"You were already injured when you ran from the house," Kyle surmised."Yes," Rosette said quietly.The pretty green scenery was lulling her to sleep."My men watched you run. You were so fast, none of them saw your injuries," Kyle said but kept his eyes on the road.The tiredness was back again, worse this time. Rosette just wanted to rest so badly. Her mate was close. She was safe. The animal in her desperately needed to curl up and sleep. The SUV was warm and comfortable. It felt like she was laying in a field drowsing on a lazy summer day."No," cut through her haze, and she was up again, woken from her weird peaceful dream. "Stay awake, Rosette, no sleeping right now."She whimpered in protest but stayed conscious. It was a relief when they finally pulled in front of the den. She was so glad to see home; perhaps she could sleep just a little bit now.The vehicle was barely stopped when Kyle jumped out. Rosette howled her displeasure at being moved again as Kyle pulled her from th
"Kyle, I wasn't ignoring you. I don't even remember hearing you," she said, sitting up. She searched her memories and couldn't remember hearing anything from him once Dee and she reached the truck. Granted, she was in and out of consciousness. Still, it seemed she should have heard something. "I thought you would leave me," he said softly. "It would be painful, but it can be done." Now Rosette was on her knees on the bed, grabbing his face. "No, I wasn't leaving you, Kyle. I swear. I went there to protect you. Why would I leave you? Dee and I were coming back to the den. I was in and out of consciousness. I never heard you. Please, believe me." Kyle smiled a sad smile and kissed her palm. "I know that now. Dee told me she couldn't keep you awake. I couldn't reach you when you were unconscious. I know I treated you badly, and I am sorry." Rosette didn't know what to say to him. She couldn't imagine how horrible he must have felt. Just imagining calling out to him
She asked the required question, and Kyle told her no. Althea still lived in the same tiny house she always had. Her bank accounts never showed any change. Kyle's contacts told him she was in no way connected to the company they found that handled the money for the potions."Where was Davona?" Rosette finally asked. "How do you know it was her?""Except for the gunman you saw me remove, she and the very unlucky pilot were the only other occupants of the helicopter. You should have seen the look of shock on her face," he said laughing. "She never expected us to stop her. She tried to hurl spells at me, but that obviously did not work.""Where was the source?" she asked."In a case attached to her wrist, which I removed," he said proudly.Rosette sat on his lap and watched his dancing eyes for a moment. "Do you mean you removed her wrist?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief."With great pleasure," he said, his eyes no longer dancing but glowing wit
had been used to doing things her own way, and so had Kyle. Neither of them was particularly adept at listening to the other. If they couldn't overcome this hurdle, their relationship would be extremely rocky. She knew that healthy relationships thrive on compromise. It wasn't that she didn't want to listen to him. She simply wanted him to consider her opinions. When she was in the witch's house, he, Ethan, and Anthony had all been in her mind, and they had collaborated. They had listened to her, and she had listened to them. "What the hell?" she exclaimed suddenly, and Kyle's head lifted from her lap. He watched her for a moment, his expression tense, before noticing the confusion on her face. "What is it, love?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "In the witch's house, I felt Ethan and Anthony press into my mind. They gave me directions and worked with me," she paused for a moment, carefully considering what she was about to say next. "I was stil
The room burst into applause when Kyle said he thought they should go.'So we have to be vocal in agreeing with one another?' Rosette questioned into his mind.'As much as we can be, until they believe we are strong and stable. Otherwise, we may have someone try to challenge us,' he said back to her.'You could best any challenger,' she thought confidently.'I could and I have before,' he answered, 'but the challenges are stressful for the pack. They fear their leaders may be replaced at a moment's notice. They become restless. It is not a healthy atmosphere.'Kyle looked calmly out over his pack in the dining room, and Rosette took his hand. They sat silently watching them for several long moments."What's a celebration entail?" Dee asked, breaking the silence at the table."Running, fucking, eating, and dancing," Rosette told her succinctly."Humans allowed?" she asked."I'll carry you there, Dee," Will said, pulling her in for a kiss.
