“Okay,” I struggled to keep my tone neutral despite the storm raging inside me. "We need to talk about what happened between us and how we can handle it,” My fingers twitched at my sides, they itched to reach for his flawless face, to touch his skin, to feel those scars beneath my fingers tips again. But I settled for the distance between us rather than acting on it. Goddess knew I needed my head on straight for this conversation. He closed the door behind him, jaw tensing. "You're absolutely right," His deep voice washed over me with the unexpected memory of his lust filled whispers in my ears telling me just how good it felt to be inside of me. No! Any thought but that! "What happened...it changed things," Aspen expressed, an indescribable emotion in those deep eyes of his. I swallowed hard, mesmerized by the ropes of muscles beneath his shirt as he moved closer, eyes following me like a hawk. I took a step back, not because of discomfort but because I was afraid of what would
The next few days passed in a blur as I tried to prepare myself mentally for the move to the secluded pack cabin Aspen had arranged for us. As hard as I tried, I couldn't fully dismiss the unsettling sense that I was making a mistake. Staying this far away from the pack. Three days later, I was putting the finishing touches on settling into the new cabin's cozy living room. The place was lovely - rustic yet comfortable, nestled in a picturesque wooded area just inside Aspen's territory borders. A place he once lived in, Lily had told. I could still smell the faint lavender and spicy masculine scent that lingered in the sheets, in the wooden walls. "Momma, where?" Cole asked, toddling over with his stuffed wolf clutched in one chubby hand. Something his aunt had gotten for him apparently. I didn’t feel comfortable accepting anything from Esther, but I wouldn’t ever try to keep him from his family. I swept my son up into my arms, breathing in his sweet, comforting scent as I cuddle
The news of Aspen's impending marriage hit me harder than I expected. Lily delivered it casually over dinner that evening, as if commenting on the weather."Did you know Aspen is getting married next month? To that dreadful Victoria? I mean I get that the sex is good but is it really that good?" Lily shuddered, her mouth full as she spoke. Cole was asleep, thank God, or else he’d be repeating every new word he heard. I froze, iced water mug halfway to my lips. Hearing it put so bluntly made my chest constrict painfully. I didn’t think it would stir such emotion. "Oh...no, I didn't know that," I managed to reply, keeping my tone and expression neutral despite the way my heart began to pound noisily in my chest. So loud that I feared Lily might hear it. “That should be great news for the pack, isn’t it?” I spoke behind the mug, hiding how my lips trembled and my frown. Lily snorted and made a noise of disapproval. "Well, it's been an arranged match for years, but I still think
"Excuse me?" I sputtered, quickly closing the door behind them. I squeezed the towel in my hands, stomach roiling with unease. "You can't just barge in here uninvited!” I argued, annoyed at the fact that I couldn’t just kick them out. "Oh stuff it, you pathetic little omega," Esther hissed, fixing me with an icy glare. "Living in Aspen’s cabin is far more than a whore like you deserves." Esther spat as her eyes took in the small space my son and I shared. It made me feel bared and unguarded in her presence. The venom in her tone made me flinch, but I kept my composure. No way would I let her see how much her words stung."I don't know what your problem is, but I'd appreciate it if you'd leave," I replied, proud of how steady my voice remained. "This is my home for the time being, in the end it is all up to Aspen and since he’s given me this place, I will live in it until he says otherwise.”Esther let out a bark of mocking laughter. "You think you actually have a right to any of thi
I’m not sure how long I laid there curled up on the hard floor before Lily’s voice cut through the heaviness in my heart that threatened to consume me. “Andrea? You in here?”Frantically, I tried wiping the tears from my cheeks and pulling myself together as Lily’s footsteps approached. I struggled into a seated position just as she rounded the corner with Cole in her arms. “There you – “ Whatever she was going to say trailed off as her blue eyes went wide, clearly taking in my disheveled state. “Goddess, Andrea, what happened to you?” she questioned her look of shock mixed with wariness. Lily rushed over, deep concern etching her features. Cole immediately ran to me, little arms wrapping around my neck in a tight hug that made my throat tighten painfully. I didn’t make a sound, not wanting to scare him. “I’m fine,” I rasped out, though it didn’t sound very convincing, even to my own ears. Up close, Lily eyes took in the bruises and gashes that would no doubt take a bit longer
Something in me felt drained and nervous at the thought of facing Aspen right now, of facing him with these visible bruises, and in turn maybe adding to more of my issues in his pack. Then there was his scent, that scent that I could now recognize a mile away and plagued me in my dreams. Fuck. After being so blatantly reminded of my worthlessness, I simply didn’t have it in me to step into that minefield tonight.The knock came again, more insistent this time. Squaring my shoulders, my feet finally moved and I pulled open the door.And found myself pinned by that intense blue stare that never failed to keep me off balance. His thinly framed glasses rested atop his nose today, his hair was shorter than the previous day and his growing stubble seemed more tamed. He looked so gorgeous in that white T-shirt and slacks. He looked more casual than his usual appearance, like he’d just come back from a run in the woods. Aspen’s perfect features were an emotionless mask, but there was
