I stay in my wolf form throughout the night. It’s the best way for me to heal. My wolf’s metabolism is sped up which will help to heal the bruises to the point that I can at least cover them up with makeup tomorrow. The bones will all shift back into place when I shift back, probably leaving a bit of soreness and ache behind, but nothing that I can’t deal with, even on heels.
I’m used to pain. It’s like a second skin that I wear, whether physical or mental, I always feel it. I can fake like it’s not there and no one will know.
And at least in wolf form, if Roy comes back I can defend myself better.
Healing from major wounds like this always causes me to dream. I don’t know if it’s because of the fact that I’m in my wolf form and closer to the Goddess or if it’s because of all the crazy amount of chemistry that’s going on in my body to heal myself. Whatever it is, I find myself floating into a dream.
I find myself walking in a familiar wooden clearing and coming upon a run-down cabin. But the overgrown grass and general detritus of the forest had been cleared away. A huge garden is off to one side of the yard. The moon hangs low in the sky and lights glow in the cabin windows and lights glow in the cabin windows.
The closer that I get to the cabin, the more it seems to repair itself. By the time I get to the door, it’s beautifully painted and trimmed with flowers all around the stepping stones leading up the entrance.
The door opens before I have a chance to touch the doorknob.
And standing there is the one person that means the entire world to me.
Cody.
He looks amazing. Especially compared to the last time I saw him, at the mercy of the pack guards. Beaten to a bloody pulp.
Now, his golden brown skin is clear and bright. His nose is straight and the curve of his lips immediately tips up into a smile.
“Nova!” he cries out. His arms come around me and he pulls me into a huge hug, burying his face in my hair like he used to do.
“Cody? How…? When…?” I can’t even think any words. Cody was the only thing that kept me going in the rogue encampment. I thought that I’d lost him forever when the pack guards came three years ago.
But he’s here, with his arms wrapped around me.
I don’t know how long we stand there, just holding each other tightly. But eventually, Cody pulls back and says, “Come in, come in.”
I follow him into a beautifully furnished and bright and warm and exactly the way that we dreamed it would to be. A huge hammock is hanging on the porch. A cuddle pile of blankets for our wolves to sleep and a long counter for u to experiment with cookie. The fireplace is burning low and there’s a pile of marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars on the coffee table in front of it.
It’s exactly what I had pictured in my mind.
My heart is beating hard, my smile so wide that it’s making my face ache.
Cody’s smiling and laughing. Well, he is until he sees my face.
“You still have your rogue mark.” It’s not a question, but a heartbroken statement. It’s only then that I realize that the large, dark mark over his left eye marking him as unwanted and undesirable is gone.
Some pack took him in and accepted him as one of their own, the alpha erasing the mark. Something that my father hadn’t taken the time to allow me to do.
And without a sponsor in the pack that was of age to vouch for me, I couldn’t get the mark erased from my skin. I couldn’t be accepted.
Using my long blonde hair, I cover that part of my face, ashamed of it in a way I’ve never felt before. When I’m out among the pack, it’s not embarrassment that makes me cover my mark. It’s fear of what they’ll do when they see that I’m a rogue.
Other than that, I’ve had the mark for so long that it doesn’t really bother me. I actually like that it’s something else that separates me from my father. I might not be a part of a pack, but that just means that I’m not a part of something that accepts monsters like Roy.
But with Cody being mark free, I’m separated from him. And that is shameful.
Cody’s hand reaches out to my face, turning me to face him. “Don’t ever hide from me, Star. We’ve been through too much for you to ever hide from me.”
I can’t help but smile at Cody’s nickname for me. When he found out that my name means a star that shows an increased brightness, he became enamored with the meaning. He said that in the darkness of the rogue camp and how they treated us, he was always looking for the brightest thing around. And it was me.
Then he places his hand over my face, right on my mark. I tingling sensation covers my skin. The feeling is almost pain, but not quite.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice rising in fear.
“Accepting you as mine,” Cody tells me.
I can only stare at him, my mouth opening and closing a few times before I can say, “But only an alpha – “
“I know,” he says.
When he pulls his hand away, he turns me to a mirror on the wall beside the door. It’s then that I see something that I haven’t seen in 12 years without the aid of makeup. My face has smooth, unblemished skin.
And the brown eyes that I’ve had since the matemark was placed have been erased as well. In their place are pale violet irises staring back at me.
Suddenly, I’m woken from my dream by my alarm clock, still on the floor and in my wolf form. It’s 2:00 pm and time for me to start getting ready for another double at work.
