartment at the speed of light.

Damn, Ashley, you’re a wolf now. That shit hurts!

Oh, crap! Sorry, I forget sometimes.

I’ll forgive you since you’re still adjusting. I walked into the living room, and plopped down onto Ashley’s comfy couch, letting out a heavy sigh. I didn’t even realize how stressed I was until you sucked it all out of me. I pet the couch, like it was a living being, Good couch! Ashley just laughed at me.

So, how did it go? More importantly, are you nuts, or something? What were you thinking going on a date with both of them?

I was thinking, if we were in public, we could settle some ground rules before things got out of hand.

Why don’t you just not date Mikael at all, if Evan is who you want?

It’s not that simple. I’ve tried ignoring Mikael, and it literally causes me pain. I’m talking shooting pains through my brain. Every time I see there’s a call from him and I don’t answer it… THWAP! Instant headache. Every time he asks me to do something, and I say no, BAM! Migraine central.

Oh my God! Jess, I had no idea.

That’s what it means to disobey a direct order, and its only getting worse. I don’t want to stroke out, or die from an aneurism, so I really don’t have a choice here. I needed them to both know that.

Did you tell them about the pain?

Not in so many words. I picked at a piece of lint on my pants. I mean, they were born into this life, so they must know what it feels like to disobey.

Evan probably doesn’t. Remember, his dad let him get away with a lot because he had two older brothers and he was different? Plus, didn’t he mention before that he doesn’t have to follow orders or suffer consequences for disobeying?

Lucky bastard, I muttered. Yeah, maybe that’s why he seems pissy about all this, he doesn’t really understand the consequences. I don’t know how to explain it to him in a way that he’ll really get though.

I bet Mikael does. He looks like the type to break all the rules, and gladly pay for them later. Ashley waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Seriously, Ash? How can you even joke about Mikael in a good way? I mean, he turned you against your will.

Well, it wasn’t entirely against my will, just not the way I always pictured it going down. She sighed and moved her butt from where it had been perched on her coffee table in front of me, to the couch beside me. I can’t be mad at him though. I mean, I’m happy. I am really happy, and Asi is everything to me. I can’t even imagine life without him now. It wouldn’t have happened if…

I get it. I was beginning to think the lint on my leg was imaginary, because every time I looked down, I found more to fiddle with. Maybe it was just my nerves. Well, I’m going to stay mad at him about that, anyway. I’ll be angry for the both of us. Ashley just laughed at me.

Do what you need to, but that could backfire on you. All that pent up frustration when you’re alone, on a hot date, and he moves in close… She pounced on me and started tickling my sides. I retaliated, and in moments we were in a heap of giggling girl parts on the floor in front of the couch. 

You know I hate to be tickled, I yelled at her breathlessly.

I know. That’s why I did it. You needed to get the hell out of your head. Ashley’s attention immediately went from me to the door as someone knocked. She jumped up and crossed the room in record time to look out the peephole. I was still getting used to the idea that Ashley wasn’t human anymore, and moments