Killian's POV
The gates opened, letting my car and three others in. We drove and stopped at the entrance of the warehouse. I stepped out, taking a look at the area. It was quiet, and I adjusted the cuffs of my shirt.
Logan and Victor got out of the car, closing the doors shut, and I walked towards the warehouse door. They followed with the other men.
The second I got to the door, the men standing guard bowed. “Welcome, boss.”
I raised my hand, accepting their greeting. “Open it,” I said.
They nodded and pushed the door open. I stepped in, taking my men with me. As I stepped forward, the men inside beca
Selene’s POV The smoke wafted around me, and the smell of burning dirt and charred leaves was heavy in my lungs. Across the glade, Celeste was frozen, breathing in great gulps. The last sparks of the fireball she'd halted moments before burned out at her feet. Her fingers fluttered, as if she were still sensitized by the searing heat in her palm, as if she couldn’t register what she had done. I raised my eyebrow, masking the pleasure I derived from bloody being amused. She’s getting there. I had expected resistance. Wolves were relentless, driven by swiftness of instinct and the might of brute force, and never quite understanding the beauty of true power. But Celeste was different. She fought with intelligence. She would listen even when she claimed she wasn’t. And, above all, she didn’t escape from what was within her. Not yet, anyway. The trick was to keep her off-balance to rupture her just a little, to push her buttons just enough that she would turn to me for answers. Trust
Selene’s POVSunlight spilled through the open window and lay warm streaks of light across the wooden floor. The room smelt like wet wood. I hated the smell.I flipped through my spellbook on the old desk. It creaked and looked like it was about to break.My grimoire had an old leather cover and was rough on the tips of my fingers, and the ancient symbol on it glowed faintly. A smile curved on my lips as I whispered the incantation.“Briseadh na gcosc, sruth na cumhachta,oscail an doras, lig an neart sruthlú.”The pulse of energy
Celeste’s POVI felt the afternoon sun on my skin. Vanessa had warned me never to meet Selene alone. I still wanted to learn more from Selene, and I loved the thrill of magic on my hand. I felt powerful, unlike when I was with the pack. I kept glancing between Vanessa and Selene. They were literally on each other's throats, glaring at each other."Ehem," I coughed, taking them out of their silent war. They forgot I was with them. Selene's earlier outburst had turned from a triple staring contest into both of them talking with their eyes."Are you both done? cus I'm going inside," I said, tucking some loose strands of hair behind my ear.
Celeste's POV:His gaze turned dark, hungry and didn't leave mine. I felt his need grow as he held me."I...I've never...done it with...um, I haven't..." I confessed."You're a virgin," he completed.The way he said it made me a little embarrassed.He looked surprised and unknowingly tightened his grip on me.His Adam's apple bobbed as he breathed slowly. I was scared he was going to leave, but instead he spoke. “You should have told me.”I swallowed. "Would it have made a difference?
Celeste’s POVThe morning light filtered gently through the thick curtains, and golden strips bounced off the walls. My body hurt in ways I hadn’t anticipated, a deep ache settling between my thighs.I had slept through for hours and it was already morning again. Every cell of my body felt heavy, and completely exhausted.I shifted, the silk sheets slipping over my bare skin, and for a moment, I lay still, absorbing the bed’s warmth.Last night replayed in my head; the heat of his skin, his body molded to mine, the way he dominated. A hot flush crept across my neck, and I buried my face in the pillow, whimpering.I needed to get up.
Celeste’s POVHis deep, amused voice interrupted my morning daze.“Celeste, you have five minutes, if you don’t come out, I’m coming in to bathe you myself.”I sat bolt upright in the tub, water spilling over the porcelain sides. I panicked and gripped the soap, my heart thudding against the walls of my ribs.Oh, hell no.“Don’t you dare!” I screamed, going for a towel with wet hands.From behind the door, Killian snickered. “You sure? I wouldn’t mind helping you.”My teeth were clenched, my cheeks burning. “I'm comin
Celeste’s POVLogan’s gaze darted from Vanessa to me, his jaw clenched. Something was wrong.“What is it?” Vanessa asked, moving forward.He paused for a beat, then breathed out. “Killian sent me to see how you’re doing.”Shivers of panic coursed through my chest. Did he know?I forced a casual smile. “Check on me? Why?”Logan’s expression hardened. “Because he knows you, Celeste. And he had a premonition you’d do something rash.”Vanessa and I looked at each other.