“Come on, man. It’s your 25th birthday. We can’t be late!” my beta, Jude, calls from my bedroom. “All the guys are ready to go.” I’m standing in my bathroom, having just finished putting on my hair. I grab the body spray that my mom got for me. It’s a pheromone enhancer, one that will increase my scent for my mate to find me. It works pretty damn well on the general unmated female population, but it will make my scent nearly irresistible to my mate. Wolves are able to start finding their mates after their first shift at age 16, so the fact that I’m 25 and haven’t found mine is fairly unheard of. Especially since I’m an alpha. Honestly, I’m not all that pressed about it. My parents hadn’t found each other until Pops was 31 and Mom was my age. Pops stayed alpha until well into his 50s, giving the pack over three decades of stability. He’d made alliances and friends in a ton of different packs and grown our own pack to nearly one thousand wol
Fuck she’s hot as hell and I can’t keep my eyes off of her now that I’ve seen her. I keep trying to catch her scent, but there’s too many other smells for me to scent hers out. And it isn’t uncommon for a working girl to cover her scent. That’s the complicated thing for an unmated she-wolf. Her scent will drive males crazy, whether they are her mates or not. And if she goes into heat? She’s not safe without those pills. What’s bothering me is the fact that she’s not responding to my alpha scent, especially with the fact that it’s amplified. All of the other she-wolves are basically drooling all over me. They’re doing their jobs and riling up my friends, but they keep watching me. Leaning towards me. Yeah, some of that is because I’m the alpha. Some of it is that, as a werewolf and an alpha, I’m fucking sexy as all fuck. I’m not bragging, it’s just fact. All alpha males and females are. But I think the fact that they keep movi
The alpha has been watching me since I walked into the room. I don’t know why. There’s no way that he could know that I’m a rogue. I’ve made sure that my scent is covered, as is my rogue mark. He can’t know. But something about his gaze is predatory and it’s scaring the shit out of me and I don’t know how to get away without raising a lot of questions. The scent of all the males have permeated the entire room, though, luckily, all of the females are using descenting spray. However, the alpha’s scent is the strongest in the room. I know it’s his just like I know my own name. It’s scary, overpowering, and authoritative. Like he owns the very air that we breathe. I mean, he is the alpha of our pack. It’s not a far fetch. But all of the females in the room seem to be falling over all themselves to get to him, his scent making their eyes glaze with desire. Just because I am not old enough to be paid for the services that
She’s trying to hide from my eyes, I can tell that. The meddling wrangler had gone up to her and told her what had happened and I saw her body tremble at the thought. It’s odd. I’ve had females be nervous about my attentions before, but because it’s a bit overwhelming to have the alpha want you. We alphas are known for our possessive prowess. It makes being under an alpha’s attention a lot to deal with. But their nerves are not because they didn’t want me. But Nova’s reaction…I have to say, it puzzles me. She seems genuinely scared. Like she doesn’t want anyone to notice her. And the fact that I have scares the absolute shit out of her. “She is a beauty. Banging body, too. Those fucking tits!” Jude says from beside me, only to stop when I growl at him. Like I said, we alphas can be possessive in our pursuit of a female, even if we don’t want to keep them for more than a night. Jude just laughs at me. Only my beta w
I come back to the bar, shaking from my encounter with the alpha. I must be breathing heavily and pale based on the way that Jorge is looking at me. “What did the, alpha want?” he asks, his voice low and intense, though he isn’t looking at me. His eyes have never left the other females, his eyes never ceasing to make sure that everything is above board. Me, I scream in my head. “Whiskey, neat,” I say instead. I know that fear has to be pumping out of my pores and the only reason that it isn’t perfuming the room is the descenting spray that I’m wearing. Jorge turns around. “Raoul, get the alpha’s drink. I’ll run it to him personally. Nova, you go make sure that the pool area is ready for the alpha and his party.” “Jorge, he’ll be pissed. He’s specifically said that he wants me to wait on him tonight.” Among other things. Jorge turns around and he must see what I already know to be true. The alpha’s eyes are still on
The look on here face is absolutely priceless. I know that the girl isn’t charmed. I know that she doesn’t want to kiss me. Not yet anyway. What I also know is that my little rabbit will do just about anything to get out of my hands at the moment. So asking her for a kiss right now isn’t out of the question. “Ivan?” she squeaks out, the uncertain look on her face looking utterly adorable. Something about my scent is working on her, but not enough that it can overcome her fear. I need to work on that. I move in close to her, so that much of our bodies come into contact with each breath that either of us takes. Goddess above do I want to scent her. She has to smell absolutely delectable. “I said, that I’ll happily take some of the whiskey on offer. But you have to kiss me.” A sly smirk comes over her face, one that nearly obliterates the apprehensive look in her eyes. “Of course.” She presses into me and Fang nearly
