Leo Young stood there in all his glory, that dimpled smile on his handsome face. His arms outstretched, bringing back memories from my freshman year of college. The easygoing guy that I met at a club downtown one wild Saturday night. I’d briefly dated him, more or less, a friend with benefits for a couple of semesters. Nothing serious, but by the way Luther reacted, I didn’t dare hug him. I didn’t dare breathe or move a muscle. He stepped in front of him, blocking our eye contact. “Wow, Luther Reed, you found your mate, I see.” Luther’s shoulders were tense, the room quiet and the atmosphere heavy. “How do you know her?” he asked. Leo took a step to the side, briefly meeting my gaze before Luther blocked him again. “Don’t look at her. Look at me. How do you know my mate?” Leo chuckled and tilted his head to the side. “I met her years ago. We ... were friends.” I sensed the smug smile on Leo’s face without seeing him. If he was anything like the guy I remembered, the smug smile wa
I watched Marcus as he studied my penthouse, his hands behind his back, and a looming umbrella of darkness that hung over him. He'd never been to my place before, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it just yet. Blaire, on the other hand, sat at the bar eating a plate of food I ordered, her legs swinging off the barstool. I felt her need for talking, and not long after, she asked, "So, Marcus, what do you do for a living?" It was almost comical, but I did my best not to laugh at her. Marcus' dark gaze, which matched our father's shifted toward Blaire, and his eyebrow curved toward his hairline. "I'm a werewolf. I'm the lead hunter in our pack. That's what I do." She gave him a snarky look and went back to her food. "You didn't have to get a tude about it," she mumbled. Marcus smirked, and it slid underneath my skin. My wolf didn't like him chatting with my mate, or even looking at her, but he'd come in and found Bree's scent right away. He was the best hunter no matter how hard it
The memory of the man—dragon or whatever—hung heavy over me for the drive to see Luther's friend. It wasn't as if I'd forgotten about it, but suppressed it into the back of my mind, putting it into a file of my childhood imagination.But once it'd been unlocked, and opened, it thundered into me like lightening. I'd never truly forget his piecing golden eyes or the span of his midnight wings behind him.When no one noticed him, and my grandmother didn't take me seriously, I chalked it up to be my imagination. A nightmare. Little did I know that he would follow me into my adult life, slamming me with dreams of sexual encounters?I hadn't had the heart to tell Luther that I'd somewhat enjoyed his lure. His kisses before he took what he wanted. The charm of the man sent needles down my spine."Are you okay?" Luther asked, reaching over and palming my shaking thigh.I glanced at his big blue eyes, and the heavy slant of his jaw. The man was utterly gorgeous, and everything I wanted, I just
I stalked out of my office, Blaire's wrist in my palm, hell-bent on diminishing the problem. If I could have found the bastard, I would have ripped his throat out, probably with some struggle considering he was a dragon, but that wasn't the case. I had no idea where he was, or if he was alone, and marking her would be the next best thing. If my scent was on her, it'd deter him from marking her himself. No one wanted to mess around with a woman that held the scent of another man. Blaire struggled to keep up with my long strides, but I couldn't help it, my entire body felt on edge. My wolf howled, and turned circles in anticipation of being with her. Stephanie emerged from her office, halting me. "Is everything okay?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Have you found anything concerning Bree?" I fought my wolf on shoving her out of the way. I knew her concern about Bree was logical, so I choked down the urge to tell her to piss off. "We're having a meeting tomorrow morning at 8 AM. Please
I'm sure I peed on myself again. That would explain the trickle down my leg, since my panties were nowhere in sight.You'd think I would have gotten over the surprise of supernatural males in my life, but nay nay, obviously not. I stumbled from the bedroom, and began searching the floor for my alpha mate's phone. If I hadn't realized how much my life had changed already, the dragon and alpha fighting in the other room was a big slap to the face.The sound of them demolishing the building rang loud into the air. I felt the floor tremble as they fought, and I knew it would only be minutes before someone from the floor below sent for the manager or the cops.I found Luther's phone against the hallway wall where he'd previously had be trapped—what a wonderful memory—if only we were still in that position on the nonexistent bed.With his phone in my hand, I scrolled his contacts until I saw Marcus' number. For some reason him being there first made me feel more protected than Scotty."Hell
Blaire lifted onto her tiptoes and kissed me once more, her sweet scent sliding over my skin like silk. I tangled my fingers into the length of her dark hair, and kissed her back. I knew she was safe with the pack, more safe than the rest of us would be shortly. None of us knew what we were walking into, and normally that wouldn't bother me, but now that I had Blaire, it did. Marcus yelled something at us from the edge of the tree line, but I ignored him, deepening our kiss because I hated to be away from her. With the dragon wanting her so badly, my wolf felt reluctant to leave her. The dragon was obviously hell-bent on claiming her, and it cut me deep. "Luther," she said, pulling away. "I'll be fine. I'm here with an entire pack of wolves. I'll be right here waiting for you when you make it back. And you are coming back, because when you do, I'm going to be ready for some fangs in my neck, and some--," "I know," I said, sliding my palm over the back of her head. "I'm going to g