"So everything is fixed?" Rosette asked, smiling, "No more spells, no more source magic, doesn't that mean the problems are all gone."Kyle grinned paternally and looked down at her. 'Do you mean,' he sent into her head, 'are we fixed? That is an entirely different problem.'He sighed and inclined his head towards the few warriors still in the infirmary. 'They do not trust us,' he said. 'They think we are ill-fitted as an Alpha pair. None would dare say this to me directly, but they have been brazen enough to tell Ethan.'Rosette sighed and shook her head. There had to be a way to fix this. Kyle had worked too hard to create a strong pack to just have it destroyed in one night.The rest of the morning was odd. Rosette tried to agree with Kyle about everything and anything. Honestly, she felt like a parrot saying whatever he did. Her hands rested over him, and when he moved, she went with him. Finally, he rolled his eyes and looked at her.'It won't work, lov
Kyle stood as a man, eyeing Rosette curiously. The other women who had dragged back their kills were circling their men, eager to celebrate their prowess. Rosette wanted to bathe."Can you catch me before I make it to the water, love?" Kyle taunted, backing away.Rosette tilted her head and watched him for a moment. Was he giving her the option to get in the water and wash off first?He bolted for the water as a man, and Rosette took off after him. Chasing him in her wolf form wasn't appealing if he wasn't running in that form, so she shifted.She tackled him as he reached the water's edge, and they splashed into the lake together. They tussled in the shallow water, and Rosette ended up dirtier than when she started. Kyle landed on top of her, pinning her hands."I think I win," he laughed, kissing a less muddy spot on her cheek. "I get to wash you."Kyle picked her up and carried her deeper into the lake. His large hands soothed over every inch of her
"Well," Donna said awkwardly, "you said they could...be close, and April really wanted to. Rick took her into the woods to a quieter place. He wanted it to be private, in case she got scared and they had to stop. He thought it would be too much, with everyone around."Anthony interrupted, "I told the kid, Rick, a nice place. It's somewhere not real close to the festivities. Most of us wouldn't go that far, so no one will bother them."Kyle shrugged and motioned for the ball, which they threw to him. They joined the game for several minutes before wandering out of the water and onto the beach.Rosette walked with Kyle, heading towards the cooking fires. The Omegas tending the meat were all sweating and working very hard. She felt bad for them; everyone else was having a good time. She had to ask Kyle about it."Service to the pack, my love," he told her. "They will enjoy the festivities later, but this is their duty to the family."Katrina bounced up beside them, her usual whirlwind of
other girls slowly came to after Dee. April woke next, stretching like a cat, despite the pole lodged between her thighs. Juniper woke up last. She winced, moving her leg, and Rosette was concerned. "Where does it hurt?" Rosette asked her, touching over her previously injured leg. "My thigh, Luna," she said, pointing. "It's not the break. I think it's just a cramp." Lucas reached down with his big hands and started to massage the area she had gestured to. Once the area loosened, he sat her up like the other girls. All three sat facing out with their legs spread over their mates. The men whispered soothing words in their women's ears. All except Will, who kept telling his mate to stop twisting on his lap. 'Mate,' Kyle sent into Rosette's mind, 'we must greet Dee first and then the other two girls. Once we are done, the pack will go, but not before.' Rosette shifted the form of the wolf and approached Dee. She was being held with an arm across her chest by Will. Rosette approached
"Dom," Marybella chastised, "that is so inappropriate." At least the conversation had distracted Marybella from being afraid. Down in the circle, Will had finally moved between his mate's thighs. He knelt down and spread her lower lips wide with his fingers. He took one lick up her slit, and she moaned loudly. A second lick, and her legs were quivering on either side of his head. Will stood up briskly and stepped so he stood between her knees. He leaned over her body and spoke into her ear. Rosette saw her hand drift between her legs, but Will stopped her and spoke sharply. "No mate, you must come around my cock. The other girls are not ready. You cannot touch yourself, or this will start much too quickly," he said, probably louder than he meant to. "Bet she's got a hair trigger," Dominick laughed, and Kyle joined him. Two new figures settled in the grass beside them, and Rosette recognized the scent. Ethan and Shana had joined them. "I saw them in the gym when Dee finished tra
April is going to do it," Marybella pleaded, pointing. "I'm strong enough. I can do this too." "You are a fighter and a survivor," Dominick told her, "but no." "I love you, Dom," she said, looking at her friends and searching for one of them to support her. "I know it means a lot to do this in the circle. We can get through this together." "It's just a ceremony, Marybella, and it's not necessary for me," Dominick stated. Rosette was unsure of the situation. In her efforts to become a better Luna, she had been spending less time in the infirmary. If Marybella was facing difficulties, she was unaware. "Dominick," Rosette said. "Tell me why you are so opposed to this." Rosette had to admit, Dominick seemed annoyed by her question. He probably thought she was going to try to force him to participate in the ceremony with Marybella. However, the opposite was true; she wasn't sure it was a good idea for any of their human companions who had experienced trauma. A public changing ceremo
