“PUT ME DOWN YA BIG BRUTE!” I shouted while watching the ground seemingly bounce below me as my hair swung in front of my eyes. We come to a still and I do the only logical thing I can think of, I bite his ass. “AGH!” he screams. The door slams behind us and I am suddenly flipped over onto the sofa. Crossing my arms tightly across my chest, I smirk up at his sparkling sapphire eyes and I think that I have won this. But I was so very wrong... His large hands make quick work to poke, stroke, jab, and dance across my ribs, stomach, and legs. He’s fucking tickling me. The involuntary wiggles consume my body making me cry out in laughter. Tears start to run down my cheeks, I can't take it any longer. “ZAC!...I, I…. Stop I can't… Can't breathe!” “Not until I’m forgiven” “I…I forgive you.” The tickling assault stops, my body convulsing in the aftershocks, a mischievous grin on his face. He settles into the couch and pulls me onto his lap so that I am straddling him. My body relax
Staring int into the mirror, I don't recognize the reflection. I have to give Audrie credit, she NAILED the dress. I run my fingers across the intricate crystal design that runs beneath my breasts and scrolls up the halter-style straps. The black fabric hangs closely to my body and just barely touches the floor. It would be pooling at my feet if it wasn't for the clear jeweled heels. Doing a small turn, with a small sigh, my eyes are met with an open back that didn’t allow for a bra but fully displayed my scars. The crystal embellishments continued on the back strap and ran from the small of my back to the floor. It did make my butt look pretty stellar. Having my scars out in the open like did make me nervous, but Audrie insisted that it showcased my strength and that the pack would think the same. Sucking in a deep breath as I lean forward to apply a coat of nude lipstick. I don’t wear much makeup, ever, but for tonight I was wearing mascara and lipstick. I did fancy up my typica
Leaving the Alpha’s office, I’m pissed. Men that abuse women, don’t deserve to breathe. I don’t know how Alpha is keeping it together after what we saw happen to Isla. I felt pretty honored that my skills had earned me a spot on this special task team. Also, a secret mission like this kinda makes me feel like a badass. As a third-generation tracker, some of my skills are inherited, like the ability to mask my scent, that my sense of smell is stronger than the typical shifter/werewolf, and that I can control my heart rate and keep it low and slow while stalking someone. I’ve spent years training though to learn and master the execution of my moves. Keeping them precise and silent. I’m a ninja among wolves. Stepping into my room, I close and lock the door behind me. I grab an energy drink from the mini fridge and pull out the chair to my desk. I fire up my laptop and settle in. I like to start by compiling the basics on my subject and see if there are obvious gaps, so now I build a
“Isla…Hey, Is, wake up” Warm tingles are dancing across my arm as I blink open my eyes. The soft hum of the tires on Zac’s 4Runner must have lulled me into a sleep I smile as my eyes land on his handsome face staring at me. Glancing around it looks like we’ve pulled off at a service station of some type. I’ve never really traveled before. Well, I guess I did when I was transferred between packs. I went from Blood Oak to Cedar Falls by ambulance but I was unconscious, TRTC wasn’t far from Grandma Junes when The Great Council took me there, and when I came to Zac’s, I had slept. The service station was huge and right off of a busy-looking multi-lane road, I didn’t pay much attention to where the cabin was from Clear Creek when I viewed the link. I was too absorbed in the thought of being alone with Zac. “Where are we?” My voice cracked slightly. “Just outside of Monument City. You looked so peaceful, I hated to wake you but I needed gas and thought you might want some coffee or sna
‘In 300 feet turn left onto Pine Ridge Lane’ Switching off the GPS, I know I can get us the rest of the way. My family may own a cluster of cabins in our pack, ally packs, and even in the human town, but this is my first time staying at one. My family’s company, The Ellis Group, LLC, has been the primary source of income for the pack for generations. It also provides jobs to pack members. The accounting department, IT, maintenance, and cleaning teams, are all important to the dynamic of the pack itself but they also do work for the Ellis Group. Along with being the Alpha, I am technically the CEO. I do have a president, some VPs, and a board of directors that help handle a good bulk of the company's work as the pack requires my attention as well. The group of homes we own, we rent out as vacation homes but they can be reserved for pack members that would like to use them for special occasions. Turning onto the long, graveled private drive, the cabin finally comes into view. I park
Feeling the warmth of the new morning cascading over me, I slowly blink my eyes open only to be greeted directly by the light of the sun. A familiar heaviness weighs across my hips, tilting my head I see a very peaceful Zac fast asleep behind me. His velvety lips parted just slightly, letting his warm breath tickle the nape of my neck. Rogue locks of his chocolate hair dangle across his uncreased forehead. Moving as to not wake him, I sit up and glance around what I’m guessing is the master bedroom. I don’t remember coming to bed, but this room, wow. Three walls of windows separated by rustic cedar planks look out into a thick forest. The large bed with lush linens offered a front-row seat to endless serenity. The last thing I remembered, we were in the larger soaker tub after a hot and heavy session on the couch. A shiver ran up my spine as I thought about the way Zac took care of my needs during and after the sex. This man was almost too good to be true. Goddess, was he my r
