*** Eamon's POV“I have questions,” I murmur against her neck, the words dripping with seduction as I nuzzle gently into her skin. My upper lip brushes over her mate mark, the friction deliberate, sending a shiver down her spine. I want her to feel my arousal, to know the effect she has on me.“But there’s something more pressing at the moment,” I continue, my voice shifting from seductive to serious. As I release her knees, I push her forward with a sudden, aggressive motion. Her arms shoot out to brace herself on the sofa's side arm, her balance teetering on the edge, but she doesn’t fall. She knows I have her.I let the silence stretch, letting her feel the weight of the moment, the anticipation thickening between us. “You’re not quite what you think you are, Liliana,” I say, my tone laced with a hint of something dark, something she can’t quite place yet. “There’s more to you than meets the eye… more than you know, more than you’ve ever allowed yourself to see.”I can feel her bod
*** Third Person POVThe room was dimly lit, a streetlamp outside cast a soft glow through the sheer curtains. The hotel suite was quiet, the distant hum of the city muffled by the thick walls. Eamon and Liliana found themselves entangled on the couch, their bodies pressed together in a slow, rhythmic dance. Liliana straddled him, her thighs resting on either side of his hips, their movements synchronized as they explored each other’s bodies. What had begun as an aggressive, almost feral need had gradually softened into something more tender.Eamon’s hands traced the curve of her spine, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her shirt. Liliana’s fingers brushed through his hair, her touch light but deliberate, as if she were committing every strand to memory. The intensity of their earlier passion had given way to a different kind of intimacy—one where every sigh, every breath, was laden with meaning.Their bodies moved together, not in the frantic rush of desire, b
*** Liliana's POVThe next morning, I wake slowly, the ache in my body a reminder of the night before. It’s a pleasant soreness, one that fills me with a sense of satisfaction and contentment. As I stretch, I feel the sheets glide over my skin, and for a moment, I bask in the warmth of the bed, in the lingering scent of Eamon that clings to the fabric.The suite is quiet, almost too quiet, and as I turn over, I realize that Eamon isn’t beside me. My heart sinks a little at the emptiness of the space, at the realization that he’s gone. I take a deep breath, pushing down the disappointment. This was what we’d agreed on, wasn’t it? Time to reflect, to figure out where we stood.But as I sit up, wrapping the sheet around me like a toga, I can’t help but feel a pang of regret. Part of me had hoped for more of the night before, for the connection we’d found in each other’s arms to continue. But maybe it was better this way. Maybe it was necessary to take a step back, to let the dust settle
*** Third Person POVEamon watched Liliana’s car disappear down the road, the early morning light casting long shadows across the pavement. The suite felt eerily empty now, the echoes of their night together lingering in the silence. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the lingering warmth of her body against his. It was time to shift gears, to leave the world of intimacy behind (grudgingly) and step back into the light of his other life.The call he’d received earlier tugged at his thoughts. The case was pressing, a reminder that the world outside was as brutal and unforgiving as ever. As he walked to his car, the weight of his responsibilities settled back onto his shoulders, heavier than before. The city around him blurred as his mind began to sift through the details of the ongoing investigation, forcing thoughts of Liliana back.By the time he reached his office, Eamon was in work mode. The building loomed above him, a stark contrast to the warmth of the suite he
*** Liliana's POVLiliana leaned back in her chair, eyes half-closed as she let the warm steam from her mug of tea rise to meet her face. The familiar smell of chamomile soothed her senses, easing the remnants of tension that still clung to her after the whirlwind of the past twenty-four hours. She had napped for a few hours after returning home, the exhaustion from the night with Eamon weighing heavily on her. The sleep had been dreamless, offering her a respite from the intensity of her thoughts. Now, showered and wrapped in a cozy robe, she felt a semblance of normalcy returning.But normalcy was a relative term. Nothing felt quite the same since she’d met Eamon (aka AlphaWatcher). The memories of their night together lingered like a warm, pulsing echo in the back of her mind—and body. Every brush of fabric against her skin reminded her of his touch, every breath she took seemed to carry the faint scent of him—earthy, masculine, magnetic. She knew she should be focused on other th
*** Third Person POVLiliana sat at her desk, staring at the blinking cursor on her screen. "Okay, Lil," she muttered to herself, "let's see where we’re at with this." She scrolled through the document, bracing herself for the usual feeling of dread that came with being behind. But this time, something was different.