I didn’t need to wait another second. Mid-shift into my wolf form I picked up the dark murmur I feared the most. “Get her.” By the time I had sunk to four paws the sound of their ripping clothes and paws on the gravel shore swiftly followed./NIKOLAI PLEASE!/ I screamed over our mind link. I swerved as one almost clamped their jaw on my slender back leg. Using my speed I managed to dodge into clear space, sprinting along the gravel shoreline. I allowed Priya to take over our escape, her nimble feet bounded over every log, rock, and clump of roots. Flying, her sure balance guiding us up and away from the water, twisting in and out of the tree trunks. All control was ceded to my wolf. I was a rodeo clown holding on for the ride as we travelled so fast my vision blurred.My unknown hunters did not howl either, I guess to avoid drawing attention from the pack Beta’s guarding just a few hundred metres away. If I howled, I would draw away all the protection from the people sleeping, perha
I grabbed her just before her head smashed into the ground. She was completely limp. In panic I looked at her slender neck for signs of a dart, so quickly she had blanched and dropped as though tranquilised./I’m sorry son, are you hurt?/ my father's mind linked, his deep bass voice always a surprise. /I’m going to get your mother calm and come find you. She should never have said those things to Genevieve. You know we don’t blame her for this happening./Cradling her in my arms I struggled to reply. If my mother is out of control again then my father needs help as Alpha. He cannot retain control of this situation on his own. Pressing my forehead close to Vee’s I feel her pulse and soft breathing. It gives me the courage to be the Alpha of White Forest, my precious mate.“Help me put her safely in our tent. There has been no sign of disturbance there?”“I’ll help,” Cillian said flatly, his jaw clenched as fiercely as mine. Together we walked, I carried her in my arms whilst Cillian m
The soft sounds of my mother crying into his arms forced me to cough and interrupt their moment. My fathers dark eyes are glistening with tears, his knuckles white as they clamp my mothers hand to his heart. “I’m guessing you’ve overheard some of that,” he muttered, utterly unashamed of his love as he continued to softly caress and stroke her hair. “I wasn’t intending to eavesdrop, but I wanted to check how you were feeling after…well everything,” sitting next to my mother and taking her other hand. She looked up at my father and gave a nod, she agreed with his plan. “Nikolai, we are to abdicate. You are to rule as Alpha of White Forest. You need to guide the pack out of this mess and find the enemy. You have Genevieve by your side.” My voice hitched, there was a flaw in their perfect scheme. “Mother…you can’t leave. The pack will fail under me. The Fates told me I was to die young-” “The Fates are riddles darling. You are born to rule, why would the Moon Goddess rip you from you
Laying with my eyes closed I endured the sadness, anger and hurt rolling from Nikolai. Like a tide crashing against the rocks the darkness pressed against me painfully.In a strange moment of clarity I noticed there had never been waves of guilt around my parents death. Mentioning them did not send any sensations of fear, regret or even apprehension that a guilty person would have. There is no question in my heart that he had the slightest involvement in their death. He is all heart and passion. A black-haired shaggy beast with rough edges. Mine to tame.From the tone of Cillian it seemed he finally believed his innocence too. Now to fight for the impossible dream of two ego-driven Alpha’s working together successfully. There is more chance of me flying, the two being so stubborn.The raised voices had woken me. I trusted Nikolai not to shred Phillipe and he proved me correct. Knowing how Phillipe treats Freya, I do wish he’d landed another blow to his stomach. I stayed still and sile
The more detailed my description, the greyer his face became. He clenched me tightly in his arms. “That’s who I saw coming through Beta Tange’s territory, swapping vehicles and carrying a bag of, I assume more syringes into the Northern Territories.” “So who is she?” “I’ve only seen her that one time. My plan is once we have things steady here that we head up north and find her.” “We?” “I wasn’t joking about not leaving you in danger again. It’s not happening again. You know how riddled and twisted the Fates are, what if the reason I die is from heartbreak. What if I lost you and died from it?” My heart ached. I looked up at him, adoring the way his black hair fell in twisted locks down to his jaw. His sharp jawline and straight nose gave him a noble intelligence that I guess could appear cold to those who didn’t know him. His eyes held all the heat and love. Swirling chocolate and ruby that took my breath away every time. “I hadn’t thought about that.” “Well that’s what would
Swept inside the castle, annoyingly parted from Nikolai almost straight away. Maddox silently stays with me, always a few paces behind. Heavy-set guards lead us into a spacious, firelit parlour. Dawn is breaking through the huge sash windows, lined by purple velvet curtains, signalling the end of one of the worst nights in our race’s history. Freya has changed into black mourning, her brown curls still wild but her figure hidden beneath a frumpy long black shift. Sat next to her is Zena, Cillian’s date.Her grey eyes study me and she has a striking familiarity. Then again, when your parents are pack rulers, you meet an awful lot of people. My brain is too frazzled to work her out right now.With no sign of the Alpha’s we are left surrounded by a dozen guards from all three packs. Freya, Zena and I have no ability to mind link, any conversation open to a dozen different pairs of ears. We need some privacy, somewhere to breathe. Beta Adrian, assigned to Freya, stood with his arms fol
