-NIA’S POV-Running from the roof, I bolted into the Hesparades Mall, which was exactly opposite from the hotel.“Get it together, Nia. Life’s not over. Get it together.” My wolf chanted in my head as I wiped my eyes dry.Dalton had chosen a Luna. That raggedy asshole.Sobs overtook me, and my body shook with every gasp I breathed. Why was I upsetting myself over this? I hated Dalton, didn’t I?“Nia, it’s time to be strong. If Dalton wanted to move on. To hell with him. We must move on too.” Starr griped.To control my panting, I inhaled sharply and exhaled a few times. Guilt was trying to carve itself into my heart for lashing out at Lykoan, but my anger at Dalton wasn't allowing it to.I raked my hand through my hair as I meandered inside the large building. Having this time to myself was a cathartic release.Did Lykoan shove this horrid news in my face hoping that I’d spite Dalton and choose to be with him?“Does it matter, Nia?” Starr whined, missing her mate.“Of course, it matte
-NIA’S POV-Reporters and media people ran with their cameras and microphones, chanting his name. ‘Lykoan! Lykoan!’My lungs stopped working. My eyes bulged, and my mouth opened wider than a zombie’s in awe.The wild fandom created a big commotion as they excitedly occupied the street side, pavement, and steps of the hotel. Half of them had their phones high in the air. They blocked the road like Lykoan was a godsend that they hadn’t seen in decades.Even from here, I could feel his aura permeating as powerful as a hunter. So deadly and dangerous, piqued with irritation. The power he yielded, that he emanated through simply existing, was breathtaking, alluring, and most terrifying.That did not stop the anxious mob. Perhaps they were used to him by now.The growing clamor of the impenetrable flock seized his attention, hurling it in various directions. Several security guards from the hotel hurried to the scene to do crowd control.Now, my interest level in Lykoan has reached Uranus.
-NIA’S POV-My chest tightened painfully, and I looked down sadly at my feet. "Impossible. I'm not from here.""You're that pretty little thing the mighty general totes around with." The postman leaned a little closer, his smile laden with crooked teeth as he poked the tip of the knife into his jaw."Like I said, I'm just spending a few days." I conceded, tapping my foot impatiently. I'll admit anything to have him stop speaking to me. “My friend's across the street.”Something about him made me uneasy. I shifted on my feet and glanced at the beads at the doorway, hoping that Miss. Petrillo would come through it. How long does it take to find the moonflower? Jeez, she was taking so long."Don’t play dumb.” He asked mockingly. “Aren’t you friendly with everyone?""Not friendly," I terse, hating the discrimination.He used the knife to stroke the bristly skin of his jaw, never once lifting his languid leer from me, which unnerved me more."So you're just fucking him then? It's about the
-NIA’S POV-If I hurt this postman, the news would spread like wildfire, and charges would be laid against me. Undoubtedly, the shopkeeper would take his side. On that account, the major repercussion would be death by Alpha Jacques, and all my plans foiled."Fuck you," I growled, although my voice wavered. I raised my hand, turned into him, and struck his face down with my elbow and palm heel.The postman staggered sideways with a lopsided grin. "Apparently, you won't, but I’m going to strip you down and let you have it.""Are you stupid, Balzac? Are you stupid? What nonsense. Are you normal?" Miss. Petrillo argued, very disgruntled behind me as I spun around and ran.I burst out the door with tears burning in my eyes as much as the disgust and disappointment in the pit of my stomach.Stumbling out onto the plaza, I charged off in what could be the wrong direction, but my vision was too blurry to determine anything. I heard my name being distantly called.Moments later, warm strong ha
-NIA’S POV-Chaos unfolded with a ferocity that echoed the sound of battle across the afternoon skies. The air crackled with formidable tension as the clash of wolves reverberated, a symphony of growls, snarls, and the occasional yelp, cutting through the charged atmosphere.Lykoan was in trouble.Adrenaline laced with anxiety coursed through my veins as I chewed on my thumbnail, watching from inside the Porsche.Patrol lunged at him. Survive, Lykoan. Please survive. My breath caught in my throat as vicious snarls pervaded.One by one they charged at him, from behind, sideways, in front, and jumping through the air. Panic tangled up inside of me and a stab of fear assaulted my gut.I can’t lose him.What should I do? I wanted to help, but how? Where was Gawain or Julius when you needed them? I wished Tank had been here too.Sick with worry, my heart ricocheted in my chest. I couldn’t sit by and not do anything. Through the sharp, desperate uneasiness inside of me, an idea stirred.Gul
