*Ember*It was dark when I woke up.I blinked, trying to understand how I had gotten into bed again. I knew that I had gotten up and had breakfast, and I remembered arguing with Bryan and Rhys about training. I had changed into those stiff leather garments and then met the two of them out in the back yard. It had been painfully obvious after one attempted punch that I had no idea what I was doing, and Rhys had told me to sit and watch.But then what happened? I remembered that strange numb feeling and the thrill of power rushing through my veins, and then there was nothing but an image of Bryan sobbing in pain and Rhys’s eyes, haunted by fear.How bad had I hurt him? I didn’t know how I had done it, but I was certain that whatever had happened had been my fault.What would Alec think? I groaned inwardly. I briefly recalled him carrying me upstairs, saying something to me, but I couldn’t remember what. And then he had been gone, and the maid who had helped me the first night i
*Ember*I stared deep into Alec’s eyes, and I knew that he was telling the truth. Relief and joy rushed through me. The man who had helped me and made me feel loved was here, standing in front of me, far more solid than the shadow he had been back at the castle. Everything he had said had made sense and fit with what I had known about the hooded stranger who had visited me all those weeks ago. I recalled the magnetic way we had been drawn together in the library, now sure that I hadn’t been misreading the situation.But then a trickle of anger soured my elated thoughts. I understood why he hadn’t been able to rescue me sooner, but why had he not just told me who he was when he ambushed the carriage? I would have gone with him willingly, enthusiastically. I would probably have even fought for him! Had he just planned to bed me and leave? Had he intended for me to never find out?As if reading my mind, Alec cast his eyes downward in shame. “I should have told you sooner, I know,” h
*Ember*The low rumble of his voice sent a shiver of desire through me. My core ached with need. The pleasure still hummed in my blood as Alec leaned over me. His grin was still his place. His purple gaze seemed to be glowing in his face. He trailed his lips against mine and skimmed his fingertips up the inside of my leg. It was almost ticklish, yet the sensation stroked the desire burning in me. I felt myself getting wetter, soaking the sheets beneath me with desire and anticipation. I panted with anticipation of when his hand would reach my core and what he would do to me.“I could taste you forever,” he whispered. “I could have you forever.”My eyes fluttered closed, imagining a hazy dreamscape made of just us and the endless pleasure we could have together. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “I dream about that too,” he said as his fingers fluttered where his tongue had been just moments before. I moaned, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and threading my hands
*Alec*As soon as the door closed behind Rhys, I sank into my chair and leaned back. The sturdy oak desk I had spent countless hours at since becoming Alpha gleamed in the low candlelight that flickered around us, casting shadows on the walls. For the first time, it felt like a barrier between us as he fixed his gaze on me.teThe silence stretched on for what felt like hours before he spoke.“You want to go,” he said before I had even thought of a way to rationalize the risk. He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Even knowing that Sawyer is as slippery as it gets, you want to go?"“What other choice is there?”“Haul her ass to the Maidens,” Rhys said. “If she’s really part of this extinct pack, then they’re the only ones that can help her. What is the issue?”I winced. Hearing it put so plainly only made me want to dig in my heels because it couldn’t be so simple. I couldn’t stomach it being that simple. I thought back to Sawyer’s face when he told us about what he suspected about Embe
*Ember*I rushed through the forest, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I didn’t know if the attacker was already gone from the area, but I had to see. I had to try. Fear and the anticipation of a fight pounded through my veins. The wind blew, making the trees rustle, adding to the noise of the forest around me. The further I ran, the denser the forest grew until there was barely any light filtering down from the sky.They had to be nearby. They couldn’t have gotten far, and when I found them, I’d make them pay for what they did to Mary. I followed the trail of blood on the leaves and disturbed leaves. The scent of blood started to grow stronger on the wind, pushing me forward. Mary’s bloodied face and wide, panicked eyes flashed through my mind. Anger surged through me, pushing me to run faster. If I could just catch up to her attacker, I’d get revenge for her.I shoved branches out of my way, ignoring the way my clothes snagged on the underbrush. I skidded to a halt as
*Ember*I spent the night awake and alone. Though I was hungry, I couldn’t force myself to eat. I was too angry, too hurt, too confused to even think about it. Dawn’s light was coming in through the window when I heard a knock on my door.“Please go away.”The door opened, and before I could say anything, I saw Lauryn walking into my room with a sunny smile and a tray of food.“I hear you had a rough night,” she said. “Made rougher by your own choices, sure, but rough nonetheless.”She set the tray down and took a seat. “And now that we’re not tiptoeing around it all, I think it’s about time you got a crash course.”I frowned. “A crash course in what?”“In what is very likely your own history,” she smiled. “Your connection to the Maidens of the Moon Goddess and the pack that no longer exists. The pack never had a name, but it and its members left an impression. The Maidens of the Moon Goddess is the only connection we still have to the pack.” A sly smile graced her lips.
