Lino blinked, withdrawing his hand from hers. He had expected a lot of things, but not that. “What—What did you say?” he stuttered, stunned by her words. Her grip tightened on his fingers that lay on her bare chest and his eyes shuttered as he felt her heartbeat. Her eyes pleaded that he believed her, but how could he? How could that be? A single tear slid down her cheek and Lino’s fingers twitched to wipe them away, but he didn’t. He watched her, desperately trying to align her words with his thoughts and he failed. She repeated those miserable words that broke him again and Lino jerked. “She killed me.” He shook his head. “Cass, I—“ Her hands slid up to cup his cheeks as she stared deeply into his eyes. “Listen to me once, Lino. Listen to me.” He shook his head violently, shaking her hands off his face. “I can’t! Do you realize the meaning of your words! She killed you—that would mean you died, Cass! Died!” Her face crumpled and she began to cry. It took eve
Lino followed the freshest trail that he could find of Eleanor but it was scattered about in numerous direction. It was almost as though, she had been expecting him to come after her and she had scattered her tracks and scent so that he wouldn’t be able to follow her. Still, she couldn’t have scattered it so perfectly all by herself. The peaks were vast and led to countless mountains and forests that even he would be cautious to go through, lest he got lost. She couldn’t have covered this much area if she had been alone. He paused in his trouncing and sniffed the earth at the center of the forest. Around him lay five different directions in which she could have gone. All of them were fresh tracks, though three out of the five smelled faint. . .subdued, like someone had carried a piece of her clothing. He disregarded those paths and he was left with two. He itched his hind with a paw as he tried to sort through every single detail he knew about El. He had spent years with h
Cassy lay still, even as her mind became a chaotic jumble of thoughts and feelings. The sorcerer wanted her alive? Whatever for? She spied Eleanor’s face and she could tell that whatever plan Eleanor hand concocted with the sorcerer, her being alive wasn’t part of it. Eleanor said as much running her hands through her hair, seemingly disoriented. “That wasn’t the plan, Sasha. We can’t afford to take her. He will track her and find us. Lino will kill us for touching. . .her.” The last word was laced with so much venom that Cassy might have cringed if she weren’t already in pain. Eleanor spoke like she was poison. Like she was a disease. Cassy only hoped they argued for long enough for her back to heal. But it seemed like fate wasn’t on her side. Sasha pinched Cassy’s chin between her fingers and raised her chin. Her eyes widened with mirth as she said, “How odd. She really did save you. How delightful.” Cassy jerked her chin from Sasha’s grasp. “What do you want with m
Eleanor drove her claws into Cassy’s chest and blood sprayed. She didn’t mind getting herself covered in Cassy’s blood or killing the woman again if it meant she could escape Lino’s wrath. Her plan had depended heavily on Sasha and she hadn’t expected that the woman would hand her over to Cassy on a silver platter—after everything she’d done. Indeed they were cunning and crafty and would never do anything if it didn’t benefit them. Solely. She should have known better. She had sought Sasha out to help kill Cassy and place Lino underneath another spell. She would not let Cassy have him. Lino was hers. Till death. Once Cassy died, Lino would feel a pain so great he would wish nothing but to follow her into the great beyond. It would have been easy to get past his mental walls and just as easy to restructure what was behind it. Sasha had said she could do it. She could make Lino forget about the night before. She had banked on that and it had flopped. Terribly. Lino was n
The walk back to the castle was long and tiresome but Cassy barely felt it with all the anger shimmering in her. Lino to his credit said nothing to her as they walked and kept a safe distance away from her. He stopped them once to rest and handed Cassy a waterskin. She refused to take it from him and when he dumped it on her lap, she threw it at his head. Lino, of course, ducked before it could reach his head. "What is your problem? You won't let me explain and you won't let me apologize either." She said nothing, glaring at the ground and stomping her now healed foot into it, digging several holes into it. They continued not long after that, and Cassy trailed behind Lino silently. She would have left him behind but she didn't know the way back to the castle and she didn't want to get lost. So, she would bear watching his back for a few hours more and once they reached the castle, she would--frankly, she didn't even know what would happen once they reached the c
The questions began and Cassy wanted nothing more than to hide behind Lino as he gave them answers. “Eleanor has colluded with the sorcerers. It saddens my heart to say this but. . .” It was a pretty long address and the people listened attentively while he spoke, occasionally tossing looks of pity and awe in Cassy’s direction. It was detailed, explaining Eleanor’s betrayal and her crimes against the lands. It was also a warning to any that would consider giving refuge to her. They would be considered traitors and removed from whatever pack they belonged to. She was to be captured and brought to Lino’s castle. There wasn’t much else after that. There would be a bonfire to celebrate the conclusion of a successful hunt and everyone onne would eat and drink and make toasts in the Goddess’s name. Cassy, as usual, wanted nothing more than to sleep in through the entire thing, but as she was to be named Lino’s Luna, there wasn’t much she could avoid anymore. Like the row o