I do not like this feeling. Or should I say feelings. Because it isn’t just one thing that I’m feeling as the alpha runs may hands along his skin. Fear is a big one. It would be so fucking easy for me to fall in the water. For my descenting spray to wash off of me. For my makeup to wash off and my mark to be revealed. And then everyone would know that I’m a rogue. And I won’t be safe anymore. I’m also feeling a nervous excitement. I didn’t feel it before we touched, but now that we have, there is almost this electrical current moving from his skin to mine. It’s sending a need through me that I have never felt before and a desire to stoke it even further. It doesn’t help that my wolf is going insane inside of me, growling and wanting to come to the forefront to touch the alpha. The look in his eyes is intoxicating and, for a moment, I’m completely captivated. “Take my shirt off, Nova,” he whispers and that nervous ex
I had been pushed into the deep end, the pool floor ten feet below me. I’m trying hard to get my head above the water and I know that if I can relax I could probably figure out the floating thing. But I screamed as I fell into the water and I can feel my lungs constricting and burning for air. There’s no relaxing when you’re running out of air. But even I know this much about the human body: if your body needs oxygen desperately then there’s no way that you can stop it from taking a breath. You can put it off for a bit, but your body will eventually force you to take a breath. So, yeah. I’m panicking just a bit. I try with uncoordinated slices and slaps of my hands at the water to pull myself up as I continue to sink down into the water. I try to kick my legs like I’ve seen others do when they swim, but I’m too panicked. All I was doing was tiring myself out and burning the little bit of air that I still have in my lungs. It doesn’t take lon
I had tried hard not to be worried about the fact that Nova didn’t want to be inducted into our pack with Lucy. I wanted to have access to her all the time. Not just for safety purposes, but also because I’m just fucking obsessed with her.She’s my mate, so sue me.But I could tell from the link of our incomplete bond that it wasn’t because she was scared, like she used to be. In fact, there was yearning in her so deep that it seemed to come from her soul.To belong.To be wanted.So I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to become part of the pack with her step-sister.But I don’t push. She’s been through a hell of a lot here in the last couple of days. My own insecurities don’t need to be added to that.Dinner with Lucy and our crew goes well. Lucy is a lot less chatty and animated than she was originally in that way that rang false to all of us. Now, she seems relaxed, calm, and acting like herself.And her sense of humor is going to give Jude a run for his money. That g
We don’t see Lucy and Jude again until dinner that night.They walk into the dining room practically floating on air, and all of us instantly notice the change in their scents. A quick glance at their necks confirms what I already knew—they’d marked each other.Seeing the mark on Lucy’s neck does something to my insides, twisting them in a way I don’t immediately understand. It takes a second to name the feeling.Jealousy.My hand drifts to the mark Ivan gave me, fingers tracing the imprints of his canines in my skin. It might not have been what I wanted at the time, but now?Now, I wouldn’t trade this connection with Ivan for anything.As if sensing my thoughts, Ivan’s hand joins mine on my shoulder, his fingers twining with mine before he brings my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to it. “We have plenty of time, little rabbit,” he murmurs.I just nod, unable to voice what I’m feeling—and what I want to happen because of those feelings.Once everyone is seated, the servers place
There’s something off about Harley, Kamryn, and Lucy. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I don’t like the way they interact with Nova. Harley seems genuine enough, but the way Kamryn and Lucy cling to Nova—so emotional, so overly happy—it just rings so fucking false. I don’t like it. I don’t like that my mate may have more difficulties ahead because of her absolute shitshow of a family. How did such an amazing female come from an asshole father and a mother who is… whatever the fuck Kamryn is supposed to be? The Moon Goddess truly moves in mysterious ways. But it isn’t until Kamryn tries to blame my father for why she didn’t report Roy’s abuse that Fang has had enough. This stupid bitch is blaming everyone but herself. She was a victim for so long that she still sees herself that way. She’s blaming everyone else for her own actions! he snarls in my mind, and all I can do is growl in agreement. It’s Nova calling her out on her bullshit—along with the disgust and anger I pic
