I apologize for the slight delay in posting today's chapter- I was stuck in meetings all morning! I'm not sure about a bonus chapter over the weekend yet, but I'll do my best! ;)
VIENNA Iโm having serious dรฉjร vu looking at Chase right now, relaxed back in the center of the leather sofa with a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers. The only departure from the past version of him is his expression- gone is that sullen, broody boy, replaced by the one sitting in front of me with a cocky smile and a glimmer of โtry meโ in his eyes. Too bad Iโve never been one to back down from a challenge. โForget to mention you were having a party tonight?โ I ask, my arms still folded tightly across my chest as I level him with a tight-lipped stare. He shrugs a shoulder, dimples sinking into his cheeks with his smirk. Throwing up a hand, he gestures nonchalantly to his cronies seated around him. โThe boys wanted to have one.โ โUh huh.โ I roll my eyes, tossing my long wavy hair back behind my shoulders. โYouโre just full of surprises today.โ My gaze slides to Chaseโs friends surrounding him on the sofa, all on the edges of their seats as their eyes ping between the tw
VIENNAI have no idea what Chase has up his sleeve, but I canโt deny the little spark of excitement that comes with not knowing. As we roll out of Norbury and head toward Summervale, he starts fiddling with the stereo, muttering something about the specs of the sound system in the Jeep as he works to connect his Bluetooth to play music from his phone. We should talk, but Iโve got a feeling that our conversation will be a lot more productive after heโs cooled down and some of the alcohol works its way out of his system. Shifters can drink a hell of a lot more than humans without feeling the effects, but nobodyโs sober after slamming a half a bottle of whiskey.He selects a song and presses play, the opening bars of Machine Gun Kellyโs โbloody valentineโ overtaking the silence in the cab of the Jeep. Itโs not the upbeat, peppy version of the song- itโs the acoustic version with Travis Barker on drums. MGKโs gritty, melancholic voice comes out crisply through the speakers, the low hum of
CHASEThe restaurant at the lodge is deserted when I enter, the moon high in the sky and spilling its light through the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountain. The bar area is still dimly lit by hanging pendant lights, casting a yellow glow over the rich wood tones of the bar itself and illuminating the shelf of liquor bottles. The only sign of life in here is a rustling sound coming from somewhere behind the bar, and as I draw closer, something clatters and I hear Vienna mutter a curse under her breath.โNeed some help?โ I chuckle, approaching the bar and leaning over the counter.Vienna pops up to her feet, brown eyes thrown wide as they collide with mine. โChase,โ she breathes, the husky sound of it going straight to my dick. Her long dark hair is tied back in a tight ponytail and she pulls it over a shoulder, fiddling with the ends. โYouโre early.โI am, but only by fifteen minutes or so. I wonโt tell her that I was waiting in the parking lot for another fifteen.
CHASE As we get in the truck to leave the lodge, Iโm fully expecting Vienna to unleash her wrath on me for wielding my Alpha command. In hindsight, it was a stupid move- the girl hates being told what to do- but I was so desperate to keep her safe in that moment that I just acted on instinct. As I start the truck and pull away from the lodge, Iโm bracing myself for the fallout. Iโm ready for it. But it doesnโt come. Instead, she turns up the volume on the radio and ignores me for the entire drive back to Norbury, which is somehow worse. Fighting, I can handle. Itโs practically our love language. But the silent treatment? Fucking kill me. I park the truck in the driveway and before I can even cut the ignition, Vienna unclips her seatbelt and jumps out, tearing up the front walk. I quickly follow, my long strides eating up the distance quickly so that by the time sheโs walking over the threshold into the packhouse, Iโm right behind her, catching the door before she can slam it in my fa
CHASEViennaโs sleeping so deeply that she doesnโt even stir when I carry her upstairs and tuck her into my bed. At least one of us is able to sleep- I havenโt managed a wink since she told me the truth about her situation at home. My mind races all night combing over my options, and when the first rays of morning sunlight peek through the curtains, I give up my futile fight for sleep and sneak out of bed to put my plan into action.I scrawl out a quick note to Vienna to let her know that something came up, leaving it on the nightstand with the key fob to the Jeep sitting on top, instructing her to take it to work since I wonโt be back to give her a ride. With any luck, Iโll be able to execute my plan before her shift ends today and sheโll be none the wiser. On my way out the door, I cast one last glance in her direction, my eyes raking over her naked form tangled in the black satin sheets. Seeing her like this, so sweet and vulnerable, only reinforces my resolve for what Iโm about to
VIENNAAs I leave my house with Chase, a lot of strange looks are cast in our direction.Brock looks at us like weโre nuts, and yeah, we basically are.Astrid peers at us with this smug little smile like she knows something that we donโt, which is basically par for the course with her.My momโs eyes are glassy with tears and burning with scorn, but I donโt even lift my gaze to meet them as I confidently stride past her. She doesnโt fucking deserve my pain or my pity.When we walk outside, weโre greeted by more strange looks.Levi glances at us wistfully, looking a little butthurt like he always does when he sees us together lately. Must be a male ego thing since Chase won their little tug-of-war over me, but it was never really a competition in my eyes.Cal is grinning from ear to ear, probably delighting in the blood smeared on our faces. Sick fucker. Miles looks confused as hell, and Alec and Dare are sporting matching raised brows and curious expressions on their faces.Nessa appe