“Huh,” she murmured, a small smile forming on her lips. “I’m actually farther along than I thought.”Her initial outline had seemed overwhelming, crammed with too much content for the original ten-minute slot. But now, with the expanded time, it was almost perfect. “I’m not going to have to trim much at all,” she realized. Relief washed over her. “This might actually work.”Liliana glanced at the clock on her computer. It was getting late, but she was too absorbed in her work to care. “Just a little more,” she whispered, her fingers flying
*** Third Person POV“Tell me to come to you right now.”She blinked, the directness of the message sending a shiver down her spine. The night before had been intense, overwhelming even, but they had both agreed to the plan—to take a step back, to give themselves space. But now, with those words staring back at her, she felt the walls she had built around herself start to crumble.She hesitated, her mind racing. What did he want? What did she want? Did he think she would just say it? Just like that?A second text came through. “Even if it’s not what you want.”She could practically hear his voice in those words, low and commanding. Liliana swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. How will you know if I really want you to come then? she typed back, her fingers trembling slightly as she hit send.The response was almost immediate. “Because I already know what you want.”Her breath caught in her throat. Of course, he knew. Eamon always knew. But that only made her more determined to keep up the
(5 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT)*** Third Person POVThe auditorium is bathed in a low, intimate light, the stage a focal point of anticipation. The audience sits in hushed silence, the atmosphere electric with curiosity. The Guest Speaker steps onto the stage, the red TED letters standing boldly behind her, symbolizing ideas that challenge the norm. She’s dressed simply, yet her presence commands the room. She pauses at the center, letting the silence build before her voice cuts through the darkness.“Danger,” she begins, her tone steady but with an edge that promises more. “It’s a word that triggers an instinctual reaction—our pulse quickens, adrenaline surges, and suddenly, we’re hyper-aware of everything around us. But what if I told you that danger is also one of the most potent fuels for sexual desire?”The audience shifts in their seats, some leaning forward, others exchanging glances, intrigued but uncertain.“Tonight,” she continues, “we’re going to explore how danger and anti
*** Lisa’s POVI waited, watching Drax lean back in his makeshift throne—a beat-up recliner that had seen better days. The room itself reeked of something desperate, something hollow. The kind of place that pretends to be more than it is, much like Drax himself.He was reveling in the aftermath of his climax, a disgusting display as the girl struggled between his legs, her body twitching as she made her final, desperate attempts to free herself. She clawed at his legs, weak punches landing uselessly against his torso. It wasn’t long before her fight drained out, her last breath spent in a stifled scream, her mouth still impaled on his cock. With a final shiver of satisfaction, he shoved her off, her limp body collapsing in a heap next to the other two women he’d discarded like broken toys.I didn’t flinch. I’d seen worse. Done worse.“Drax,” I said coolly, my voice cutting through the murky air. “This will be your last chance to leave before you’re just another body at my feet.”His e
*** Third Person POV“We were asleep for a reason, a good one." Her voice was calm but edged with a severity that made Eamon pause. Skadi stood across the room, her stance rigid, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that demanded his attention."It would have to be, considering the risk Lil faces shifting at her age." Eamon’s tone was controlled, but beneath it was a thread of concern. He took a seat back on the edge of the bed, watching her closely, his body tense as if preparing for something he couldn’t yet see."The shift is the least of our worries." She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if daring him to challenge her.The room felt charged, the air thick with unspoken tension. Skadi's voice was low, her words deliberate, each syllable weighted with meaning."Death isn’t a worry?" His voice held a sharper edge now, frustration creeping in. "Being taken alive is the worry." Her reply was cold, almost dismissive, as she crossed her arms, her eyes darkening.