“Lino. . .” Cassy trailed off, turning her cup over again. “It’s empty.” Lino laughed. He quite preferred her this way. At least, she spoke to him nicely, and wasn’t inclined to tear off his balls. “Shall I get you another?” Her lips puckered and she nodded vigorously, quite like a child would when he was offered cookies. Lino’s smile broadened and he crouched down in front of her, taking the cup from her hand. Her eyes widened and she extended her hand, cupping his cheek as she stared at him with pure fascination. Lino went still. He wasn’t sure he was breathing anymore. Her touch. . .it was loving. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt like he was at home. Cassy felt like home. It made him feel strange inside. So strange, he pulled away from her fingers abruptly. But Cassy wouldn’t let go of him. Somehow, she caught a lock of his hair between her fingers and she began to pull lightly on it, giggling. “Your hair is red.” A smile teased his lips as s
Cassy growled, threatening to throttle him if he didn’t desist from torturing her and Lino laughed against her skin. It was worth it. The wait. ************ Cassy sprinted out of his bedroom the next morning before the castle could wake up. She was wrapped in his bedsheet and her hair was a mess. More than that, she was more concerned about the fact that she had woken up naked with her legs entwined with his and her arms holding him like he meant everything to her. A heady wave of nausea had her sprinting towards her room and she barely made it towards the bathroom before she vomited the ail all over the floors. Goddess, it reeked terribly. Just how many jugs of the liquor did she consume? It had smelled so sweet, she had thought it some sort of juice extract. She had requested a cup and they had been all too happy to give her. Now, she felt sick to her stomach and her head hurt terribly. She threw up and gagged until there was nothing more to bring up. Eve
Eleanor dashed through the woods, panting and cursing under her breath. It wasn't supposed to go this way, she thought. She was sure she had not been followed. But now, the guards were after her, hot on her tail and she could not seem to outrun them. Her parents would be disgust if they saw her now. What had become of her. Cassy and Lino would probably laugh their heads off if they saw her. She was a thief. She had been living from and to mouth for years, taking shelter in empty barns or cottages, stealing food from moving carriages or from travellers. She had walked and moved and tried to make something of herself for the past few years, but all anyone wanted from her was to bed her or turn her into a whore, and while she knew she was a despicable person, there were things she could not allow. From the ears of one of the travellers, she had heard of a castle in the North, with plenty or riches that were untouched by the Alpha who seemed to have no intere
Two years later... "No. Not that one. Do not put that in your mouth, Fenris," Cassy said, lifting her son off the ground and throwing the sand stained pebble he had been about to put in his mouth. "Where is your brother?" She questioned, and he smiled at her, pulling her hair instead and giggling. "Asher?" She called out, looking around the playground Lino had built just for his twin sons. She heard Asher's answering giggle emerge from the other end, and a smile graced her lips when she saw Lino holding him and tickling him. He loved them. There was no surprise there. Over the last two years, she had gotten to see sides to Lino that she had never thought she would again, after she'd lost their first child. He was kind, loving and stern when he needed to be. Maybe scratch the last part out. When it came to the boys, there was not a single stern bone in Lino's body. All they had to do was smile at him and he would lift them up and tickle them. Cassy
Cassy and Lino sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly together, awaiting Gerald as he gathered he shrugged out of his gloves. She began to fidget and Lino rubbed her knee to soothe her, even if he was also fidgeting. Cassy felt her stomach twist and tighten with nerves as she thought about it. She pressed her free hand against her stomach, trying to feel for something, anything at all that said that it was there. She hadn't felt funny in the past few days. Other than the need to sleep. Her last pregnancy had been somewhat hectic and she had been a horrible mess before she even found out she was pregnant. She supposed it should be the same. The nausea. The morning sickness. The cranky mood. The obtuse emotions. It was the only reason why she didn't think she was. That too and the fact that she looked absolutely normal. She hadn't gained extra weight or anything. She'd lost some. She stole a glance at Lino. His expression was calm but she could tell from
