HIRAM’S POV: Quickly, I reach for my pants, pulling them up at once as Alex’s voice cuts through the room. I glance up to see her standing by the door, causing a flicker of shame to tighten my chest. “Ever heard of knocking?” I ask, getting up from the couch. I walk to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to wash off the remnants of my mess with soap. Alex scoffs, shutting the door behind her. “What is there that I haven’t seen? I’ve seen tons of dicks in my life, and—” “You haven’t had mine, and that is the difference,” I cut in, grabbing a towel to dry my hands. She raises a finger at me, but I glare at her. “Don’t test me, Alex.” Her finger drops. Alex is a witch, and she’s been my best friend since we were kids. Her parents are the official witch doctors of the Shadow Pelt pack, but they let Alex live among humans ever since she was a child. She walks further into the room while I focus on wiping off the mess that I make on the floor. “What’s this?” When she asks, I
JUNIPER’S POV:If I have a choice, I’d be at home, cocooned in blankets, reading a smut novel where someone else’s life falls apart instead of mine. Anything but dragging myself to the Smiths’ bakery, working long hours just to scrape by. But bills don’t pay themselves.Cillian used to handle that, back when I thought he wasn’t an ass. I was grateful to him then. He made me feel like I didn’t have to struggle. As though he cared about me, but now, I’d rather choke on broken glass than crawl back to him.How can I kiss those lying lips? Knowing they’ve touched Susan. Every time I shut my eyes, I see them together, and I still feel that betrayal burn under my skin like a fresh wound. Kissing him would be like kissing her, and she is a snake.“What the hell?” My pulse quickens as I glance in the rearview mirror, my grip tightening on the steering wheel as I see Hiram driving behind me.What does he want? I question myself, but then I let off a sigh as I try to keep my eyes on the road. H
JUNIPER’S POV:Seeing Larry walk into the store causes my heart to drop for a split second before irritation quickly replaces it as he smiles at me. My hands leave the saucer, which I have initially picked from a table, and I stand straight. Slowly, my brows wrinkle, and I cross my arms.“This is closing hours, Larry. Sally isn’t around,” I say to him, but he chuckles, walking up to me. The smell hits me hard—a rancid stench of smoke that seems to cling to his skin, and I involuntarily take a deep breath, trying to hold back my disgust.Larry is a creep in his early thirties who knows my mother, and ever since my dad died and we went broke, he has vowed that he would be the one to marry me. Cillian has beaten him up once or twice, but it never seems to deter him.He ignores my words and strides over to a seat, pulling it out with a scrape, before slumping down casually as if he owns the place.“I met Sally earlier today,” he says, crossing his legs and flashing me a mocking grin. “She
HIRAM’S POV:I miss being a man driven by nothing but lust—satisfying my urges and moving on. But this... this feels like responsibility. The very thing I ran from when I left the Shadow Pelt Pack. When Mother demanded I marry Vera, Beta Vincent’s daughter, I knew I couldn’t be chained down like that. And now? Now I chase after a woman I barely know, just because fate claims she’s my mate.Suddenly, Juniper’s car comes to a halt in front of a tall building, jolting me out of my thoughts. I step on my brakes; the tires screeching as I pull up behind her. My gaze follows her as she steps out of the car. Without hesitation, I reach for my phone and quickly dial Justin.“Did you get the order yet?” I mutter with my eyes still locked on Juniper as she moves toward the entrance.Before he can respond, another car glides up the street, its headlights flooding the area with harsh light. It stops a few feet ahead, and Justin steps out, holding two paper bags in his hands. I get out of my car a
HIRAM’S POV:Getting through this dinner is one of the most difficult tasks I’ve faced in a long time. Although we finished eating about ten minutes ago and Juniper cleared the table, the image of her slurping those noodles is still vivid in my memory.“I need to freshen up,” she says, rising to her feet and slinging her bag over her shoulder. I watch her turn right, disappearing behind a door I assume leads to her bedroom.A sigh escapes my lips as I finally break free from my seat. I can’t believe I sat here for almost an hour without realizing how uncomfortable it was. I walk to the couch in the living area and sink into it, staring at the empty wall.Part of me wants to know what happened with her roommate, but another part doesn’t want to pry into her business.I lean back, closing my eyes for a moment, but all I can think about is Juniper. I realize Alex is right, and I fear this woman will change my life.I fear she will control me. She already does. I should be in the comfort
