A sudden thud jolted Rosette's attention, followed by the forceful swing of the bathroom door as Kyle nearly yanked the stall off its hinges. His eyes shimmered with a bright golden glow as he peered down at her."What are you doing?" Rosette inquired, her alarm evident."Why did you enter here unaccompanied?" Kyle questioned, brushing off her query. "I sensed your relief at the absence of your guard. Their presence is for your protection. As a human, you lack the means to defend yourself against wolves. You must not be alone unless within our suites."Sporting his authoritative Alpha demeanor, Kyle's stern expression brooked no dissent, despite the seeming irrationality of his demands."As a human, I value my privacy in the restroom. There's no one else present here. I fail to perceive the urgency that prompted your intrusion," Rosette retorted, her voice escalating with each sentence."Yes, you are human and therefore vulnerable. Unlike a wolf, I fear for your safety. Members of my
"I've arranged for a replacement, so no love lost between you and the witch's kin," Kyle mentioned, flinching slightly at the end of the statement. Despite his business dealings with certain witches, he harbored some unease towards them as a whole. Some witches were willing to create or sell anything, disregarding the consequences of their magic. The pack's past issues and recent reminders left him wary of witches and their intentions. "For some, money is the sole priority," he had remarked during their discussion."Do I have the privilege of driving myself?" Rosette inquired, already aware of the answer."No," Kyle chuckled, playfully patting her backside. "I've heard plenty about your driving skills. Will handles all the driving to and from your workplace. At the clinic, you'll be accompanied by Will, Robert, and Seth."Surprisingly, Rosette felt a twinge of disappointment at not being able to join Shana for their gym sessions. She had honed her self-defense skills, with Shana teach
"Under no circumstances," Will asserted when Rosette mentioned the need to speak to the women alone. "You will not endanger yourself at all on my watch. If you want to talk to them alone, then ask Madonna for their phone numbers and call them tonight," he coyly suggested as a compromise.Rosette did call the women that night. The conversations were brief, and the women appeared to relax over the phone. Only Ryana seemed curious about specific details."So he's mated you then, I saw the bite mark when you leaned over, all right," she remarked. "You have the mate bond?"Recalling her instructions, Rosette provided information cautiously while maintaining the conversation flow."It doesn't work because I'm human," she responded."Well, that's a shame. I'd heard with the bond mates could communicate telepathically," Ryana mentioned."Nope, doesn't work when you're human," Rosette reiterated, hoping to deter further probing for details she couldn't disclose. "I don't really understand all
"He is the pack leader and your mate," Will hissed quietly at Rosette. "He will not take well to you ignoring his direct orders. The Alpha here is not known for his leniency towards rule breakers. My father made a point to explain that to me before I left home; he does not tolerate disrespect from anyone."Rolling her eyes at him, Rosette retorted, "He doesn't own me, Will. You have some peculiar ideas about how relationships work.""You aren't even trying to understand this," Will shot back as two of the front office staff rushed past them towards the party.They reached the door of the break room without further incident but were halted by a laughing Bea."No boys allowed at a bridal shower!" she declared, crossing her arms across her chest.Will glared at Rosette but didn't openly object. The room was filled with laughter from the women of the clinic, appearing far from dangerous. Rosette turned her back to Will and strolled casually inside. Will's demeanor was becoming increasingl
Once the van stopped, Rosette was roughly pulled to her feet and led up to a dilapidated cabin with a faded green door nestled in a thick stand of trees. The wind whipped hard, indicating they were definitely higher up than in town. The surrounding area appeared to be just forest to her.She was thrust none too kindly into a small room at the back of the cabin. It was empty and dirty, with the only other exit being a window that had bars over it."After this, we get to keep you, bitch," her captor spat out while twisting a nipple painfully. Rosette whimpered a little and dropped her gaze submissively. The wolf seemed pleased with himself and sauntered out, locking the door from the other side.'My training in all things wolf was paying off,' Rosette thought warily. Now, hopefully, her survival training would be just as effective.She waited until she heard the howling fading outside, indicating the dogs had gone for a run. Peering out the window, she saw the van still sitting outside.
The wolves moved at a relentless pace, and Rosette found herself soaking wet in the cold night air. Trying to divert her focus from her discomfort, she sensed that her unease was being directly felt by the wolf she was riding. Preferring to be cold rather than dead, she huddled closer to him, pressing her chest against his back for warmth. As they approached a light ahead, signaling a clearing filled with wolves and wolf men in various stages of transformation, a collective howl reverberated into the night sky at the sight of Kyle with Rosette on his back.Sensing Kyle starting his shift beneath her, Rosette allowed herself to fall off his back as he transformed. Assuming he wanted to address his troops, she began to step back from him towards a nearby stump, intending to sit.Her movement was abruptly halted as a wolf man menacingly dragged her back in front of him, locking eyes with her in a silent command to stay by his side. Wrapping her arms around him, she nuzzled his chest and
"If it wasn't for the mate bond, he would have killed your detail immediately. You gave them a small reprieve by feeling guilty. He knew you disobeyed him.""I've never seen him so upset before. He keeps talking about chaining you up in his rooms until you learn to pay attention. As Alpha, he could do that, and no one would stop him. He needs to calm down for both your sakes," he finished, pleading with his eyes. The driver subtly nodded his agreement but kept his eyes straight ahead. Ethan had never said much to Rosette, and she got the feeling that was more than he really wanted to say. She took his warning seriously. She wanted to ask him more about it, but Kyle was sliding in on her right as Sam slid in on her left. Kyle was as naked as her, sans the blanket, but Sam had on a pair of jeans with a plain T-shirt.Quite quickly, Rosette found her blanket removed, and she was pulled to sit in Kyle's lap. They rested skin to skin, and he wrapped the blanket back around them. There was
The night was dark as they pulled back into the large roundabout in front of the den. Rosette wondered how many more times she would have to be driven in there after being kidnapped. It was getting really old.The place was crowded with the pack. She saw Katrina right away, bouncing, literally, outside the den with her hands clasped in front of her. In the myriad of faces, she also saw some of her new friends looking nervously at the SUV. Several large men she recognized as Betas pushed the pack back and cleared their way to the door. They stepped out, and Kyle made an announcement to the assembled pack. He told them who was involved and what they wanted, also warning them that the witch had gotten away."Is that really your mate?" she heard one brazen wolf ask. He shrunk back as Kyle approached him, growing claws. Rosette thought it was a valid question, considering what he had just told them. Kyle turned to look at her with fire in his eyes, a blazing look. She concentrated on the i
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