“This isn’t the way we came?” “I need to stop over at Council Hall in Green Hill before we head home.” Crinkling up her nose and furrowing her brows, she tilts her head questioningly at me, “what for?” “My, my, nosey aren't we little wolf?” I reply with a soft chuckle. Her body stiffened slightly in the passenger seat of my 4Runner, “Uh, sorry”. Patting her creamy exposed thigh with my hand a few times, before letting it rest there. “I’m kidding, you’re my Luna, you have the right to know any pack business. And besides were mates, so, no secrets” I say lifting my eyebrow and glancing over at her. She nods and I watch as she visibly relaxes back into her seat. My eyes can’t help but linger over her exposed cleavage. She’s wearing this super weird, but super sexy tank top that has two straps that come together as one and go over her right shoulder. A large teardrop-shaped opening perfectly frames the rift between her perky tits. The way her nipples are pebbling through the materia
“I thought you were like boy genius or some shit” “If you want to do it, be my guest,” Jace says peering up at me over the top of his laptop. “I’m the muscle, you’re the brains, so just, just, I don’t know, be brainer” He narrows his eyes at me before returning to his computer screen and mumbling to himself so quietly that not even my werewolf hearing can make out the words, “Damnit! The files encryption is way harder to crack than I anticipated” “So… what does that mean…” “It means, I need to write a whole other program to run through the code and show me weak spots and then another one to help me alter the security and I have to do it carefully to not alert the council's IT teams, or else the TRACERS will be knocking on our door.” Before I have time to come up with any sort of smart-ass remark, my phone pings in my pocket as Jace’s vibrates on the desk. I raise an eyebrow at him as I pull my phone out. ‘Grayson: Alpha Zac’s office, twenty minutes.’ “Grayson?” Jace nods, “
1-1/2 Years Later... Spreading the light-weight blue linen blanket out on the neatly kept grass, I drop the heavy diaper bag down before placing my precious son down and sitting beside him. Fall weather is just starting to fill the days. The air is fresh and crisp around us, and the breeze is light as it tussles his curls. Giggling as his tiny hand fists the lush green grass, his turquoise eyes sparkle as they meet mine. My heart can't help but swell at the sight of him. Pulling him onto my lap, "Mama," he babbles at me, squirming out of my hold to explore the new area. Drawing a deep breath, the smell of nature around us soothes me. "Hey, tater-tot, Mama wants to introduce you to someone." I push his chestnut ringlets away from his eyes, and he stills, gazing at me with so much wonder. So much innocence. I fully intend to let him live his life surrounded and encouraged by love, swaddled in unconditional promises to protect and support his every dream. "I.." my voice squeaks. I've
As I pulled it from the heat, the tea kettle's hissing slowly dwindled. "Ouch, fuck, mmmm." I mutter out as the steam scalds my hand. "Isla, are you okay? Why are you out of bed" An overly concerned Zac says as he tucks the towel around his waist. "I'm fine; I wanted a cup of tea, that's all." I try to hide the annoyance in my voice. "I would have made it for you once I got out of the shower." My eyes raked over his still-dripping body. The water droplets followed every hardline on his body, each glistening muscle rippling with his moves. Pushing back his wet ringlets with one hand, the other holding the towel that hung low on his hips. I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, biting down on it as I admired the sight before me. I swear these pregnancy hormones have me squeezing my legs together at just the thought of Zac. "I know you would have, but I can't possibly lay in that bed all damn day." I sighed. Closing the distance between us, his scent, so much stronger these days,
"Fiona?" Her name was sour on my tongue. Her brown locks whipped the air as she turned in our direction; panic flashed in her eyes before they glazed over. She was mind-linking; the others must be close by. "GRAB HER!" Before I even finished, Audrie was behind her. Snatching her wrist, Audire twisted it behind her back and kicked behind her knees, dropping Fiona to the ground. Not even bothering with gloves, Audrie grabbed the silver cuffs from the pouch on her hip and restrained Fiona. Shrieking as Audrie pressed her head to the dirt and moved a knee to her back, Fiona lay there, tears glossing her eyes. "Where the fuck is Isla, you flimsy cunt?" "Ahh, stop it; you're hurting me!" Fiona whimpers. Threading a hand into Fiona's dark locks, Audries fists a handful of hair before yanking up and slamming her face forcefully back into the dirt. "Hurting you? How about how you helped hurt her!" "Ahhhh," Fiona coughs, spittle and blood drip into the dirt beneath her face. "Fine, FI
