Once I was naked and shivering from the cold, they led me into the clawfoot tub. Their hands were firm, but not unkind as they scrubbed every inch of my skin with an unscented soap. Artificial fragrances would only interfere with the wolves as they hunted us down, ripe for the taking. A chill snaked
AnastasiaAs the does flooded in they branched off, quickly swept away by the Hunter’s that decided to pounce. I noticed each one held themselves differently. Some walked with their shoulders back, spines straight, and noses in the air. Their hips swayed to a seductive melody that had the males entr
He cut an imposing figure in his blacked-out tuxedo. The crisp lines accentuated his broad shoulders and lean waist. His dark hair was styled back, revealing the sharp angles of his jaw and cheekbones. Suddenly his eyes locked with mine and I could feel every ounce of his rage like a jolt of electri
AnastasiaCaius’s presence filled my mind, and I heard his voice, soft yet strong. “That is the son of Vladimir’s new Beta. I have no clue if he knows who you are, but be careful, Anastasia. From what I’m hearing he has a cruel streak a mile long. I’m close by. You won’t leave my sight, I promise.”
Marjorie now stood just a few yards behind him. Her long lashes fluttered as she drank him in with the same intensity I had moments before. She took a step towards him, her eyes lit with determination.Something in Caius’s gaze shifted and he seemed to make a decision. “We can’t have that, can we?”
AnastasiaThe only sound was the pounding of my heart as I sprinted towards the tree line with the other does. I thought I caught a glimpse of Marjorie’s crimson hair, but it was too chaotic to be sure. Within seconds we were plunging headfirst into its clutches.Branches ripped at me like gnarled f
I readied to turn back but hesitated when I heard the quiet trickle of running water.Ziva picked up on it immediately. “A stream, maybe? We can use it to scatter our scent, but we need to get there quickly. It won’t mean shit if everyone else is already on the other side.”As I raced in the directi
AnastasiaI slipped into the mind-link but where Caius was I felt only animal instinct and predatory focus. It shifted as his wolf registered my presence, the full weight of his attention settling on my shoulders. I ripped myself away and instead reached out to Knight, Ghost, and Damon. The three of
“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