XERAPHINA Soft beams of golden sunlight filter through the slats of the blinds, casting a warm glow that nudges me awake from my peaceful sleep. I reach up, my fingertips brushing against the cool, smooth surface of the blinds as I close them, ensuring not to disturb the tranquility of my still-sleeping brothers. With a contented sigh, I stretch my body, feeling the gentle pull of my muscles awakening after a restful night. The aroma of morning dew and animal manure seeps in through the cracked window. Suppressing a yawn, I clutch my cell phone and silence the alarm, grateful that I woke up before its intrusive melody could pierce the peace of the morning. I place the phone back on the bed and rise from the embrace of my small, yet cozy, cot.Determined not to disturb anyone, I tread lightly towards the spacious bathroom within our luxurious, massive motorhome. Closing the door with a quiet click, I navigate my way to the toilet, taking care of my needs, before heading over to the el
CASSIUSI’m woken up by the shrill blaring of my alarm on my phone going off. Squinting my eyes, I search for my phone, only to find the damn thing underneath the female wolf shifter I brought home with me from the bar last night. This is not good; not good at all.She’s not even supposed to be here, dammit! This woman was supposed to have gone back with her friend, who had hooked up with another guy just down the way from my place. But here she is. She’s going to wake up any second now wanting round three, and I have no time for that. Neither one of us were drunk last night. I guess we both just passed out after the wild time we had. We didn’t have sex; but we did many other wild and amazing things.“Shit!” I yell, then growl when she stirs and starts rubbing her ass cheeks against my morning wood.“This is gonna hafta be quick. I’ve got important plans this morning,” I say as I flip her over on her back, tear her underwear off, and start fingerfucking and licking her to death.When
CASSIUSTo say I feel like a God right now as I drive on the interstate headed towards home would be an understatement. I’ve just secured a substantial amount of money by winning first place in bronc and bull riding.Not only that, but Xeraphina’s training has also yielded results - she emerged victorious in the cattle roping competition, claiming first place. The instant she won, her excitement became contagious, as she leaped into my arms and planted a kiss on my cheek. The intensity of our one-sided mate bond caused my heart to race, and every fiber of my being felt as if it were on the verge of eruption.As I drive for two hundred miles, I find myself with ample time to contemplate both my life and the words spoken by Xeraphina yesterday morning. After contemplating the matter for a while, I’ve decided to transfer my winnings into a separate account, rather than depositing them into the joint account that Charity and I share.Once I arrive home, I plan to request a divorce and rev
XERAPHINAI’m in the middle of sharing the news with my mother and father about my first place win in calf roping, when dad’s attention drifts away as he receives a mind link. He rises from his seat and exits the room, forgetting about me. Mom shoots me a sympathetic look before rushing off to find out what’s happening. I should be used to this by now, but every time it happens, I can’t help but feel upset.Getting to my feet from the couch in the spacious lounge area of the pack house, I make my way towards the kitchen. Now is the ideal moment to indulge in some comfort-food. It’s remarkable that I haven’t morphed into a whale yet. Thank the moon goddess for these werewolf genes that course through my system. Or I wouldn’t keep my toned figure. As I pry open the freezer, I retrieve a gallon of rocky road ice cream and embark on a quest to find a spoon.As I’m making my way back to the lounge area, grateful it’s late and everyone else in the massive mansion is asleep. The door bursts
XERAPHINAThe past two weeks have flown by, leaving us in a constant state of chaos. The reason for all this madness is that Charity’s mate was from one of our neighboring rival packs. Despite having the scent of an omega, he has secured his position as a gamma within his own pack. In the werewolf hierarchy, a gamma holds the third rank and authority. My father believes he has not yet undergone the blood ritual to solidify his position as a gamma. It remains a mystery how he accomplished such a feat, especially considering the previous gamma of the Howlers Moon Pack was a cruel and oppressive leader. It’s unheard of for an omega to defeat a gamma, which makes this situation more extraordinary and perplexing.Charity is determined to remain in the mansion constructed by Cassius, refusing to leave despite her mate’s pleas. Despite his efforts to do what is right, she remains stubborn. As a result, the Beta from the Howlers Moon Pack, accompanied by a few of their warriors, has been caus
CASSIUSI’ve exhausted all my efforts to reach out to Xeraphina since all that went down yesterday. But as soon as she catches a whiff of my presence, she scurries away in the opposite direction. Among all the events that unfolded, Xeraphina’s rejection stung the most. Thankfully, she didn’t outright reject me as her mate. That alone was a slight relief. However, since she slammed her door, shutting us out, Talon and I have been in disarray, feeling like death ran over twice on the highway.Xeraphina’s words linger in my mind, piercing like a winter wind. Her voice had held the weight of countless shattered dreams. Talon’s howls in my head reflect the turmoil in my heart; they are never ending and I don’t blame him. I wish I could yell to the universe my current anguish, but I can’t.Deep down, a knot tightens in the pit of my stomach, as if warning me of the rejection that awaits me once Xeraphina forges a bond with her wolf. The mere thought of it sends a shiver down my spine. But d