*Alec*Ember’s eyes lit up at my words. Her whole body quaked, and her eyes fluttered closed as she let out a soft keening sound. I smiled, trailing my fingertips down her neck and between her breasts. Her muscles quivered under my touch. She squirmed and opened her eyes. “What do you say?” I asked. “A good plan?”She bit her lip and nodded. Her eyes glowed in the firelight, filled with heat and desire. She looked at me as if she wanted me to eat her alive, and by the Goddess, I was starving. Without another word, without another thought, I kicked off my boots and shoved my trousers down and off. She reached up to me, and I caught her hands in mine, kissing them gently before drawing them up to my shoulders. I eased her knees apart again so I could fit my hips between them. In the low light, I could see her core glistening with desire and the way her sweat drew in the warm firelight. “Ember,” I said almost breathlessly. An ember ready to set me ablaze. Maybe I was alrea
*Ember*I hadn’t seen Alec since the day after I woke up alone in his bedroom, but this morning I was planning to invite him to have breakfast with me. As I approached Alec's office, I grew a little nervous. I knocked lightly, but the door swung open. “Good morning,” I said as I pushed the door open. As expected, he was sitting at his desk, his focus fixed on the papers on his table as he scribbled on paper and muttered to himself. The air in the room felt heavy, charged with tension despite the early morning light and the breeze coming through his open window. The air was so crisp. "I thought we could have breakfast together and maybe go for a walk after?"His response was barely a murmur. He didn’t even look up at me. "I'm busy, Ember. Perhaps some other time."“Oh…” I swallowed. “Okay… Maybe lunch?”“No,” he said, flipping a page. “I have a meeting then.”The chill in his tone pierced through me, and I could feel my heart sink. My shoulders slumped. “Dinner?”He
*Ember*Life in Whitelark seemed almost idyllic compared to the life I had before. Between taking care of Evan and getting to know Grey, I couldn’t have asked for a better life. As I got up and headed to Evan’s room, I greeted a few servants. “Your Majesty.”I was still a little uncomfortable with the title, but I was learning to live with it. I walked inside and found Alec lifting Evan out of his bassinet. The room was bathed in a soft, warm light that filtered through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the walls.“You snuck away again?” I asked as I entered. “I finished a bit early,” Alec sighed, shifting Evan in his arms. I came closer and found Evan still sleeping peacefully in Alec’s arms. “I wanted some fresh air. Are you heading out?”I nodded, and we left the castle together. The gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees, carrying the scents of roasting meat and the movement of the town through the air. It was filled with peace and tranqu
*Ember*The days had passed in a blur of recovery and adjustment, and finally, Chastine decided I was healed enough to start moving around on my own. I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh as I stood in my room, stretching from the long days in bed. I was a bit sore, but I didn’t feel like I was in need of a nap."Don’t go wrecking your body,” Chastine said sternly. “I’m sure you can wait a few more days before trying for baby two.”My face burned with embarrassment. “Thanks. Where's Lauryn? I was hoping to talk with her."Chastine's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Probably not busy doing what you’re itching to. She has some measure of restraint.”I scowled at her. “Do you know where she is or not?”“She’s likely heading to the main hall. You might catch her before she gets there.”With that, she left, leaving me alone in the room. I took a moment to adjust my clothes and then made my way to find Lauryn. It wasn't long before I spotted her in one of the quieter co
*Alec*I walked down the hallway from the nursery to toward Ember’s room the way I had ever morning since Evan was born. The castle was quiet around us. I nodded at the maid near Ember’s room.“Good Morning, Alpha.”“Good Morning.”She opened the door for me, and I stepped inside. The room was as quiet as always. Ember’s breathing was barely a whisper of noise as I closed the door behind me and rounded the bed. The soft rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over the room. I sighed and sank down into the chair beside Ember's bedside, my eyes fixed on her peaceful form as she slept. She had regained a bit of color overnight, though she hadn’t moved at all. Chastine said that there was every reason to believe that she would come through, but she still hadn’t woken up. It had been nearly a week already. In my arms, Evan slept soundly, his tiny chest rising and falling with each tranquil breath. I had taken to carrying him with me everywhere I went
*Ember*I clung to Alec’s hand as we walked inside. Alec’s arm was around my waist, steadying me at every pulse of pain. With every step, I could feel the weight of his concern and the depth of his love. Inside, the castle seemed to buzz with energy. Servants ran back and forth with cloth and other things to the birthing chamber. “Where's the midwife?” Alec asked as we walked down the hall. “A messenger went to get her,” a servant said.“I’ll fill in,” Chastine said, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Lauryn was just behind her. She opened the door and let Alec walk with me inside until I reached the bed. “Leave before you pass out,” Chastine said bluntly. Alec flushed. “Really?”She scoffed. “Really.”He looked at me, searching my face. I had no doubt that he would stay if I asked him to, but I shook my head and smiled. “I’m okay. I’ll see you soon.”“I love you,” he said gently. “I love you, too.”He hesitated another moment, but he retreated, and Chas