Selene’s POVCeleste was unconscious on the bed, her breathing shallow and steady.I let out a long breath, distinguishing the energy that had come from the spell I'd used to mend her wounds and rejuvenate her strength; I flex my fingers a few times.There was nothing worse in Lunaris magic than the explosion I had been through. It had nearly torn her apart. Killian would have my head if anything happened to her.She wasn’t ready yet. But she would be if I pushed her hard.Lord, Malthus. She's not what I was expecting.I had brought her to my room, hidden within the depths of the estate grounds where n
Celeste’s POVI felt warm and safe. Killian’s steady breathing kept me at peace. His arm held me closer to him. I could stay like this forever. I felt it, the sudden movement of something creepy pressing against my chest. My mouth opened slightly as I tried to breathe in, and a gust of air moved in my nose and mouth. “Wake up,” the voice whispered. It wasn't mine and I couldn't ignore it. “Wake up,” it commanded. Its voice was stronger and I shivered. My eyelids opened, even when I felt sleepy. I got off the bed and slowly turned my gaze to Killian. He stirred in his sleep, turning a little bit to his right. I felt a silent war waged inside me. What was wrong with me? I couldn't control my body. “Killian is a liar.” The voice in my head spoke. It was confident and demanding. I listened to every one of its words and agreed with every one of them. “For myself,” I repeated calmly and glared at Killian with a murderous intent. Staring at him, the room changed into a different
Selene’s POV“Cumhacht mo chroí…” I chanted. “daingnigh mo lámha,...”The wind started and dropped. I was losing concentration. “Ugh,” I groaned. “What the hell?” I took a deep breath and started all over. “Cumhacht mo chroí, daingnigh mo lámha,Ceangail mo neart, stiúir mo bhrí.Le fuil agus anam, fan i gceart,Is mise an draoi, i gcothromaíocht sí.”Reciting the spell for control while I was losing control of my anger didn't do anything. I gave up and stood from the floor. “Hell, this is stupid!” I yelled and sat on my bed, fuming. My eyes went to the flickering candlelight on the bedside table. The flames mocked me. It had been days since Killian dared to ban me from training Celeste, and the rage inside me burned hotter than I remembered.Squeezing the sheets on the bed, my nail tore at the fabric. How dare he? How dare he stand between me and her? I hated his protectiveness. How was I supposed to mold her if I was locked out? Lord Malthus would not be pleased if he knew. I
Joan’s POVThe first bullet shot went past my ear, and I dodged. It embedded itself into the metal crate beside me. Then another came, hitting one of my men directly in the chest, causing his body to jerk before he hit the floor. “Sam! I'm going to kill you!” I yelled. All hell broke loose. A deafening barrage of gunfire filled the warehouse without any signs of stopping. “Not if I kill you first,” Sam responded and half his men transformed into werewolves. My men followed, and each group attacked, digging their claws and teeth into the otherSam and his men continued shooting, and I hid behind the stack of metal crates to reload my gun. I had fallen for his trap. “Keep them cornered! Don't let them regroup!” Lucas commanded his team. I gnawed. If only I could get my hands on him. I looked out from my hiding place and fired three shots quickly. Lucas barely dodged the first two, and the third bullet struck his shoulder, making him stagger backward. His eyes fell on mine and I
Sam’s POVJoan’s mouth was still partially open, her face frozen in surprise as I walked away from her. I allowed a smirk to hitch at the corner of my mouth and strode out of the office without another word. It was a fun reaction, but it paled in comparison to what came next.All I could hear in the corridor was the echo of my boots against the polished floor. Joan had ruled long enough. Her hesitation made her weak. And in this world, weakness was a killer’s sentence.I finally made it to my room and closed the door. Locking it was merely a formality, as one would ever dare enter without knocking. When I dragged my bed aside, I revealed what few people had known existed. A steel hatch set into the floor. I crouched, prying it open. The cool air blew up from below, bear
Joan’s POVThe floor-to-ceiling windows opened to a forest beyond, and the cold wind slapped my cheeks as I stared at all that surrounded me. A faint light above the rain-slick streets below.From this height, everything looked small and worthless. My men flittered about like ants, carrying some covered lids of wooden boxes. When they walked into the building with some iron boxes, I smiled.“The orders have come,” I mumbled, returning to my chair. Then, without delay, I poured myself a glass of whiskey.I sipped and felt the burn that it gave my throat.I swirled the whiskey around my glass, examining how the bright light caught the amber liquid. Opposite me, two of my men stood
Celeste’s POVThat need pulsed between us, the air taut with it. Killian stepped forward, his predatory gaze locking onto mine and my breath hitched. That raw intensity in his eyes made me shiver with heat curling deep in my belly.“You’re the most stubborn, reckless woman I’ve ever known,” he muttered, the words with a low growl.His eyes danced down to my lips, and he gripped my chin between his fingers, tilting my face up to align parallel with his.“Killian…I,” I stuttered.“Shh,” he said softly and brought his hands to my neck. The gasp flew from my mouth as his f
Celeste’s POVIt became a war that simmered through the day.I had believed I was in control. I had assumed if I teased Killian under the breakfast table, or even in front of his friends, I’d gain the upper hand, I’d rattle his normally unshakeable dominance with my boldness.I had been very wrong.So wrong, but it hurt so good.Killian hadn’t even responded to my teasing, and he’d then made it his goal to torture me.The first time, it had been discreet. I had passed him in the hall, letting my fingers graze across his chest as I moved by, but before I could get out of his orbit, he had gripped my waist, his fingers splaying p
Celeste’s POVThe warmth engulfing me was foreign. It surrounded me, enfolding me like a coat of armor, so different from the hollow void I had experienced earlier. My breathing was regular, no longer labored. There was no pain, no residual soreness, no remnant of the injuries that once scarred my flesh.I was alive.Slowly, I opened my eyes. Sunlight poured through the curtains, leaving golden streaks on the bed. A soft light filled the room, a morning glow exposing the well-built man at my side.It was Killian.Soothing, even when he slept. His arm draped lazily across the sheets, his breathing even, the calm I rarely glimp
Killian’s POVI looked down at Celeste, who was fast asleep. I sometimes wondered if she enjoyed living dangerously or was just amused by making me anxious.Why could not she follow simple instructions? Was she trying to provoke me into needing to use force? I hated seeing her scared after raising my voice, but she tested my patience.I locked the windows for the night and turned down the air conditioning so she wouldn’t catch a cold.“I feel like you are conspiring with the devil to expedite my stay in hell,” I said softly, lightly touching her cheek.I watched as she released