Cassy peered around, in the familiar darkness and she immediately knew where she was. It had been a while since she had been summoned by Selene and she had quite a lot of words to say to the wolf when she graced her with her presence. "Selene?" Cassy called out, turning in a spin, searching for the familiar figure, but she couldn't find the wolf. "I see all is finally in order," a voice that sounded both ancient and young said, and Cassy turned to find the big wolf approaching her. "Yes. No thanks to you. You left me with nothing but scattered clues here and there. I didn't understand a single thing." "But you have come out victorious," the wolf said drily. Cassy scowled. "Again, with no thanks to you. Julian's the only reason why we won. You picked me up and then abandoned me--" "And who do you think sent the sorcerer your way?" Cassy's lips pursed and she kept quiet, listening to Selene and her 'explanation'. "The Goddess's interfere
Lino sat in his throne, head leaning against his fist. The day had only just begun and he was already exhausted. He always hated the aftermaths of squabbles and war. Deaths and meetings and hard decisions had to be taken. It didn't make it any better that Cassy was not with him today. His mate had slept the entire day away yesterday and she was today as well. He understood that she needed the rest, especially after the ordeals they had gone through. It was absolutely normal for females to fall into deep sleep after a weight like war had been lifted off their shoulders. He had been telling himself that the entire day, just so he could get his mind off the possibility of Cassy being pregnant. He was excited and extremely anxious as well. He had known the joy of expecting a child once before, but this was different. Perhaps, it was because she was his mate and he was in love now. He couldn't stop fidgeting and thinking about it. Truth be told, he wanted nothing m
Julian strode over to where Sasha laid on the ground, head severed from her body. He had not thought it would be so easy to end her life. He had not wanted it to be easy. He had wanted her to suffer for it. Every day. For everything she had done to him. For every atrocity she had committed. For all the wrong she had caused him. He had wanted her to suffer. But he had killed her too quickly. And...saved the day. His unusual eyes overlooked the battle field and what little of the sorcerers that were left and we're still being killed. His eyes wandered over to the Luna and Alpha seated off to the side, holding each other and crying. His eyes then wandered back to Sasha's unseeing eyes. He let it truly sink in that she was dead and gone. Slowly, it sank in, like a stone would in the middle of an ocean. It settled within him. Standing in the middle of a battle field with his armour coated in blood and his fingers wrapped around the sheath of his sword, J
Cassy panted, peering down at the blade and the minute distance it was away from her heart. No no. The woman was not bluffing. The back of her head hurt terribly, no thanks to Sasha's blow, and the tiniest movement had her wincing in pain. It was nothing though, compared to the obvious panic in Lino's eyes. A burden in her chest lightened a little. He was fine. He was covered in blood and gore, but he was fine. Taller, hairier and scary. He was in between this wolf form and the other. His red hair made him look all the more stunning. She gave him a sharp look that all but said, "You should not have left me inside." Lino ignored her, baring his teeth instead at Sasha. "Touch her, I'll end you." The woman had the audacity to chuckle and Cassy marvelled at her boldness and lack of fear. "Before you move, she'd already be dead. You're at my mercy, Alpha," Sasha said, piercing Cassy's skin with the dagger for effect. Not the other way around. I suggest you w
"Think we might make it back?" Lino asked asked Kayden as he jammed the rock into the sharp edge of the sword. Kayden shrugged, staring up at the sky. "I have no choice. Ayla will throttle me out of the afterlife if I do not." Lino smiled. He could think of a couple of things Cassy would also do to him for leaving without her. He had better make it back home. He had no other option. Night had fallen and they had chosen to make camp. It was more like...laying in wait and resting while the enemies rode toward them. Lino wasn't the type of Alpha to move things in a rush. He would wait for her. Sasha. And by the spies he had dispatched a few moments back, he knew that they weren't far off any more. And leading them his way was the hybrid, Julian. Whether or not he would fight on their side when it mattered, Lino couldn't tell, but he had seen the hybrid and looked in his eye. He had seen the hatred for Sasha and even if he trusted nothing else, he trusted in those
Cassy placed outside the yard, trailing the line of defense the guards had formed, laying in wait for their enemies. Just in case. She had no doubt that it was Lino's instruction too. The man always thought and prepared ahead for the worst case scenario. There were more than a hundred scattered about in various defense formations and Cassy marvelled on how they blocked every entrance into the castle. But... wasn't a hundred too many to guide the amount of women inside? Perhaps it was because of her or it could be the fact that they were the weaker and more vulnerable sex. A sudden shout came from the front, by the towering gates of the castle and Cassy believed it to be, "Close the gates!" The shouts increased and Cassy ran up to the gates where the guards were frantically trying to lock them. There were still people trying to get through. Late arrivals from the houses around the castle. If the gates were suddenly locked, they would have no where else to