Staring directly in his face I prayed Priya would keep herself low, to not give away any emotion with tell-tale pink shards in my eyes. “Look, you know he threatened me before the Ceremony, he’s attacked one of Cillian’s Beta’s too. He’s not right…he’s too flawed,” before he placed his hand on mine. I quenched a flinch, enduring his hold, noticing him adding a stroke of his thumb along the top. Primly, I replied, “I am trying my best to make it work. I believe in the value of the mate bond but I am sorry you got hurt.” The lie made my stomach churn. I wondered if Nikolai would pick up on it wherever he was in the castle.. If he sensed betrayal would he charge in here and lose control? Phillipe sighed dramatically, running his free hand across the back of his neck. “It is not your fault, just as tonight was not mine. We cannot be held responsible for the actions of our mates.” Continuing to stare into his eyes my throat hitched as his eyes turned fully purple. Phillipe kept his vo
There is a new vibe in this castle. So many new, rapidly promoted Rising Star Beta Guards lurking around every corner. Outnumbering White Forest and Shadowlands substantially. I remember visiting this castle often as a child. Luna Hollie and Brandon always made it warm and inviting. The fixtures are all more lavish than White Forest. More marble, gold, and brighter, bigger windows should make it less cold. Except it feels like a morgue now. Talon is clawing away with anxiety. I trust Maddox to protect her, but we need to get out of here. It didn’t help that when Cillian led me towards the dungeon to interview the arrested men, we found Phillipe in one of the cells. All the prisoners were dead. A scattering of limbs and blood covered the walls as the newly crowned Alpha stood naked, panting, and covered in blood. His white shock of hair was spattered with gore, his pristine suit in rags on the floor. “What the fuck Phillipe! How are we to interrogate this?” Cillian cried in frust
We are three weeks into this war with the Hybrid Army. My mind buzzes with mindlinks. The silence and lack of activity only raises tension as we stare down the country roads. Men are positioned on clifftops, every vehicle movement monitored.Staring for hours down a silent valley of green forest I couldn't help reminiscing. The surprise at seeing Maddox, carrying his hurriedly written sealed letter. He arrived just after the Full Moon Dance, the single, unmated hopefuls having completed their line ups. I was relieved none of my battalion made a match, to rip that new bond apart would be brutal. He stood panting as I read how Helena had made the move to declare war via ripping Beta Patrick’s eye out. I was shocked, but I wasn’t against the move. It's unhealable too, it used to mean someone who abused women. It’s still the sign of a criminal today. He took the vials of all those stolen wolves. He's guilty as sin and I'll happy rake his other eye when I get chance.Sadly, Maddox’s arriv
He is a beast. In the best possible way. He slinks around on the bed like some lazy, dark-eyed cat. Then, in an instant he’s full of fire. The intensity in his eyes is breathtaking. How much he cares for his pack. The way he sends me to heaven with his touch. How beautifully his muscular body shines in the water, the droplets from his black hair landing on me like drum beats as he devoured me. I’m in love with every single side of himWe have marked each other, we’re bound to other body and soul, and yet there are still surprises. The strip-sparring was the silliest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I had to beg him to stop in case I was sick, wrapped up together in a heap on the floor. And he let me win, just like he said he would back before our attack.It felt wrong to have enjoyed the past few days so much when we walked into the yellow parlour room. There was no mistaking the sound of her voice as he opened the large wooden door. Nikolai’s big sister is a curious personality. Lik
There was no secrecy or hidden drop-off by the steely-eyed Maddox as we approached White Forest castle's courtyard. The flags fluttered at half-mast in formal mourning. A quick shudder raced down my spine.The drive saw Maddox had fill Vee and I in on the events of the past week. Phillipe had been sniffing around my parents the instant the news of my alleged death broke. Maddox had overheard at least one enquiry about their intention to still lead. Reminding them Freya was here to help. A peaceful conquest.“Is Freya okay?” Vee asked, her green eyes full of worry. “She must have been devastated at the news.”“She’s been in a bad way. Not much let up on the crying to be honest the couple of times I’ve seen her.”Coldly I interrupted Maddox, “the more upset she is now, the more likely that hurt will propel her into doing the right thing. Rejecting Phillipe and getting the hell away from him.”Then the sweet, teasing voice of Vee filtered through./The prophecy Padgett gave me. She said t
I almost dropped to the floor when I saw my sisters. The copper-haired dark-eyed stares of my beautiful little sisters. All dressed up and already squealing with excitement. A year younger than me, Leona and Naomi wore cream and beige-toned clinging maxi-gowns, their athletic shapes on display. At just sixteen, Eleanour wore an elaborate white concoction that had an insane amount of feathers. She was a gold, white and silver bonanza. Little Phoebe, our baby of thirteen, sported a bright pink, almost flamenco style dress.“What are you all doing here? You all look so beautiful! Oh Goddess I am so pleased to see you all!” I cried as we hugged, most of us trying to stop any tears from spoiling our make-up.Leona inhaled sharply after the initial elation dialled down, trying to stop her tears escaping. Taking my hand she whispered. “This was Alpha Cillian’s idea. He knew that Papa would have wanted to give us away at our Ceremonies, so he suggested we start a new tradition in his honour.
