CASSY I really hoped giving Phin back some power wouldn't come to bite me in the ass, but there had to be an Alpha in charge since we were still going through the shit with the Hervouxs. As I slipped into a deep sleep, the world blurred. Soon, I was in Leila's realm. The colors were soft and muted, like a fading dream. I found her by the familiar pond, sitting on the edge and tracing patterns in the water with her fingers. She looked different. Tired and worn out, with her hair in disarray and dark circles under her eyes. It was unsettling to see her this way, so different from the vibrant presence she usually embodied. I moved closer, the grass soft beneath my feet, and sat down beside her. "Leila, what's wrong with you?" She didn't look up, her focus remaining on the water. "I'm dying, Cassy." I started panicking instantly. I never knew a moment without her in my head. "What will we do without a Moon Goddess? How can we...what are we going to do? What will all the werewolve
PHIN Hearing Cassy say I was Alpha again changed something inside me instantly. I'd always loved hearing people refer to me as Alpha, but this time it was different. My entire body tingled with the anticipation and responsibility. Real responsibility, and perhaps even the ability to carry it out like the man I was always supposed to be here. She was giving me another chance, a real chance to prove myself. I couldn't mess this up. Not this time. I had to be the Alpha she believed I could be. After ensuring Cassy and Teddy were finally asleep, I just stood there, watching them. They were both physically drained from the battles they'd fought, not just against their enemies but against their pasts. Teddy looked like he'd been through hell and back. He seemed to be thrown into these situations, forced to repeatedly prove his strength and love for Cassy. It wasn't fair, but then again, nothing ever was in our world. Once I was confident they wouldn't wake up in a panic, I slipp
I made my way to Morna's house to get Marilee, still processing everything that had gone down the night before. But as soon as I saw her, all that faded into the background. She was awake, sitting at the table with Morna, chatting away like she didn't have a care in the world. Seeing her so happy and at ease did something to me I wasn't quite used to yet."Bonjour, ma petite fille," I greeted her as I stepped inside. Her face lit up the moment she saw me, and she jumped up, running into my arms."Daddy!" she squealed, wrapping her tiny arms around my neck as I lifted her. I held her close, feeling that rush that came from knowing she was mine, and I was hers.Morna smiled, watching us with that knowing look only she could pull off. "She's been talkin' about you non-stop," Morna said with a chuckle. "All night, it was 'Daddy this, Daddy that.' She's smitten, Phin.""Is that so?" I teased, playing with Marilee hair, feeling a deep, protective instinct flare up inside me. "Well, how abou
VIVIANA I had just finished feeding the twins when the door to the nursery flew open. An omega, eyes wide with terror, stumbled inside, practically crashing into the wall in her desperation."There's an emergency! The house is being evacuated! Get the twins and get out now!"I didn't waste a second. The twins' tiny, innocent faces were the only thing I could focus on. I scooped them up, one in each arm, and rushed toward the door. The hallway was already filling with thick, acrid smoke. My throat tightened as I pushed through the haze. Every step was a struggle as the heat grew more intense, pressing in from all sides.The mansion was a war zone. People shouted over the noise, trying to organize the panic that had taken hold. Bodies collided as everyone fought to escape. The smoke made it nearly impossible to breathe, and I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me. My thoughts tumbled over themselves.Where were Alpha and Luna? Someone yelled that they were at a function away
VIVIANA When I finally opened my eyes after the boat crash, I was sprawled across a massive, familiar smelling wolf.Phin.His powerful body cushioned my fall, his fur soft against my skin. He had caught me and saved me from the deadly crash. Before I could even process what had happened, he shifted back, wrapping me tightly in his arms.He shielded me from the debris and chaos still flying around us. For a moment, everything else faded away. The danger, the panic, the fear, gone. All gone.It was just the two of us, tangled together in the aftermath of the crash.As the world finally settled, I remained on top of him, my heart pounding just as fast as his. Slowly, I lifted my head, meeting his eyes.Those deep green eyes that had haunted my dreams since the night of the ball. This close, with the adrenaline still coursing through my veins, the connection between us was undeniable. It was real, more real than anything I'd ever felt.Phin leaned up, his breath warm against my ear
PHIN With Viviana finally safe, the weight of the past few days dissolved in the quiet of the night. Marilee was spending the night with Morna, leaving Viviana and me alone for the first time. The house felt strangely still, with only the distant croaks of frogs and the gentle rustle of the bayou breaking the silence.She sat on the edge of the bed, her long chestnut hair flowing over her shoulders. The soft glow from the lamp bathed her in warm light, making her seem almost ethereal. I took a deep breath and joined her, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear.“Do you mind if I mark you, Viv?” I asked, the weight of the request heavy in my chest. “I need to know because... when we have sex, I might not be able to control myself. I need to do it right.”Her eyes widened briefly before she looked down, biting her lower lip. “You can,” she whispered, but I noticed the way she fidgeted, her shoulders tense at the mention of sex.I reached out and trailed my fingers along h
PHIN I entered her slowly, savoring the warmth that surrounded me. For a moment, I stayed still to let her adjust, appreciating the deep connection between us. Every subtle movement, every shift of her body, felt like a beautiful melody.I ran my hands along the curve of her waist, relishing the softness of her skin. She gripped the sheets and gasped softly but pulled me closer by wrapping her legs around my waist. The intensity of it all nearly overwhelmed me. The connection between us ignited something deep inside. Something so powerful I half-expected to see my skin glowing. Her body surrounded me, and every nerve in my body went on high alert, attuned to her every movement, every breath. As I grazed my teeth along her neck, ready to claim her, I felt her tense beneath me. She opened her eyes, and in them, I saw fear.A fear that cut through the haze of desire and struck me. Hard.I paused, tracing the spot where my teeth had been with my thumb, trying to reassure her. "Shh, Che
PHIN I moved between her legs, feeling the warmth of her body as I positioned myself closer. I gently pushed her legs up, bending them at the knees. As I kissed her ankle, the scars caught my attention. My chest tightened with anger. Intense anger that I had to bite away.The thought of her being treated that way, subjected to such brutality, filled me with a new rage I'd never experienced before.I couldn't let myself dwell on it, though. Not now. This moment wasn't about the past.It was about giving her something new, something that would start to heal those old wounds.I brushed my lips over the marks on her skin. "You deserve better," I murmured, trailing kisses up her leg. "You deserve to be cherished." Her body tensed slightly, and I paused, giving her a moment to adjust, to realize that this was different. I wasn't going to rush her, wasn't going to push beyond what she was ready for."Are you okay?" I asked, looking up at her. She nodded, her eyes wide, a hint of uncertai