*** Riona's POV"Will you do it again?" I had asked Dawn, my voice steady but my heart racing."Every time," she had answered without hesitation, her tone as cold as ever."When?""That's not the question you want to ask me," she had replied, her sharp eyes narrowing in that way that always told me she was two steps ahead."Aren’t you tired of burying them?" My voice cracked just slightly."You bury them," she had said, emotionless."Fuck you," I’d spat back, knowing it wouldn't cut as deep as I wanted."Is that all?""Give me the charge," I had demanded, my desperation barely contained."It’s simpler to bury them," she had said with that infuriating calmness."Give. Me. The. Charge."And then, a voice I didn’t recognize had cut through the air. "It’s already done. I hope you survive. I really do."Another night, reliving the same moment. More than four decades later, I’d make the same choice. Every single time. The only thing I’d change? Maybe adding a rune to automatically summon a
*** Eamon's POVLil had left the party hours ago, but still wasn’t home.I regretted not following her, but I couldn’t reconcile that with abandoning the surveillance. It had seemed like the obvious choice at the time—keep my eye on the case, let her do what she needed. But as the night dragged on, regret settled in, gnawing at me like a wound that wouldn't heal.There had been no sense of urgency or danger through the mate bond, so I wasn’t exactly worried. Annoyed? Yes. Worried? Not yet. After all, I had explicitly told her not to leave the house but she’d done the opposite. My frustration grew tenfold knowing she wasn’t answering her phone because she’d left it behind in her apartment. I’d heard the damn thing buzzing when I tried to call.I busied myself with checking in on my team. Kirk had tracked Red to a Sanctum club, the kind of place with a dubious reputation and an even more exclusive clientele. She apparently had VIP access, which only fueled our optimism that tailing her w
*** Kirk's POVThe wave of her climax rippled through me, a surge of heat that coursed from her body to mine, snapping the mate bond into place. I could feel her walls clenching around me, involuntarily stroking me, pulling me deeper into her, beckoning my own release. My body responded instantly, the tension coiling in my core until I growled low in my chest, releasing myself inside her. The pleasure hit me like a storm, my hips jerking into her as my mouth released her neck. I lapped up the blood at the place where I’d marked her, sealing the bond.The taste of her on my tongue sent another shiver through me, but even as I finished, I couldn’t stop. My body still craved her. I was still hard, still thrusting, the need for her not yet sated. I wanted her to ride me forever, to keep this moment suspended in time, right here against the wall, with her body wrapped around mine. The euphoria of my release began to settle into contentment, but something was wrong.She wasn’t moving.Riona
*** Riona’s POV"Mate," he breathed the word into my ear, his voice like a prayer. His mouth descended to my exposed neck, lips brushing softly against my skin. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down my spine, and then his tongue—slow, deliberate—lapping at the skin where I knew he could mark me. Electricity crackled at the point of contact, a gentle tingle that spread outward like wildfire. Everywhere his lips touched, everywhere our bodies connected, it was like I was waking up—coming alive under him.I could feel my body screaming for him, every nerve ending on fire, the heat between us building to a point I could hardly stand. He smelled it too. I knew he could sense my arousal, smell it in the air. His growl rumbled low in his chest, vibrating against me as he pressed harder into my body. My breathing grew more ragged, more desperate, as my wolf, Skoll, roared in my mind, lust and need crashing over me in waves.I was almost breathless when I mumbled, "If you want me… then
*** Riona’s POVThe club was exactly what I’d needed tonight—an escape, a promise. The kind of place where desires were laid bare, and the shadows offered protection. This wasn’t a dive bar filled with humans and their cheap thrills. No, this was for our kind, for those who could afford the exclusivity. The lights were low, casting a seductive glow over the polished wood and velvet, and the faint scent of the finest perfumes and expensive cigars lingered in the air. Dancers moved on the stage like art, their bodies shimmering beneath the chandeliers that dripped with crystal.I didn’t come here for business, and I definitely didn’t come here to be bothered by him—who I had been sure I’d lost hours ago.Skoll had been restless for weeks, and I’d promised her some action tonight. A little reward for her patience. After all, it wasn’t every night I found time to indulge in what this place offered—namely, anonymous satisfaction. I deserved it. She deserved it. But this? This wasn’t what I
*** Kirk’s POV"We’ve noticed that Miss Ravenshade has had some bad luck recently." Kirk’s voice was low, his words measured as his eyes tracked every subtle movement in Red's body.Red turned to him, a coy smile playing at the edges of her lips. "Has she? I hadn’t noticed." Her expression glinted with a hint of surprise, as if Kirk's line of questioning caught her off guard. This wasn’t where she thought the conversation was headed—it wasn’t why she thought they were following her. Maybe they weren’t dirty cops after all."We don’t like disturbances Others cause," Kirk continued, his tone carrying a quiet authority. "Especially when they turn up on the Humans' radar."Her gaze softened slightly, thoughtful. "Well, Miss Ravenshade doesn’t want to be on any radar, thus the increase in ‘disturbances.'"A less perceptive wolf would have missed the subtly in her response , but I understood. The attacks on Ravenshade had been relatiory. She was refusing to play ball with someone. There was
*** Kirk’s POV“In my game, I ask the questions, and if I like your answers, I’ll reward you,” I whispered, my breath grazing Red’s ear and trailing down her neck. Her skin was smooth, and I noted, just as I suspected, no mate mark. The thrill of control coursed through me, heightened by the lack of any visible bond on her.“Let me guess,” she quipped, tilting her head slightly in response to my closeness, “If you don’t like my answers, you’ll punish me? So original.”“I’m all about originality, baby. If I don’t like your answers, I’ll just slit your throat instead,” I said smoothly, letting my words hang in the air like a knife. Grimnir stirred in my mind, pleased at the threat.She snorted a laugh, the sound light but unimpressed. “Well, that would be original for a cop... unless, of course, you’re crooked,” she mused, her voice dripping with amusement as she trailed off.“I’m straight as an arrow, baby,” I growled, grinding my hips forward into her backside, feeling the tension betw