-NIA’S POV-Knowing what was next to come, I sidled behind Lykoan, peeking around his left side to watch everything. I noticed the Beta was behind us, keeping a cautious distance but observing the confrontation while the patrol wolves slowly limped away with the wounded."Keep your envy out of my business, Alpha Zeek," Lykoan rasped to the man who attacked me with his wolf before darting his gaze on the other. "What brought you here, Alpha Iscariot?"Alphas? I knew it, but two of them? My heart rate spiked anxiously and my temples throbbed as I got a good look at them. I must say that had I been on my own, I would not have been any Alpha's problem.This was exasperating.“The hell we will.” Iscariot retorted, standing to our left with his Appalachian brown eyes searching me. He swiped his thumb across his sweat-beaded forehead and the wind kicked up the fringes of his champagne hair.I gulped nervously and cast my eyes down at my twiddling thumbs."How out of touch you’ve been.” Zeek a
-NIA’S POV-“Move your damn feet, you sick perversion of nature,” Zeek growled at me with his strong arms around my waist after freeing my mouth.Despite my efforts, I couldn't break free from Alpha Zeek’s dragging hold.Desperation and fear clashed with raw determination as I clawed, punched, and kicked with all my might.“What level of idiot are you?” I cursed him, hoping to deter his foul ambitions. “You’re making a Volkes your enemy.”A regurgitating scream bubbled up in my throat as we reached the field. I squeezed my eyes shut to muster everything within my soul to call out to the only man who could save me. “Lykoan!”My mate’s focus snapped towards us. Scarlet wrath veiled Lykoan's orbs like a laser ready to inflict maximum damage, aiming for nothing but smoke as he watched Zeek bounding for the labyrinth of trees where more growling and snarls pervaded.Lykoan’s muscles coiled. He began half-shifting. Silver fur spouted through his pores and the air around him shimmered, making
-NIA’S POV-The day was a feral, crude, unspeakable horror.My flitting eyes flicked back and forth from Lykoan to the syringe.A trickle of cold sweat slithered down my nape. Dread gripped my heart like a frozen fist and I swallowed as my flesh erupted with painful chills.My lips parted to speak, and I suddenly realized that they were quivering with fear, along with my entire body. “What's in that?”“Death,” Zeek terse. “For you, of course.”“Wait. I….um,” I panicked, unable to think straight, smelling my own blood.“I wouldn't move if I were you.” He kept his cold eyes on Lykoan.My body shook uncontrollably, and my thoughts went haywire. My wolf was so distraught that she withdrew with a whine.Back on the field, Lykoan towered over Iscariot's bleeding body that lay on the grass. He dug his razor-sharp claws inside Iscariot's shoulder, using them as hooks to force him to stand on his feet.Blood spurted as Iscariot howled in pain. "Yaaaaaaa-hoo-hoo!"Good. The bastard was going do
LYKOAN’S POV-“Seriously, Lykoan, get off me.” Nia chuffed out while elbowing me.Although I felt the minor jabs in my ribs, the little movements of her bare ass were stimulating my already rock-hard cock. If I dared to move, it would surely be to hoist up her ass and thrust my dick inside her appealing slick, coated cunt.“Grrr,” I growled in response with Sultan on the surface. I flex my jaws as my fangs elongated. “You're mine.”Every now and then, my bones cracked, beginning the agonizing transformation that I wrestled to intercept and stop to maintain my human form. She didn’t understand that the instant we saw her, Sultan had taken over.Now, as I pinned her soft body with mine on the moist grassy floor of the forest, audible labored breaths escaped me. It was taking everything within me to hold Sultan back.“Argh,” I grunted from my throat, chest heaving. I clamped my teeth together and stiffened my entire being so as not to grind on her.Because she was my mate, her body was r
NIA’S POV-Not this again.Please not this betrayal again.Lykoan spun to face me, wrenching away from the brunette beauty in the process. She nearly stumbled backward as his shoulder nudged her square in the chest.His body simmered with lust and white-hot possessiveness with eyes dilating to blood-red. His roar shook the ground. “Mine!”My heart tightened and I shook my head.It was too late. I'd already seen them together. The damage had been done.Wild desire shone in his eyes, and his mouth gaped open like he was attempting to explain. No sound came out of his treacherous throat. Even if he did, I wasn't sure I'd be able to hear him above the pounding in my ears.Kenzie moved around him to stand facing me with her back to him. “Jacques has been waiting for you.” Smirking evilly, she tucked her hair strands behind her ear. “Go to him so that Lykoan and I can finish up.”Pain, unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, pierced my chest. It tore through me, ripping away skin and c
NIA’S POV-Clutching my forehead, a strained groan left my lips. Heat pulsed through every inch of my body, especially between my thighs. My skin felt inflamed.When my eyes snapped open, I realized that sweat dampened my clothes. The night was incredibly hot and tormenting.I felt a searing pain in my heart and I jolted up in bed. Glancing around the room, I didn't see Lykoan anywhere. The gnawing at my heart intensified when I realized he was gone. A pang of loneliness swirled in my chest. Just when I wanted to turn my brain off and relax with him, yet he was not here.Remembering all that happened prior to falling asleep, including me telling him about what Layton and Chase had done, it dawned on me that he must be furious. He had probably gone to Boulderfist to crush their bones to dust.Oh no.Plus, he has yet to tell me how things unfolded in the Trenchlands. I assumed that they had not found Mom.Ignoring the aches, I launched out of the bed barefooted and ventured into the hal