CHASE โHow do you want me?โ Vienna purrs, crawling toward me on the bed in a lacy black matching bra and panty set. Her hooded, lust-filled gaze meets mine and she dips her head down to lick her tongue across my abs, sending a shiver skating down my spine. โAny way you want it, baby,โ I growl, burying a hand in her soft-as-fuck hair and tugging on the strands as she continues trailing her tongue along the dips and curves of my muscles. โHmmโฆโ Vienna rocks back to sit up on her heels, tilting her head coyly and putting a finger to her chin in thought. Then she smirks to herself, turning away from me and tossing a leg over my body, climbing over to straddle my waist with her back to me. I grab a handful of her pretty little ass in each palm as she rises up on her knees to line her center up over my cock, slipping her panties to the side and slowly lowering herself onto my throbbing hard-on. โFuuuuuck,โ I choke out as I sink into her wet heat, my fingertips digging into her ass cheek
CHASE I throw up a prayer to fate that Iโm not too late when I arrive at the cabin, fueled by adrenaline and fear as I tumble out of my truck and race for the front door. Please donโt let her die. If she dies here, I may as well die too, because I wonโt survive losing her. My gaze catches on the number 12 carved crudely into the post beside the front door, the numbers practically mocking me as that chant starts in my brain again. โCabin 12. Come alone or she dies.โ Well asshole, I came alone, so sheโd better be aliveโฆ My heartโs in my throat as I wrap my hand around the knob and push, the door swinging open to reveal the interior of the cabin. As soon as it comes into view, the click of a gunโs hammer steals my breath and my eyes collide with Viennaโs. Sheโs bound to a chair, just as she was in the picture, and thereโs a man standing behind her, hovering over her with a filthy hand wound in her hair yanking her head back. Heโs got a gun in his other hand, the barrel pressed tig
VIENNA*****************18 years after that*******************โMaddโs an asshole for making me go through summer training camp,โ Seb grumbles from the back seat of the truck as we pull into the parking lot of the squad complex.I turn to peer back at my sulking boy, a deep scowl etched on his handsome face and his muscular forearms folded tightly across his chest. โAw, cโmon. Itโs only fair. I had to go through it once too, ya know.โ I flash him a smile of encouragement, but it does nothing to lighten his mood. โHey, at least youโre better prepared than I wasโฆโโItโs still bullshit,โ Seb snaps, fisting a hand in his hair and tugging the strands, a gesture that reminds me so much of his father. Heโs the spitting image of Chase when he was that age- the same dark eyes, sharp jaw, and arrogant swagger.Chase heaves a sigh as he pulls the truck into a parking spot, his eyes flickering up to the rear-view mirror to gaze back at our son. โEnough with the attitude, Seb,โ he warns, levelin
CHASE **************Five Years Later **************** โHey, take it easy!โ I growl out as Fallon and Grayโs twins race past me, nearly knocking the tray of burgers out of my hands. โSorry, Uncle Chase!โ their daughter calls over her shoulder, though she doesnโt slow down in her pursuit of her brother as he weaves between the people gathered on the back lawn of the packhouse, darting around them in an effort to escape her. He almost succeeds, too, until Brock and Astridโs daughter, Sloane, jumps between her parents to block his path, her curly hair bouncing and a mischievous grin stretching her lips. โYouโre it!โ Avery declares triumphantly, catching up to her twin brother before he can alter his course and tagging him on the shoulder. Maddox blows out a frustrated sigh and folds his arms over his chest, scowling at Sloane for trapping him and allowing his sister to get the upper hand. โNot fair, you girls cheated.โ โCatch me if you can, Madd,โ Sloane coos, turning on a heel and
VIENNA ***************** Three Weeks Later ******************* โIโll head back first,โ I breathe, yanking my jeans up my hips and fastening the button. My legs are still a little shaky and thereโs a delicious ache between them from being thoroughly fucked by my mate. In the woods. With our friends within shouting distance over at the bonfire pit. I doubt they heard us- Chase turned up the volume on the portable speaker before he followed me out here under the guise of taking a piss and held his hand over my mouth to muffle my scream when I came- but if we go strolling back there together, everyone will immediately guess what weโve been getting up to out here and the relentless teasing will ensue. Not that Iโm embarrassed about hooking up with Chase. I mean, heโs hot as fuck- who wouldnโt tap that? Of course, thatโs a rhetorical question, because heโs all mine. My goddamn soulmate. Iโm the luckiest bitch alive. Even so, his buddies love to give us shit about going at it like