My muscles are rigid, the weight of my own body anchoring me to this mite palace of a mattress. I don't know how much time has passed since I've been in this musty crypt. Drifting in and out of restless sleep and bouts of consciousness, the days or weeks, whatever it's been, have bled together. They avoid me, leaving me alone...I'm not sure which is worse, alone with my thoughts and fears or in the presence of my captors and my father. It's been seven years since I've seen that face in person. His hair was buzzed short now, but there was enough to see how the grey hairs blended into the black. The stubble on his face was the same. His eyes...what used to be pale blue eyes, icy and cold, were dark and murky, showing his wolf was forward- just like the day in the cells when they took me away. They say when a mate bond breaks, it can make a wolf go crazy, feral even; it's even been known to kill. I think when that bond broke, the cracks in his soul bound with that of his wolf, and they m
Nothing. It’s been three days since I couldn’t protect my family. I’ve done nothing short of kicking myself for not kicking that cumwad Kyle out of the pack as soon as we knew he assaulted Isla. The search groups have been working these last two days relentlessly. I have been bouncing around from group to group, assisting with breaches of abandoned buildings. I want to be the one who saves her. I need to redeem myself; I feel like a real piece of shit for not being better. I always thought I was a fair Alpha, lenient even; maybe that was a mistake. The group I’m running with today will be hitting a patch of land between Red Rapids and Green Hill. It was mostly forest, but there were a few old factories that had piqued our interest. Mesmerized by the wisps of steam twisted up from the hot cup of coffee I was swirling, I didn’t hear the door of the Community Center we were crashing in click open. “Couldn’t sleep, Alpha?” Audrie asks. “Something like that,” taking a swig of the s
The darkness is so familiar. It used to be the thing that comforted me, but I want nothing more now than to escape it. Zac has become my safe place. Small glimpses of reality interrupt the darkness every now and then, but I know I haven't had a chance to regain consciousness fully. The burning sensations that accompany each new image, I'm guessing that they keep injecting me. I really hope it's not hurting the baby... The pain is the first thing to come back to me. I feel like I've been hit by a Mac truck, and then he threw it in reverse for good measure. Blinking my eyes open, I groan out in pain, my mouth no longer covered.It looks like a basement. There are no windows, concrete floors, and walls, each just as filthy as the other, and a door with a gap at the bottom letting light creep in. My muscles are so stiff I try to stretch, only to be met with the resistance and searing of the silver chains. How long have I been here? Where even is here? I don't have much time to dwell o
It's dark, so dark. Goddess, I really thought I'd never be here again. As I traipse through the silent void, I try to remember how I got here this time... The air around me seems to tremble steadily just as a thumping sound slowly grows around me. It's getting louder as I walk in its direction. The pulsations fill me; my head throbs in pain. The pain is so intense, unlike any I have felt before. With a glimmer of awareness, I find myself still in the darkness, but I can feel my body. My body feels heavy, but at the same time, like it's no longer connected. I try to blink my eyes open, but they won't or can't; I'm not sure. I try to feel for my wolf but can't find her. The veil that is usually between us feels more like a brick wall... Wolfsbane. There had to be wolfsbane in whatever they stabbed in my neck. They? The thumping and throbbing continue- it is debilitating. Pushing through, little fragments float past me, memories. Think, Isla, how did we get here? Why are we h
The overly bright rays of the morning sun penetrate through my eyelids, causing me to stir. Begrudgingly, I blinked open my eyes only to squeeze them shut again. The dull stabbing in my head was fighting the ringing in my ears for dominance. I swear my whole body was aching like I had spent the night in battle. What the fuck happened to me? Reality smashes back into me without warning, and my eyes fly open. The harsh light no longer slows me. My heart lodges into my throat; I look around and realize I'm still in my office. I stretch and draw in a deep breath. The faint stale stench of whisky and blood permeates the air around me, cocking an eyebrow and sitting up to find the source. I see the bar cart, and its contents have been knocked over, well mangled, actually. Once filled with different liquors, each glass decanter now covered the floor in pieces. Glass shards caught the light like a dangerous version of glitter. Trailing around the room, my eyes continue to take in the damage
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I toss the folder of contracts on the desk. All the legal jargon was starting to give me a headache. Acquisitions were great for the Ellis Group’s business but reading through all the negotiations was a real bitch. I’m glad my dad’s still around, I have six of these to get through and the second set of eyes is helping me get through them. Leaning back in my chair, I close my eyes to rest for a minute. Thinking back to this morning in the shower…the stress relief had been more than welcome for both of us. The council's shotty job and lack of advances on the search have been grating on my nerves even further. Maybe I’ll order some food and see if Audrie and Connor want to come over and hang out with Isla and me tonight. Food, drinks, good company….distractions, and a bit of calm amid this storm would be good for all of us. If we were lucky it could lead to a good night's sleep for Isla also. I could sure as hell use the sleep too. I would never say any