CASSIUS“Well, I know that now. But I didn’t know that then. So I kept everything to myself and stayed away from Xeraphina as much as I could. Especially after I got married.”“I’ll have a conversation with her. She was born at one in the afternoon, so her transformation could happen anytime between now and then. Once she shifts into her wolf form and has some time to unwind, I’ll arrange for the two of you to meet. That way, you can discuss everything and resolve any issues. I just wanted to speak with you beforehand to understand your perspective on the situation. She’s been crying non-stop since she woke up.”“I would be forever grateful if you could help me Luna.”“Cassius, it’s important for you to understand that Xeraphina accepting the mate bond will not happen overnight. It will take months, and it’s something you will need to endure. It would have been easier for you if you hadn’t been involved with other women the past few years. You know that one of Xeraphina’s friends rece
CASSIUSInstead of making my way back to the ballroom in the basement of the pack house, I change course and head towards Xeraphina’s room. I don’t care if I have to talk to her through the door. There are so many things that need to be said before she connects with her wolf and shifts for the first time. I’m prepared to apologize on my hands and knees, even kissing her feet if necessary. It is crucial that I mend the rift between us.As I hurried down the hallway, the sound of a piercing scream echoed, transforming into a haunting wolf’s howl reverberating through my ears. The intensity threatened to shatter my eardrums. In that moment, a captivating scent enveloped me, a blend of sweet honeysuckle, the refreshing scent of rain, and the earthy aroma of the forest. The scent is more alluring than ever before and I know that it’s Xeraphina who is transforming into her wolf. A mix of overwhelming happiness and anxiety envelopes my core. Ignoring the discomfort, I sprinted the last few s
CASSIUSXeraphina lies motionless, connected to an IV, feeding tube, and heart monitor. Vaegon and I grip her hands, waiting for her to regain consciousness. It has been three long hours since we discovered Xeraphina. The healers have determined that she has fractured vertebrae and has sustained extensive fractures throughout her body, including her neck. Xariah’s powers are too weak to heal her, and they have informed us she may not survive this horrific ordeal. All we can do now is sit by her side, filled with hope for a positive outcome.Xeraphina’s heart rate has been slow, and the healers have revived her five times. However, she always comes back to us, if you can call it that. Her parents, Vaegon and I, have decided that if her heart stops again, we will let her go. If Xariah can’t heal her, Xeraphina wouldn’t want to live in a state where she cannot function.Xeraphina’s heart rate stabilizes, and her pale complexion slowly regains its natural color. With time, the bruises on
XERAPHINAAn enchanting whisper of a woman’s voice I have never heard before penetrates my subconscious, beckoning for me to wake up. “Xeraphina. Wake up dear. We have much to discuss.” But for the life of me, I can’t pry my eyes open.“Don’t worry about anything, dear child. You almost killed yourself falling down the stairs, but I got here just in time to help you. I’ve stayed close, watching over you and your mates in case I would need to intervene,” she says, then sings once more.As she sings, her voice weaves an enchanting melody that stirs my soul. A delicate shiver travels down my spine, while a cool breeze caresses my head and torso, soothing the shooting pain that had left my body in agony.My eyes snap open, and I am engulfed in weightlessness, my body free from all the pain. As I turn my head to the right, I am captivated by the sight of a stunning woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to me. Her eyes, a mesmerizing fusion of green and blue, outshine even my own, radiatin
XERAPHINA“Don’t worry, Angel of Mine. We won’t kill each other. We’re just gonna rough each other up some,” Vaegon says, glancing over at Cassius. “Right, asshole?”“You’re still lucky I’m behind bars, fucker,” Cassius warns, ramming himself against the bars and reaching his arms out to grab Vaegon, but he steps out of reach.“Quit y’all’s shit already. You are two grown men. I’m not in the mood for this. Sleep. I need sleep,” I say, strolling away from them and walking towards Xachariah.Getting on tiptoe, I whisper into Xachariah’s ear, so Vaegon and Cassius can’t hear us with their heightened wolves’ senses. “Those two are going to kill us all. We’re all doomed.”Xachariah chuckles and shakes his head. Then does the same, whispering into my ear. “They know if they kill each other, they’ll kill you. If what your wolves are saying is true. Vaegon and Cassius would do nothing to jeopardize your life, Xeraphina,” Zachariah explains, a snarl coming from his lips when Cassius comes into