"This space is ours now. Brand new just for us?" I asked softly, my fingertips gently wandering up Cillians chest. My other hand entwined with his, my wrist against his, feeling the strength of his pulse against mine."Our suite. Our space. Not soundproofed, yet though," he added and I smiled. I placed a soft kiss on his cheek and got on my tiptoes. Whispering into his ear as my free hand now searched downwards his body jerked into life. "Well the room needs christening Alpha. It's bad luck for us to leave now…and I'm too loud…"His eyebrow raised and then as I started gently massaging the front of his pants. Letting go of his hand as I deftly began unbuttoning. First his shirt then pants, all the while rubbing and toying with the ever-stiffening bulge I was longing to see. He shut his eyes, hissing as I grew braver.Placing kisses down his neck, on his mark and down his chest his breathing quickened. I sucked and licked every ridge of muscle, I thoroughly followed the sharply defined
The scarlet blush on Genevieve’s face as I told her I would be sending the bill for the redecoration to White Forest was sweet revenge. Certainly not revenge enough for walking to Nikolai’s bare ass and my office turned into a dilapidated sex den, but Matilda had asked me so sweetly not to be angry about it I yielded. Nikolai was more serious, completely straight-faxed. He, naturally, wanted to know everything about his parents' reaction. He only started grinning when I said his father had gone full claws-out rage at me.As he proudly strutted about, occasionally wrapping an arm around Gen’s waist while he listened I was amazed at his strength. The fact he had recovered so swiftly from the tired heap yesterday showed just how immensely powerful his wolf was. No wonder he had struggled for control before. Barely concealing a smirk as we stood paper-strewn wreckage, “I thought he might flare up."“No heads-up though?” “Nah, you’re quicker than him, but he’s scary as fuck when he gets
He resembled his father so strongly. Dark coffee brown eyes with flashes of ruby and jet black curls down to his jawline. Clenched tightly he looked ready to cause some damage if I didn’t stop gaping with an open mouth and answer him quickly.“Gen came to chat to me, I asked if we could swap rooms, have a change of scenery,” I lied, as Gen had blushingly begged me to. She wanted to surprise Nikolai with the reason why he was moving rooms. I wasn’t going to start asking too many questions about their sex life. I knew the power of the mate bond, the way one’s wolf keens and yearns for the other's touch. /Locked in a room, unable to make a sound together, you’d have climbed onto the roof and made for the trees with Cillian/ Nina mocked. I always considered myself fairly shy and boring but I have become alarmingly addicted to what Cillian can do to me. I am no different to Gen in craving my soul’s partner.“Swapping rooms? Is she insane? Is this a trick, are you in danger?” his voice dr
I’ve never experienced such a swing of emotions. When Cillian is here everything is joy. Even though war is coming and the preparations are clear to see across the town centre if he is in my eyeline I am the happiest woman on earth.Groups of men are being organised into battalions, put through drills and formations. I watched as the first batches were taken almost within an hour of us first arriving back alongside the pyre. Alongside the still smoking heap of collapsed wood men were completing their circuits. Group after group of exhausted, sweating semi-naked men tumbled into the square, all timed with a stopwatch by a stone-faced Zeke and his clipboard.Losing Franz has broken him inside. He’s hurting with nowhere to let it out. When I was fixing him up back at Tange’s he confessed to me how much he hated Zena.“She just walked out, for the exact amount of time it took to kill Franz? I don’t buy it,” he had scoffed. “Just left him there!”At the time I didn’t know what to say. I d
Beta’s Maddox and Adrian led me away, leaving a quietly distraught Helena and Alexander with the letter. Deposited in a library with huge vaulted stone ceilings, candelabras, and endless lines of bookshelves containing detailed historical records. Rise and fall is inevitable. I know in my bones Shadowlands is too young a pack to be cut down now. We will prosper. Finding out how Phillipe is protecting himself from harm is a big one. There is always the danger that killing Ruth would still leave him as Alpha, wielding power. “Mind if I read while I wait?”“No problem. It’s only the public record, anyway,” Beta Adrian replied, taking a seat by the door. Maddox kept his thick, tattooed arms folded. He wasn’t taking his eyes off me for a second.Random curiosity made me grab the books covering years when my father was a Beta here. He was head of the Beta Warriors and fought against the now defunct Five Lakes pack two decades ago. I read for hours about the lead-up to the attack, culmina