I slipped the box into my backpack and zipped it shut just as Knight’s voice came through.His words were choppy, as if we were on the receiving end of some bad cell service. It made no sense. Typically it didn’t matter how far one was from their pack, they could still access the mind-link. It was e
AnastasiaMy lungs heaved as we ran beside Caius, easily keeping pace with his massive wolf. Our muscles coiled as we sprang into action, kicking off the ground to dip around the thick base of a maple tree. The sky rumbled with thunder and flashed with hints of lightning. A gentle rain began to fall
My ability. That’s what he was talking about. I’d been so lost in panic that I nearly forgot about it.Time slowed to a halt, allowing me to put distance between myself and the other wolves. There was just one problem.I couldn’t unfreeze Caius.Whatever I had done back at the festival wasn’t workin
Ice crawled along the ground.The wolf licked it’s muzzle.I waited, ready to freeze time, as it geared up to lunge at me. The second its feet left the ground something slammed into it, knocking it into a tree that froze upon impact.Ghost’s wolf shimmered into existence, coaxing a sigh of relief fr
Anastasia“Did I mention how much I hate running?” I wasn’t going to mention to Caius that the only time I might enjoy running was if it ended with some intense hate sex. Now wasn’t really the best moment for that though, not when I was still reeling from finding out our parents seemed to closely k
I quickly opened it and inspected the clothes inside. They were old, but intact from sitting within a zipped suitcase for goddess knows how long. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt and slipped both on. Next came a pair of socks which, thankfully, didn’t have any holes in them.
AnastasiaKnight’s head poked out from the bathroom, “You saw that? His ability is crazy volatile.” A smug grin tugged at his lips. “Told him I could give him some pointers since my shadows are so obedient, but he didn’t like that much. Singed my fucking eyebrow right off.” His head vanished back in
I ran my fingers over each one before pausing over a dusty wooden frame. Some of the grime smeared, revealing a few faces behind the dirty pane of glass.Something urged me to grab the picture. I turned the frame over and pried open the latch. Grabbing the image before it could flutter to the floor,
“You were made to be mine.” I tore the robe from her body and relished the sound of fabric splitting. Grabbing her wrists, I pinned them behind her back and flipped her around so that her back was flush against my chest. Sweeping an arm out, I cleared my desk of everything, earning a gasp from Anast
I kept moving, my senses stretched as far as they could go. A soft shuffle, nearly undetectable, had me turning left. I continued to follow the hall, turned again, then stopped when I saw her.At the very end of the hallway, bathed in shadows and pale slants of moonlight, was my wife. She was hardly
CaiusUpon returning home, I had one of the few remaining staff draw Anastasia a bath. The woman spent most of her time in there. Not that I paid much attention.Only I did.I told myself it didn’t matter. That I wasn’t counting the minutes she spent in there, listening for the hum of that fucking t
Caius let out a pained grunt, then lifted me from his lap.“I know, which is exactly why we’re coming to an agreement now and not later.”I grinned, feeling victorious. “You won’t regret it.”But as I turned my gaze back to the book on my lap, and to my troubled thoughts, the strange unease in my st
I didn’t admit it to him, but his words made me feel better.“She spent my whole life teaching me to hide my ability. She drilled it into me that I couldn’t trust anyone with my secret, and then she just up and left. Lied about dying. Now I find this note telling me not to look for her. That she had
AnastasiaThe jet hummed softly as it carved a path through the sky, the pack still hours away. The cabin was dim, the lights turned low, and the air thick with unspoken thoughts.I was beginning to suffocate on them.To make matters worse, Maverick sat just a few rows over. Caius apologized prior t
Then there was Caius.Traveling with him wasn’t hardest because of our bickering—that was expected. It was hardest because, somewhere along the way, I had started to enjoy being around him. We were learning each other in ways that felt dangerous. Intimate.I knew how he favored lighter suits as the
AnastasiaBy the time the movie ended, my frustration had dulled to a simmer. The rom com had done its job, distracting me from my own life long enough to keep me from spiraling. Fallon stretched her legs out and released a yawn before turning to me with a smirk.“So, care to talk about your problem
Caius stilled for just a second, his mug raised halfway to his lips. A flicker of something crossed his face—something guarded, almost unsure. Then, as if making a decision, he let out a slow breath and leaned against the counter.“I reacted, because I know someone who can do what he claimed you cou