HIRAM’S POV:The moment my lips find her skin, I forget every rational thought that has kept me distanced from her. Every caution I’ve told myself to heed vanishes in seconds. My lips trail down her neck, tasting the subtle salt of her flesh, while my hands explore, tracing every curve of her body as if she were made for me.She arches into me, and my hands slip beneath her black nightdress, gliding over her thighs until I find her underwear soaked. I slide my fingers inside, and she moans into my ear, igniting the beast within me. I pull back, my hands moving to grab her butt, pressing into it firmly. But it isn’t enough.Impatient and craving to see her raw, I pull my hands away from the dress. With ragged breaths, I tug the fabric from her shoulders, easing it down her body until the nightdress pools at her feet.Beneath it lies a set of black lace lingerie, clinging to her form like a second skin, hugging her breasts tightly as if it knows it should be me savoring her curves, mark
HIRAM’S POV:I get to my feet, grabbing the condom. Then I lift her chin with a finger, staring into her beautiful eyes, which are still glazed with the remnants of her recent orgasm. Slowly, I lean forward until my lips meet hers. I do not take her immediately; instead, I wait for her to take charge, sucking and biting on my lips. When I open up, her tongue meets mine, and she runs her hands around the contour of my chest as she works my tongue gently with hers.The heat rising in my body is becoming unbearable.How long can I last?All I want to do at this moment is fill her holes, but a voice in my head reminds me of the precariousness of this situation. She’s my student. I shouldn’t be crossing this line, yet everything about her beckons me to give in.Suddenly, her hands travel low, reaching for my briefs and skillfully sliding into them, causing a groan to escape my lips. I can’t help but groan in the pleasure, but guilt gnaws at the back of my mind. My wolf roars for dominance,
HIRAM’S POV:Waking up early isn’t my forte. But a night spent away from my usual comfort makes it impossible to stay asleep for long. For half an hour, I lie there with my eyes squeezed shut, trying to will myself back into darkness. But my body refuses to cooperate. Giving in, I sit up, and the faint light of dawn outside the window tells me I’m not the only one struggling to rise.I glance over, and there she is, lying next to me, utterly exposed. Her hair sprawls across the pillow in a tangled mess—my mess. Any regret I thought I’d feel is nowhere to be found. I should feel guilt. I thought I would. Instead, as I gaze at her, an unexpected possessiveness takes over me.I reach out and brush a stray curl from her face, feeling the softness under my fingertips, and in a moment I can’t resist. I lean down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She doesn’t move; rather, she lies there in her immaculate form, with her soft breath filling up the space between us.Quietly, I slide out of bed,
Hiram’s POVI shift into my human form the moment Cillian’s lifeless body hits the ground. I am in pain from the bullets that hit me, but I push it aside as my body heals slowly.My heart lurches at the sight of Juniper clutching her belly with her face twisted in pain.“June!” I rush to her side, dropping to my knees. My hands hover over her, unsure of where to touch first. She’s trembling, her breaths shallow and uneven.Her wide, tear-filled eyes meet mine.“Hiram,” she gasps. “The baby... the baby’s coming. He made me take pills. Too many...” Panic grips me, but I shove it down.This isn’t the time to lose contr
JUNIPER’S POV:I’m crammed between two burly men in the backseat of the SUV. The air inside the car reeks of cigarettes and sweat, making it hard to breathe. My heart pounds in my chest as I struggle hard against the man who has his hand covering my mouth, but he doesn’t let up. I bite his palm, causing him to yelp in pain and pull away from me.“You little—!” He grabs my hand, twisting it behind me, and the other man glares at me.“You’re going to regret this. My husband—he’s going to find you. And when he does, you’ll be sorry.” I try to sound confident, but the four of them let out a heart-draining chuckle.The man holding me snorts, his beady eyes narrowing as he glares at me.