I sat down right next to him, hesitantly. Just as expected, his scent engulfed me in an indescribable heat, that strange feeling where I just couldn’t get enough of him and I wanted to he closer. In the past few days, I haven’t sat this close to him, not now that I know the wedding preparations at the pack were in full drive. They’d already started with the garden designs and apparently a few days back, Victoria had returned to the pack but this time with her luggage. Everything she owned, Lily had told me in a rather dramatic narration. I didn’t want to be ‘that' woman. But yet here I was, unable to deny the fact that I couldn’t resist him. I swallowed thickly as I met his serious gaze. “Your wrists,” the stern tone he used startled me but the gentleness in his grip was on a whole new emotion. He held my wrist carefully like it would break at any rough movement, like I was made of glass. I watched as he worked. Putting on ointment on my bruises and still grabbing ic
I watched Aspen’s expression morph into one of guilt the second those words left his lips. He reached for our empty plates and then left my side, denying my body of his warmth, and dropped the dishes in the sink and started washing them immediately. I was left there feeling over his words. He’d thought he was in love with her until he met me. What the hell does that even mean? The silence between us was deafening. I struggled to find the words to respond. Part of me felt a glimmer of hope at his admission, but another part feared what his words could truly mean. Everyone always shipped Luke and Felicia, the woman he left me for, and he told me words that were almost similar to what Aspen had just said. The thought of going through what I did three years ago. I had to stop myself from falling for it. Not again. Finally, I spoke up. "Aspen...you're getting married soon. To Victoria. Whatever you might be feeling, don't act on it, it might just be a false sense of responsibility
ANDREA I woke up with a start. I jerked violently on the bed as I tried to gather my bearings. For a few moments, it reeked of that room, where Luke had kept me, it reeked of him and I could almost see his sinister blue eyes looking down at me, getting excited over the pain he inflicted. In a few seconds though, the haze cleared and I relaxed, realizing I was in my bedroom in the cabin. Safe. Right next to me was Cole. He was on the bed with me, his small fingers holding on to mine as he slept peacefully. I heaved a sigh of relief and my lips curled up as I watched my son sleep. Home. I gently pulled my fingers out if his grasp and caressed his hair gently as I watched his little chest rise and fall. We were safe. We were home. I looked around the room, feeling a it disappointed when I saw we were both alone. Aspen must be busy. I inhaled deeply once more, checking the state of my body. I seemed to be healing at a rather rapid pace but not fast enough, it stil
ASPENI gently brushed the messy strands of hair from Andrea’s face, my insides burning with anger as I took in the fading bruises and marks covering her delicate skin. My beautiful, strong mate, so tough yet almost broken by the horrible cruelty we had barely rescued her from.From my spoiled nephew who my mother had raised to be greedy and raised to hate everything that I am. The memory alone of finding her in that hellish basement cell, battered and almost dead…it made my blood boil with rage. If Enzo hadn’t held me back and reminded me she was more important, I might have torn the twitching remains of Luke limb from limb with my bare hands. Luke. Just thinking his name ignited a fresh wave of hatred and disgust towards the misguided kid who was once family. To think he had also dared lay his twisted hands on my mate…the idea was unforgivable. And he will pay for it. For every scratch, every bruise. Andrea’s breathing became slow and even as my fingertips stroked her brow soo
Countless emotions rushed through me as my eyes took in the sight that was in front of me. The cozy cabin’s living room came into view. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee mingling with the scent of breakfast, it made my stomach churn as I had no appetite for anything. There, in the middle where the coffee table was, sat Enzo and Lily, both watching with indulged grins as Cole enthusiastically showed off his prowess at a children’s board game, sweeping aside the pieces with gleeful abandon. Not a single hair was out of place on my beautiful son’s curls, not a mark or blemish on his beaming little face beyond the rosy flush of his excitement. He was safe. Whole. The relief I felt was so great my knees almost gave way. “My baby,” I breathed out in a shaky whisper. At the sound of my voice, three pairs of eyes swiveled in the direction of the staircase, taking in the sight of Aspen holding my admittedly worse-for-wear form. Enzo was the first to rise, hands held out in a placating mann