Once Luther made it toward the tree line with his brothers, I heard Barbie call my name. I glanced over at her kind face."Come on inside, Dear. Luther will hang his own mother if you're not locked away for the night."I snickered, but followed her into the house. The smell of food wafted from the kitchen to the entrance, making my stomach grumble.She chuckled. "Has Luther not been feeding you? I have some chicken ready in the kitchen whenever you are.""Absolutely. We've been busy today, and I haven't had a chance to get lunch."I followed her into the kitchen. Selene, Luther's sister, sat at the bar with a plate of food. Her phone sat in one hand, and a pair of glasses were perched on the tip of her tiny nose. She wasn't drenched in water this time, so I noticed her long black hair in ringlet curls that I adored."Hey, future sister-in-law," she said with a smile.I remembered her to be the more levelheaded of the two sisters."Hey," I said, grabbing a plate from the table. "This s
Blaire's short strides patted along behind me, down the stairs and toward the back of the house. Most of the wolves were outside, some playing with their pups, but others keeping watch. Backup for the guard wolves roaming the perimeter. Marcus stood with mom and Scotty in the garden. She looked concerned which meant they'd told her what we were up against. "Luther," Mom said, reaching for my forearm. "Is everything alright? You look angry." Oh, I was beyond angry. Not only was this guy supposedly mated to my mate, but he threatened her and my family. I cracked my neck, squeezing Blaire's hand in mine, unable to control myself. "Ouch," she said, prying her palm away from me. "The dragon—," "— Alaric," Blaire said. My wolf growled low, angry she even spoke his name. She put both palms up and cringed. Scotty shook his head at her, giving her a clear warning to drop it. "He came to Blaire in a dream just now, and … said if I marked her he would kill my family, but make each of yo
Blaire slipped into a short summer dress that made my wolf go crazy, as if we hadn't been in the shower until the water turned cold. No, I said to him. We have to save my brother. He's your brother not mine, he said. Bastard. Blaire untucked her hair from the back of her dress, and glanced over at me. "Look, I know you're pissed, but I didn't know he would be there." Sliding my fingers into my wet hair, I sighed. The truth was I secretly felt proud that Blaire had stood up to Zane. Even though it was one more problem to add to my list. "Blaire," I said, stepping in front of her, bracing my palms against her shoulders. "It's over with. There is nothing we can do now. Zane is known for his drastic measures to prove a point. I don’t believe for one second that he won't show up here. He will. But you'll be with me. I'm going to have you miles away from the kingdom, but close enough to me that I won't worry. Some of the wolves will stay behind to protect you while we get Marcus a
It felt surreal sitting across from the woman that I thought was my mother. She looked older in the face, but everything else seemed as if I'd been tossed back into time. As if I'd never been taken back to the apartment building, or put into foster care.Aunt Caterina looked happy to be away from the lycan kingdom, but ultimately fear rested in her eyes, which scared me. We'd just beaten the dragon king, and now we're facing off with a lycan king that we knew nothing about."You look tired," I said, standing up after we'd finished our Chinese food. She'd nearly eaten her entire takeout plate and the sight of her so hungry made my stomach twist. "I don't know if the cable is still turned on but—,""It is," Luther said from his spot across the room. He'd finished eating way before us, his elbows rested against his knees, his hands interlaced in front of him.I smiled to myself. I didn't know why Luther kept my apartment for me, maybe out of pity, or in case I ever got pissed and wanted
"Could you be any louder?" I asked over my shoulder to Axel. He crunched on every leaf in the woods surrounding the lycan kingdom. "Am I not being stealthy enough for you, Luther?" he asked in a sarcastic voice. "I'm so very sorry. I'm only sticking my neck out for you … again. Excuse me—," "You both shut up," Marcus hissed, crouching down suddenly. The lights of the kingdom were near, and I wasn't sure sending Axel up to the door was a good idea or not. We used a small storage shed on the outskirts of the property as coverage. "There are lycans guarding the front door." Marcus looked over. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Luther?" "No," I said honestly. "But they will be more willing to help another lycan than some wolves." Axel nodded. "I've got this taken care of. I'm personable, and everyone loves me." Marcus rolled his eyes, while I fought the same urge to strangle him. "Okay." Axel stood up and walked out into the clearing of the driveway leading up to the gate. The tw