HIRAM’S POV:My driver pulls up to the convention center in Boulder City, parking near a tree stripped bare by winter. The air bites a little—just cold enough to remind me it’s December. The streets are quiet except for a couple of locals strolling past. “Hang around, or you can come in with me,” I say to him as I look at the building in front of us.Above the entrance, a banner hangs: BOULDER CITY ART FESTIVAL 2024.I step out of my car, making my way towards the entrance. The moment I step inside, the chill fades, replaced by the hum of life and creativity. The place is packed with people, which makes it warm. There are conversations in the air, and the bright colors catch my attention.There are paintings, sculptures, and displays explodi
JUNIPER’S POV:“Will you at least drop me off at school before you go to your art, whatever?” I ask Hiram as I put on my jacket, staring at myself in the mirror.“Sure,” he says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.“I am so glad we’re in winter, and I get to wear these large jackets. I can slowly feel the baby fat creeping in.” He grabs my hand, pulling me away from the mirror.“That’s enough for today.” He wraps his arms around my waist. “You look more beautiful than ever, and there is no baby fat,” he says, then plants a brief kiss on my lips.I adjust his tie, patting his shoulder briefly.“You look so
HIRAM’S POV:“I have an art exhibition I would love to attend on Monday.” Juniper puts down her phone and glances up at me as I say this. “It’s just in Boulder City.”Her brows crease, and she focuses on her phone without saying a thing.“You won’t make a comment?” I ask, and she glares at me.“Yeah, my husband is going to abandon me for an art exhibition while I go to school pregnant and in pain.” The sarcasm in her tone makes me chuckle slightly, then I walk up to her, sitting on the bed.“It is just one day, and I will be back in the evening or the next morning. It will be as though I didn’t leave. Plus, Rhea is here to take care of you, and&hell
HIRAM’S POV:After dinner, June and I settle in her room while Rhea stays in the guest room. I expect her to follow the usual routine of staying up almost the entire night, keeping me awake too, but before I can tell, she is sleeping peacefully in my arms.I remain like that, watching the rise and fall of her chest with a gentle snore accompanying it. While she sleeps, I try to sleep too. I shut my eyes, patting her hair gently, but even as I close my eyes, I find it difficult to drift off to sleep.After a while, I push her head away gently, then I place it on the pillow, planting a kiss on her head before I stand up. My steps are quiet in order not to wake her. I leave the room, heading for the front door to get some fresh air, but the moment I step out of the hallway, I spot Milo sitting in the living room
Hiram:After minutes of driving, we get to Juniper’s mother’s house. It is a small house in town, which looks comfy. There is a compact car parked in front of it, and June’s mother is standing in front of the house. When we pull up, she rushes toward the car.Before I can open the door, Juniper gets it, rushing toward her mother.“Mum!” she exclaims, throwing her arms around her. Her mother pats her back slightly. Then I get out of the car, and Rhea follows. I grab our joint luggage while Rhea takes her bag.She looks almost the same as June, but her hair is black. They pull away, facing Rhea and me.“You already know Rhea,” June says, and Rhea waves at her.
HIRAM’S POV:“Hiram, the food’s too cold!”“Hiram, the food’s too hot!”“Hiram, it’s too sweet!”“Hiram, it’s too salty!”This has been June’s anthem this past week. I know mood swings are part of the pregnancy package, but I didn’t expect it to be this way. It’s like I can hardly breathe, and nothing is good enough for her. Sometimes I wish I could rip that baby out of her.Right now, she is fast asleep, and it is the best time for me with her. Watching her sleep peacefully like a baby and admiring her beauty, because once that eye opens, I’ll be running around the clock.
Hiram’s POV:Last night, June didn’t spend the night in my room. She came back home with Rhea, and they hung out the entire evening.“You know I’m beginning to think you love Rhea more than you love me,” I say to her as she sits in front of the mirror doing her hair.She looks at me through the mirror with a frown on her face.“Why would you say that?” she asks, and I walk up to her, bending slightly.“Maybe because you spent the entire evening with her, and slept in the guest room too,” I say, and she chuckles slightly.“So, you’re jealous of a woman?” she asks, then tilts her head slightly to face me. “You know what? Maybe I do love her better and we might have…”