CHASE My entire pack is keyed up, itching to shift and waiting for me to lead the charge. Articles of clothing litter the back lawn of the packhouse as theyโre stripped from bodies and flung away, the energy among the gathered crowd palpable. Tonight will be my first time leading the full moon run as our packโs Alpha; ushering in a new era for us all now that Iโve finally stepped up to claim my place. Once my wolf came in, I was always second to run as the alphaโs son. Following my dadโs death, Rob was the one to lead the full moon run as the next highest-ranking member of our pack, and I remained second. Tonight, and every full moon after this while Iโm Alpha, Iโll be the first to shift; the first to howl to invite the others to join, and the first to carve a path through the woods for the rest of the pack to follow. The only downside to being the first to shift tonight is that Iโll be long gone before Vienna gets the opportunity to do the same. Since sheโs not technically part of
ViennaโLookinโ good, Tink,โ Chase croons, throwing me a wink as he walks into the bedroom.I spin away from the mirror as he approaches, pushing up on my tiptoes to meet him as he dips his head down to lay a kiss on my lips. Sparks crackle between us and heat pools between my thighs, but the dull hum of the crowd gathering downstairs deters me from taking things further and I reluctantly pull away, breathless as I stare up into the eyes of my dark prince.โYou clean up pretty well yourself, Alpha,โ I tease, taking a step back and giving him a once-over, grinning in approval. In honor of his Alpha induction tonight, Rob urged him to ditch his classic hoodie and jeans ensemble for a cleaner look; a black button-up shirt and a pair of slacks. The sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up to the elbows and his hair is deliciously mussed, so even with the nice clothes heโs still rocking that James Dean devil-may-care look that makes me weak.I shiver under the intensity of his gaze as his
CHASEBy the time we make it back to the packhouse, Vienna is still drifting in and out of consciousness. Sheโs lucid enough for me to get her into the shower, and I hold her under the spray and wash every drop of blood from her skin before toweling her off, bandaging her stomach, and tucking her into bed. I fall asleep holding her, afraid that if I let her go, sheโll disappear. The warmth of her skin against mine grounds me, reminding me that this isnโt all a dream- sheโs safe. We made it. And Iโm never letting her go again.I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep with my girl in my arms, and when I wake to the sound of voices downstairs more than twelve hours later, sheโs still crashed out. I carefully climb out of bed and slip into a pair of navy sweatpants, padding out of the room and down the hall on bare feet. Early morning sunlight filters in through the windows in the rear of the packhouse as I descend the stairs, my gaze falling upon Gray and the other alphas standing in the kitc
VIENNAChase is staring at this rogue like heโs just seen a damn ghost, a name leaving his lips on a whisper.โDaniel?โOkay, who the fuck is Daniel and why is he holding me at gunpoint? I always knew falling for Chase Walker was dangerous, but I never thought itโd actually be lethal. The barrel of the gun is still pressed to my temple and with each passing second, itโs becoming more difficult to fight back the unease clawing at my chest in response. This gun is way too close for comfort and itโs a safe bet that the maniac wielding it has a twitchy trigger finger. Iโm so fucked.Iโve thought about my own death before. Itโs only natural; especially after losing a parent at such a tender age. Before my dad died, I didnโt think much about my own death, but after I lost him and realized that you never know when your numberโs up, there was a period of time where I obsessed over it. I wondered when death would come for me and how Iโd go out- whether it would be in a blaze of glory or as a r
CHASE I throw up a prayer to fate that Iโm not too late when I arrive at the cabin, fueled by adrenaline and fear as I tumble out of my truck and race for the front door. Please donโt let her die. If she dies here, I may as well die too, because I wonโt survive losing her. My gaze catches on the number 12 carved crudely into the post beside the front door, the numbers practically mocking me as that chant starts in my brain again. โCabin 12. Come alone or she dies.โ Well asshole, I came alone, so sheโd better be aliveโฆ My heartโs in my throat as I wrap my hand around the knob and push, the door swinging open to reveal the interior of the cabin. As soon as it comes into view, the click of a gunโs hammer steals my breath and my eyes collide with Viennaโs. Sheโs bound to a chair, just as she was in the picture, and thereโs a man standing behind her, hovering over her with a filthy hand wound in her hair yanking her head back. Heโs got a gun in his other hand, the barrel pressed tig
CHASE โHow do you want me?โ Vienna purrs, crawling toward me on the bed in a lacy black matching bra and panty set. Her hooded, lust-filled gaze meets mine and she dips her head down to lick her tongue across my abs, sending a shiver skating down my spine. โAny way you want it, baby,โ I growl, burying a hand in her soft-as-fuck hair and tugging on the strands as she continues trailing her tongue along the dips and curves of my muscles. โHmmโฆโ Vienna rocks back to sit up on her heels, tilting her head coyly and putting a finger to her chin in thought. Then she smirks to herself, turning away from me and tossing a leg over my body, climbing over to straddle my waist with her back to me. I grab a handful of her pretty little ass in each palm as she rises up on her knees to line her center up over my cock, slipping her panties to the side and slowly lowering herself onto my throbbing hard-on. โFuuuuuck,โ I choke out as I sink into her wet heat, my fingertips digging into her ass cheek