Jessica slurped a noodle into her mouth and grinned at me from across the table. It was a nice contrast from the utter silence we'd had for the past hour.The tension was so thick I could taste it.Luther tapped the tip of his index finger against the table, his knee bouncing against mine. "So, this steak is to die for," I said, taking a long bite, and eyeing Barbie down the way.She winked at me. "Thank you, Blaire."Another five minutes of silence occurred, and I sighed. "How about that weather?"Luther cursed beneath his breath. "Stop it, please," he begged. "Can we talk about what Marcus and Axel planned out for the lycan kingdom?"Marcus leaned forward, and pushed his plate away. "We mapped it out, and Axel knows a way inside without signaling any guards. We're ready now."They were leaving soon. I understood the urgency in Marcus' voice, and the plea on his face. He needed closure or answers, whichever would come from their trip.But my stomach ached at the thought of being away
I left Blaire at the kitchen island eating, while I stepped outside onto the porch. I'd sensed Marcus arrive moments before, and by the worried look on his face, I figured he found something I needed to hear about.He ran his fingers into his blonde hair, and I watched the scar across his face move with his facial expressions. He looked tired, considering he'd been worried about finding her mate, and getting into the lycan kingdom."What is it?" I finally asked, leaning against the railing of the porch.Marcus stood in the yard, feet away from me. "Hex called me because you haven't answered your phone."I reached in my pocket, and realized I didn't have it. "I must have dropped it somewhere. I haven't seen it since before the fight. Did he say what he needed?"He shrugged. "Not really. He said he needs you to call him back. It's important."I glanced over my shoulder and into the house through the screen door. Blaire was swinging her feet on the barstool, eating though I knew she was
My mouth still hung opened when Luther collided with Alaric. The vibration of their bodies hitting each other shattered my eardrums.I pressed my face into the tops of my knees, and braced for impact as the tree shuttered beneath me. Everything that happened over the last few nights circled in my head like a tornado.This had become a complete cock-up. A complete and utter nightmare. Seeing Luther's face in Alaric's room made tears pool in my eyes. I thought Alaric would kill him, and make me watch.At least now, he was free—sort of.Besides the bloody battle unfolding in front of me, that is.Luther slid beneath Alaric as he jumped up, his wings lifting him feet above the ground, and Luther turned around and kicked him in the back of his left knee. Alaric roared, a stream of fire blasted from his mouth, lighting the tree next to me on fire.Where is Smoky the Bear when you need him?The hellhounds barking—more like roaring—neared, and I clung to the trunk of the tree to keep from fal
Break the bars and kill him, my wolf growled.There was nothing I wanted more than to bend the bars, slip between them, and slit Alaric's throat. The battle had been monstrous, but we took out half of their dragons before they gathered themselves to fight back.It was an ambush at its finest. Except I never fought Alaric. Apparently, when we were storming the castle, he was dream hoping to Blaire, and now she was tossed over his shoulder like a ragdoll.Her t-shirt was bunched around her waist, her panties showing from being plucked from our bed. My fingertips tightened around the bars, and I felt myself growing numb.My ears rang as Alaric began to speak, I had no idea what he said other than being executed. And then Blaire's hazel eyes brimmed with tears, and she tried to run to me.His hands on her made my wolf howl in pain. The very thought of him touching her made my skin crawl, and to see him do it, pierced my heart. "I love you," I said, for the first time out loud.It was unsp
Seeing Luther run into the distance broke my heart. Not knowing if he'd make it back in one piece, or at all, crushed every part of me that yearned for him.Every part that felt connected to him.I couldn’t stand in the window any longer, so I walked down the stairs to the family room where Jessica and Barbie sat on the couch. Selena stood by the front window, staring out the glass, her fingers twitching nervously against her side.Barbie looked up at me, and patted the seat next to her. "Come have a sit, Blaire. We're going to watch some movies and drink wine. It'll take our mind off things."Selene scoffed from the window, and turned around to look at Barbie. "Speak for yourself, Mother.""Don't. Start," she said back. "We're all worried about the boys. You're not the only one."Blaire brought her knees up to her chin, and wrapped her arms around them. "When is the last time the pack has fought?'"We fight off rogue wolves and lycans occasionally, but we haven't had a war in ages. I
I spent most of the night staring at Blaire as she tossed and turned in her sleep. No dreams came to her, but she seemed restless. I traced my fingertips down her back, leaving an openmouthed kiss against the end of her spine before getting up the next morning. The pack house was quiet due to the early morning, but I relaxed knowing I wouldn't be bothered for another hour or so. I jogged downstairs and started a cup of coffee, out of habit more than necessity. The early morning sun peeked over the distant trees, casting a pinkish glow over the backyard, but I couldn't enjoy it as I wanted. The torment swirling inside of me hammered hard against my head. I'd taken out my frustrations on Blaire the night before. My wolf took control, wanting to punish her for even considering going to the dragon. But I knew the truth. He was scared. Scared of what the dragon would say to sway her opinion. I leaned my palms against the sink while my coffee made and listened hard for the beat of her he