*Alec*I sighed, sitting back in my seat and rubbing my forehead. It was a beautiful day, and I had been sitting at this desk since about an hour after dawn. The midday sun was high in the sky, my stomach grumbled, and I still had a lot more to do. Had it really been months since Lukas’ death? It felt like I had been working on all the little problems of Allusia for years. What the hell had the previous Alpha King been doing that everything was such a mess? I glanced at the letter from Sawyer. It was probably going to irritate me as all of his reports tended to, but it was probably the most complete and most detailed of all the updates I had left to go through. From his last letter, I knew that the capital was slowly but surely returning to a semblance of normalcy. The Grimborn Pack had scattered between those loyal to Lukas’ vision and those who just didn’t want to be bothered. If it wasn’t worrying about West Allusia, it was dealing with the management of East Allu
*Alec*We left Silver Crescent and met up with the forces in midwest Allusia on the way to the southern bridge. As expected, Ember couldn’t keep pace in her wolf form the whole journey, but she made it half of the way. The men greeted us, climbing onto whatever cart they needed to continue healing and embracing us. The journey south to the port city was filled with cheer. Once we passed over the bridge, it felt as though everyone started to pick up speed. The carts of the caravan bumped and creaked as we picked up pace through the forest, the sunlight dappling through the leaves as we neared Whitelark. It had been a long journey, both physically and emotionally. Ember tightened her grip on my fur as I started to pull ahead of the caravan. As we approached the castle, I could feel a sense of anticipation building in the air.The news of our impending arrival hadn’t reached Whitelark ahead of us as the defenses were still engaged, and archers aimed arrows at us. “Who is th
*Ember*The morning sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a warm and inviting glow over the room. Beside me, Alec was still sleeping. I shifted, and Alec let out a soft sound, his grip on my waist tightening to crush me against his warm body. "Ember," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep and a little desperate. “Stay.”I placed my hand on his arm. “Alec?”He didn’t move or stir again until there was the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Then, he shot up, grabbing his sword in a flash of movement. His body thrummed with tension. I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Alec?”The footsteps passed the doorway and faded down the hallway. He lowered his sword and looked at me. His eyes were still red-rimmed and a bit tired, but he smiled at me like I was his whole world. He set his sword down and gathered me in his arms. “Did I wake you?”I laughed. “I think I woke you.”He hummed, a low rumble coming from his chest as he nuzzled his face against my ne
*Ember*As Lukas stopped breathing, something in me gave out. A choked sob escaped me. My eyes filled with tears. The scent of his blood filled my nose and filled me with relief. His eyes stared out into nothing, and I knew that I was free. A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned sharply and looked up into beautiful purple eyes that I thought I would never see again. My heart thundered in my chest as the tears gushed down my cheeks, and I threw myself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me, crushing me to his chest. "Alec," I sobbed into his chest as he stroked my hair. "A-Alec, I–""I'm here. It's over." He whispered, pressing me closer to his chest. "I've got you," The deep rumble of his voice was a soothing balm on my frayed nerves. I dug my fingers into his bag, gripping him desperately as if he would vanish if I let go. His grip felt no less desperate."I love you," I sniffled. "I tried… I didn't…"I couldn't get the words out. I didn't know what I wa
*Alec*The night was thick with tension as we moved through the shadows, our steps muffled by the shadows under Grey’s control. As we neared the castle’s hidden entrance, my heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and determination coursing through my veins. Having seen Ember lying in that little room, one I knew too well had once been used by the former Alpha King’s breeder, had set a fire in me that would only be quenched when I saw Lukas’ cold, dead body at my feet. “This way,” Grey whispered, nodding down a dark alley.We followed him. The night was thick with tension as we moved through the shadows, our steps muffled by the darkness. The guards surrounding the castle were unsuspecting, their attention focused elsewhere, giving us the perfect opportunity to strike.Sawyer darted forward, quick and deadly, catching the nearest guard with a swift, silent strike. The man barely had a chance to grunt before Sawyer lowered him to the ground silently. Rhys took the next one and hi