Everything hurt despite me being at peace. I’d honestly thought I wouldn’t feel anything once I was dead. Why did I still feel? A feeling of grogginess overshadowed my thoughts and I became painfully aware of my whole body as I stirred and clawed my way out of unconsciousness. My whole body felt heavy and my chest felt constricted yet, I could tell I was somewhere safe. I was laying in a deliciously soft bed, the kind of plush comfort I’d missed dearly. The crisp scent of freshly washed linens intermingled with the woodsy, piney aroma that could only belong to one place, my cozy little cabin back at Aspen’s pack. Confusion flooded my senses. Wait…how did I end up here? My brain felt foggy until the memories came crashing back like a violent wave. Luke’s sadistic torment, the crushing certainty that I would never see my precious Cole or family again, the terrifying descent into blackness. But then, cutting through it all…Aspen’s intoxicating scent had washed over me. That earthy
Luke paused mid-swing, chest heaving with the exertion of his hits as his nostrils flared. "Your bastard? Don't fret, my most capable wolves are out watching him. But once he's been...properly raised under my guidance, you needn't concern yourself with the affairs of children any longer," Like said, sounding proud like he was doing me a favor. The images his words stirred in my mind caused me to cry out, a deep, anguish filled cry at the thought of my precious boy suffering at the hands of such a sadistic bastard. The sight of my tears seemed to invite him even more, his expression turned into one of animalistic excitement as he continued his assault, cursing repeatedly as he made each hit. My throat became clogged up with blood, my eyes almost swollen shut, my lungs burned and I couldn’t see anything I could not thinks or feel, all that remained was pain. Blood, my blood, painted the walls in thick runnels with each strike that landed. Still I remained stubbornly defiant in my
A throbbing pain pounded incessantly behind my eyes as consciousness grudgingly slipped through, my mind clearing and my body becoming aware of its state. My head lolled listlessly to the side, cheek grinding against the rough, unforgiving concrete beneath me, I could barely hold up my head. As my fuzzy vision gradually cleared, a new kind of pain blossomed in my chest, the sickening realization that I was chained and spread in what appeared to be some dank, long-forgotten basement cell. "Awake at last, are we my little alpha?" A deep, sneering voice like poisoned honey reached my ears.Luke's hulking form stepped into my rapidly clearing field of view, his lips twisted into a smug sneer of victory. Revulsion and hatred churned in the pit of my roiling stomach at the sight of the vicious gashes I'd managed to inflict on his cheek now scabbed over. An injury from an alpha would never close up, it gave me even greater satisfaction to see how easily he looked like what he was on the i
The heavy silence hung in the air like a suffocating blanket after Theo's passing. Tears streamed down Maria's face as she clutched her dead mate's limp hand, her body shaking with sobs. Viktor looked shell-shocked, staring blankly ahead, his usual stoic expression cracked by raw grief. I pulled Cole tighter against my chest, his small frame trembling from fear and the effort of his earlier wails. My own tears flowed freely as the devastating loss hit me in waves. Despite barely knowing him, Theo's dying words echoed through my mind, his belief in me, A profound sense of both peace responsibility settled on my shoulders.The doctor and Viktor lifted Theo's now cold body from the ground and lay him down on the bed and then the doctor covered Theo's body with a white sheet, his head bowed in somber silence. Just then, heavy foot steps sounded above us. We all tensed, braced for another attack in our fragile state.The door burst open and a large figure strode in, it was Luke, Theo's
The dining table soon turned rather chaotic as Theo's hacking only worsened by the second, his face turned blue and purple his lips became drained of colors they were as white as snow and everything was a symptom of poisoning. Damien held his father close while he shouted orders put to the maids to go get the pack doctors. I could hear just how fast my heart was beating, how the blood fished in my ears and made them ring. Through it all, Theo’s eyes somehow remained locked onto mine even as they started to glass over with sheer, anguished struggle. An eerie sense of acceptance seemed to emanate from their glassy depths, as if he knew…No. I shook my head. Before that unthinkable notion could fully take shape, a series of thunderous booms shook the foundations beneath our feet. Dishes clattered from the table as the heavy wooden chairs skittered across the stone floor, creating more chaos and confusion.I lost my balance and almost fell face first on the floor. “What the fuc
“Maria,” Theo’s low rumble brooked no argument from the corner where he loomed beside Damien and Viktor the two stony-faced brothers pointedly disincluding themselves from the impromptu family scene.I didn’t blame them, I tried my best to push their chilly attitudes to the back of my mind. If I can handle Aspen, I can definitely handle them. Laughing lightly, Maria rose and dusted off her apron with familiar fondness. “Yes, yes, you’re quite right. We’d best get dinner underway before someone’s stomach starts growling us all into submission,” she teased with an amused glint in her eyes. Beckoning me forward, she looped an arm through the crook of mine as if we were lifelong friend. “Come along, dear, and we’ll get you and the little one settled at the table. I want to hear all about your journey here,” she said, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. I wish I could say I was used to things not happening as I expected them to but quite frankly, I was taken aback by how easi