Rosette sat with Kyle in a pack meeting, reflecting on the past couple of weeks. It had taken her a long time, but she was finally embracing her role as Luna. Meetings were a routine part of her responsibilities, so she attended them diligently. When necessary, she knew when and how to administer punishment. Overall, she was becoming more adept at this way of life. Despite the adjustments, life remained chaotic. Rick and April had just returned from visiting the rescued humans in every pack. The reports they brought back indicated a significant positive impact. Juniper had completed Roel's healing process, and there was no longer any trace of the loner he had once been. She refused to let him dwell on the past and kept him busy by keeping up with her. They had become dynamic and active members of the pack. Marybella had returned to her profession of forensic accounting, but with a twist. The pack accumulated a substantial amount of wealth and held onto it for too long. It needed to
didn't seem possible. Marybella was soft with generous curves. She didn't seem like a rough and tumble type of girl. Tracking was grueling work and only attracted the toughest in the pack. Rosette would have thought the same for the human equivalent."I am...I mean I was a forensic accountant," she told Dom, pushing her glasses up her nose slightly. "People try to hide their money, it was my job to know where it went. I was the best in my department."Dom took her hand and led her to a small sofa off to the side. "Tell me how you did that," he said, very interested.Luckily, the rest of the afternoon was boring. Rosette didn't think she could stand another scene like Dom nearly caused. When the meeting was over, she was thrilled.Walking with Kyle toward the circle later that night, Rosette spoke to him about new concerns she'd realized.'Cedric's pack members were picking on Rick. It's not safe to send him around, they may try to hurt him,' she sent to Kyle thr
"If you're good," he whispered when she stopped for a breath, "I'll give you back the knife I took from your room."That did it. Marybella lashed out at his larger frame, seeking to drag her nails down his cheeks. Chuckling, Dom quickly restrained her arms behind her back and hauled her body against his in one swift motion.The Betas in the room started to close in, and Rosette waved them off. Dom's reputation was as a lethal fighter. To try to take Marybella from him would lead to a giant brawl. She wanted this done peacefully.Dom's eyes never left the face of the woman he held. He seemed oblivious to the commotion he was causing in the room as he spoke to her."When I heard about the unfortunate death, I feared for your safety, sweet. I removed anything from your room that could be harmful," he said softly."You had no right," she said, struggling against him and pressing her chest into his. "It is mine, for my protection. I can't sleep without it.""You s
The Betas who had witnessed the scene remained motionless, simply staring at Rosette. She politely excused herself and calmly walked out of the room.Kyle and Cedric were watching from one side as the Beta dusted himself off. His eyes glowed fiercely as he stood up. The wall behind him was destroyed, the small decorative table he'd landed on demolished. He eyed Rosette warily.Rosette came to a stop in front of him and addressed him as coolly as she could. "I believe we have a difference of opinion. How far you would like to take this difference of opinion is up to you."The man straightened his outfit and bowed his head slightly to her. "Luna, I apologize if I offended you. I will watch my tongue when talking with your pack in the future.""Lovely," Rosette said, turning to Cedric and Kyle. "Cedric, please educate your pack members. I don't tolerate disrespect in my home, and I'd hate to have to replace any more wallboard."Kyle looked at Rosette appreciatively. They'd have to talk a
Rosette smiled, her eyes sparkling as she read the new social security card and driver's license Kyle had pulled from his desk. "Rosette Anne Luther?" she questioned.Of course, he'd changed her name to match his."I believe," Kyle explained, "that it is appropriate in human society for the woman to take her mate's name. I'm sorry you can't keep your own name in the middle as women usually do. It would be too obvious.""Thank you, Kyle," Rosette said, hugging him tightly. She kissed his mouth tenderly, holding his jaw."You taste like candy," he marveled, dipping down to capture her lips again. "I like it."They curled up in the bed, cuddling for the afternoon. Feeling guilty about simply lying in bed with her mate, Rosette offered him sex, but he declined."This is not about me wanting to bed you," Kyle whispered into her ear. "This is about comfort. While your presence arouses me, your sadness sobers it. Let us just be here together for a little while."As they lay there, Rosette ta
One woman had been pacing quietly by the window; Rosette feared she would jump if the window was open. Kyle told her the Betas outside the door would not let her get that far. If they heard it open, they would enter, or Rick would stop her."Are vampires real?" she asked quietly."Does it matter?" Rick asked. "Did you know about werewolves? In five minutes, won't another mythical creature permeate your senses, and you will be terrified of that one? I beg you to accept your lives have changed. The only way to deal with it is to stay with us; we can help you, protect you, and guide you."It continued for hours. The women went round and round with Rick until they each came to the same conclusion. They were not the same; their worlds had changed, and they could never go back to the way it was.The women sat around the room in huddled piles. Some clung to each other; some sat by themselves. Rick circulated the room and touched each of them. When none of them recoiled from him, he went to t