I can see the exact moment my mother—Kamryn—realizes she can’t talk her way out of this. That I don’t believe her.That none of us do.Both Ivan and Erick beside me are pissed, muscles taut and ready for action.Bryson’s usually affable face has hardened into a stone mask, and he’s now standing behind Harley and Kamryn in case they try anything.Luna Annelise’s face is pale with rage, while Alpha Derek’s has gone red with the same emotion.Jakobi is the calmest of the group, but he’s hypervigilant, his sharp eyes never ceasing their scan of the room.Jude has completely hidden Lucy behind him, his fangs bared as he protects his newly found mate. I can’t see my step-sister behind him, but I can feel the worry and fear radiating from her.And me?Hell, I’m just resigned to the fact that the only people who were supposed to protect and care for me never followed through. That the ones who actually did weren’t blood-related at all.Kamryn is just like Roy.Oh, she might not have beaten me
The rest of lunch is tense. Oh, everyone is cordial and conversation continues with very few hiccups. The men of the table trade war stories. Harley seems to like fighting – I mean really like fighting. There isn’t a single story that he tells that doesn’t have him kicking someone’s ass. It’s slightly disturbing. Especially with the way my mother stares at him with adoration. I mean, I really like Ivan, may even be falling for him. But she stares at Harley like the sun’s rises out of his ass. It’s nauseating. Almost like she traded in a world that revolved around Roy – because he was abusive – to revolving around Harley – because he isn’t. We’re about halfway through the meal when Jude and Lucy walk back in the room. Truth be told, I had expected her to reject him. I mean, the fear that was rolling off her in waves did not bode well for the start of a relationship. But when they walk back in, it’s a completely different story. Jude is walking close to her,
This is the first time since I met Ivan that I wish I had the ability to mindlink him. I need to know what he thinks of my “family” because these people give me the creeps.Honestly? Harley is the only one who isn’t giving me the heebie-jeebies.My mother is way too emotional for this. If she had really cared about me, where has she been for the last ten years?And my “sister?”Like I said before, we’re obviously not blood-related. Lucy has to be Harley’s daughter from before he met my mom because my mother is lily-white, and Lucy has the most beautiful mocha skin I’ve ever seen. Her tone nearly matches her father’s exactly.Besides, Lucy looks like she’s the same age as me, and I know my mother wasn’t with anyone but my father at that time. He barely let the female out of the house.Lucy chatters on at my left about her pack and all the clubs and social activities she’s a part of. Luna Annelise is speaking with my mother, and Ivan and Alpha Derek seem to be getting along well with Ha
Three days later…I’m so nervous that my hands are shaking. I can barely button up the buttons on my sundress. “Fuck!” I curse under my breath.“Here, let me,” I hear from behind me. Suddenly, Ivan’s large hands gently grab mine and squeeze. I sigh, looking up into his eyes. There’s so much emotion there. Emotion that I’m not used to seeing. I think it might be love.Ivan gives me a small smile and I try to return it, though it probably looks like more of a grimace than anything. It brings a light of amusement in Ivan’s eyes, though he doesn’t tease me as he does up the buttons for me.When he’s done, he kisses my nose. “Beautiful.”I just roll my eyes before sitting on the bed to put my shoes on. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’ve never seen her before.”“I get it. You haven’t seen her in years and you’re worried about how you two will get along,” he says.I cock my head at him. “Are you just saying that because you can feel my emotions?”“It helps,” he
I love that I can feel Nova’s emotions through my matemark on her shoulder. I can even hear her thoughts if they get really loud. All of that will change when she marks me. Then I can listen in on her thoughts whenever I want to. We won’t even have to mindlink each other, we’ll just be able to hear the other when we turn our minds to it. Though, I do need to initiate her into the pack again. I want her to be able to mindlink with anyone, especially if she gets into trouble again and I can’t get there. Just for the safety of my mate, I need her to be able to contact Jakobi, Erick, Jude, and Bryson. I’ll have to talk to her about it after breakfast. But as of right now, we need to get to the breakfast table. I’ve had multiple wolves attempting to break through my mental walls to mindlink me. I can tell by their mental signatures that they are my parents and my boys, probably trying to find out why we aren’t downstairs yet. Too bad for them, they needed to wait for me to di
Standing in the shower, I wash the soap out of my hair only to feel two strong arms wrap around me, sliding along my waist and moving up to cup my breasts.I can’t help but smile and lean back into Ivan’s chest. “Good morning.” And I can feel how good of a morning he thinks it is.“Mmmm,” he hums against my neck before he begins mouthing at my matemark.My body arches into his and my bottom lip immediately goes between my teeth. His fingers find my nipples and he begins to pinch and roll them between his thumbs and forefingers. The moan that flows from my lips elicits a growl from Ivan and he presses his cock against my ass.“Ivan, we can’t do this right now,” I say, though I’m not sure how convincing I am with the way that my ass is rubbing all over Ivan’s cock.“You’re my mate. I always have time to show you how much I love you. How fucking sexy you are.” One of Ivan’s hands travels down to my pussy, his finger splitting me open and finding my button. “Fuck, little rabbit.