XERAPHINA Cassius’s gaze met my own, gold swirling in his irises and confusion washes over me. Then I look over at Vaegon to see gold swirling around in his irises as well. What the hell is going on here? Talon left Cassius, but he’s back now, out of nowhere; for what reason? Talon reconnecting with Cassius will make rejecting him so much more difficult now. A fresh wave of tears collect in my eyes and I reach up to swipe them away when they slip down my cheeks.Glancing at Vaegon, my voice hitches as I whisper, “Vaegon, I’m sorry, but I need you to leave, please. Cassius and I need to have a private chat.”“You can’t reject him, Xeraphina,” Vaegon states, as he glares at Cassius, growling and crossing his arms in anger.My brows furrowed, I turn to see Cassius coming closer. “What the hell are you talking about, Vaegon? I thought you of all people would be the happiest about me rejecting Cassius.”“Has Xariah not reached out to you about anything regarding the three of us?” Cassius
XERAPHINAWhen Xariah rushes into the forest, I decide to end our shared consciousness. I don’t care what Xariah does during this time. Thanks to Cassius, I’m a ball of anger, pain, and sadness. Looking back, I see if I had just kept my rejection of Cassius from the start; things would be fine. I gotta spend more quality time with Vaegon. This is something that Cassius promised me I could have, but went against his word, which isn’t fair to Vaegon.Why do I still have such powerful feelings for Cassius, despite all the harm he has caused me, my family, and our pack? Well, I guess it’s because Cassius is family, and I have always loved him. However, I can’t continue this way any longer. The recent events, like him starting a war with Charity and losing his wolf Talon, have pushed me to my breaking point. I need to let go of Cassius and move on, just as he needs to let go of me. Our relationship has become toxic.As of now, I need to focus on Vaegon. It’s not fair to him. I’ve been in a
CASSIUSMy senses come rushing back to me when Vaegon informs me about Xeraphina’s panic attack. In addition, he reveals Alpha Joseph’s plan for both Xeraphina and me to reject each other, ultimately leading to my expulsion from the pack. These words hit me with a force that I can no longer ignore. This manipulative asshole is on the verge of accomplishing everything he has desired since entering our pack, and it pisses me off.“I bet you’re fucking happy, aren’t you, asshole? You’ll have her all to yourself now.”It’s not until he calls me a fucking spoiled teenage brat that I can’t hold off my anger anymore. In my drunken catatonic state I lunge at the fucker, forgetting about the fucking jails bars between us. My head collides with the steel bars, almost knocking me out, but I shake my head, ridding the stars shooting out in my vision away.“You better be glad I’m behind bars or I would fucking kill you, fucker! She is my fucking fated mate! Mine! I’ve known her my whole fucking li
CASSIUSXachariah drives my truck as we head back to the pack house. He vents his anger, yelling and cursing about what happened with Xeraphina this morning and the incident involving Charity. With each outburst, he slams his fist down on the steering wheel, distorting it to where it seems unusable. When he realizes he can’t hit the steering wheel anymore because of its fragile state, he bangs on the dashboard. I’m relieved Xachariah isn’t directing his anger towards me this time, or else he would kill me. However, I know once we reach the pack house, I will face the consequences.At some point, he stops the truck, and we step out. I receive several blows to the ribs, some causing fractures, and a strike to the head, all while he continues to curse at me. After venting his anger, he forces me to drive the remainder of the journey.As Xachariah settles into the passenger seat, a sense of foreboding washes over me as I see his glazed eyes. I know he is reaching out to Alpha Joseph to di
VAEGON It took us forever going down several twisted tunnels and stairs before we made it to a massive door that leads to the dungeons. We must be several levels underground, at least eight from the amount of stairs we went down.Xachariah unlocks the massive door and pushes it open. Then he ushers me inside and growls when Cassius’s scent wafts towards us.“We don’t use the dungeons that often. Cassius is the only one down here right now. So it shouldn’t be hard for you to find him. He’s towards the end, is all I know,” Xachariah says, pointing in the direction I needed to go.“I’ll lead you to our bunker afterwards, so you’ll know where it is for future reference. Instead of taking a left like we did to get here, you take a right. Good luck, man. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”Glancing around, I see several jail cells akin to that of the human jail cells. Where there are cots and toilets, and that’s about it. The only difference is that they welded the cells into giganti
VAEGONSkinning and chopping, the moose brought Xeraphina and me together, and we could bond a bit. We were just kidding around and having a blast. Xeraphina was good once she stopped thinking about Cassius.During our conversation, we discussed various topics, including my background and alpha training. I shared my passion for vintage cars and my talent for fixing engines with her. In fact, my dad and I have a hobby of buying old cars, fixing them up, and then deciding whether to keep them or sell them. Interestingly, Xeraphina suggested I might get along well with her youngest brother, who is a year older than me. It turns out that he shares the same enthusiasm for classic cars as I do.We discussed various topics like the lodge, her love for horses and cattle roping, and our family backgrounds. Cassius’s name never came up. Xeraphina mentioned a friend who passed away a few months ago. She got lost in thought and Cassius crossed her mind. I changed the subject to learning horse rid