LYKOAN’S POV-The achromatic streams of the rodisiac moon kept stroking the most erogenous spots on my body, like sapid kisses on my flesh.I rubbed the back of my neck to tamp down my rising anger as Kenzie rode out her orgasm, and Jacques’ mocking gaze locked on me.“Damn it Jacques, does this have to do with the all-points bulletin from Boulderfist?” I growled, grappling to keep my cool.Jacques hummed, pushing Kenzie off of him. She fell into a lump of sensual curves and glowing skin with splayed-out brunette hair, sated on the rug.“I changed my mind.” He tipped his head up, taking in the heavens with hands wide open, and declared, “The night is too ravenous to discuss sour topics.”Waves of pheromones rose.Groups of horny women huddled on our left and right, observing us, stroking and groping one another as they vied to be noticed and chosen as our next fuck buddy.Dragging my hand backwards through my hair, I seethed, “Stick to the matter at hand and refrain from involving me
LYKOAN’S POV-“Tonight's the rodisiac full moon,” Tameka announced, looking up at me as I slowly descended the curved stairs.Kourtney and Lucidora flanked her sides in the living room. All their faces were solemn with concern.I had a plan for retribution on Boulderfist. It was perfect to do it now, but the moon's allure started to wreak havoc on my body and mind, rendering me angry, hot, and dangerously distracted. My blood roared for blood.“Nia is sleeping, and I have two things to deal with,” I said, stopping right in front of them at ground level.Relieved, Kourtney clutched her chest and blew out a long breath. “That's good to hear. She's been locked in that bathroom all day. I'm glad you made her feel better.”“Do you know what else was on that flash drive?” My eyes bounced from one face to the other, analyzing them. “What did her ex do?”Tameka folded her arms. Unwillingness to spill settled in her expression when she replied, “It wasn't pretty, but it's her story to tell.”I
LYKOAN’S POV-“Upstairs.” Tameka pointed to the ceiling, without sparing me her eyes.“She's, um—” Lucidora began, but I was already sprinting up the stairs.Making my way toward the bedroom, I stared at the large, empty, unrumpled queen-sized bed and called for Nia again.“Lily-Bud?” My stomach clenched and roiled in anticipation.Turning the corner to the bathroom, her potent scent hit me. Thank the fuck. My glum heart quickened with anxiety. I inhaled the rich aroma and gently wandered to the locked door."Nia?" I called loudly as my knuckles knocked on the wooden frame."Just a minute." Nia's small voice echoed from inside. Her voice was raspy, and she was sniffling as if she had been crying.After reaching for the door handle, my stomach clenched again when I turned the knob and realized that it was locked from the inside. There was some rustling around, and I heard her light footsteps, but the door remained closed."Open up for me baby," I solicited against the door, feeling the
LYKOAN’S POV-All rifles were poised and aimed at the large bed. Taking calculated steps, I stared down at the hulk of a man lying in the bed, snoring disgustingly loudly. My lips snarled in repulsion as I pressed the barrel of my rifle on Gossart’s forehead.Gossart’s coal-black eyes shot open. He grunted in surprise once he registered the cool metal against his head.“Get up,” I hissed.“Lycan man,” Gossart growled. His eyes fixed on me as he propped up in the bed, sliding out.“Movement coming inside.” Hogan nodded at Ray-hart and Freeman. With their guns raised, they left to sweep the hallway and take out any arising threats.Downstairs the house was previously empty, but loud voices and the sound of loading and cocking of weapons were unmistakable.“Where is the she-elf?” I pushed Gossart to his knees on the floor.The oversized man grunted and looked up at me with no evidence of fear. “Don’t know.”“He doesn’t know.” Tank aped the man’s words with his rifle ready to shoot.“Yes,
NIA’S POV-“That's not what he thinks,” I riposted.“Don’t be fooled by the other Sigmas.” Tameka angled her head to gaze menacingly at me. “We’re letting you hang around until the boss comes to his senses.”I frowned and questioned, “Is it that, Tameka? Or are you afraid that I’ve taken your spot in Lykoan’s world—that you are being cast as a mere shadow in the back?”“What it is—is that you need to learn your goddamn place.” She sneered, eyes cold and full of malice. “You act innocent and naive. So disgusting.”“And what place is that? You know Lykoan and I are mates,” I responded breezily. “That makes me the most important person in his life.”She chuckled bitterly, short and forced. “At least I can afford my own, but what can you afford? Tears? Are they golden like your ears?”I shook my head, gritting down on my back teeth to resist saying something cruel. That one definitely hit me. Her words stung, but I acted unfazed and deterred.“Can we be civilized about this, Tameka? It's n
LYKOAN’S POV-“Hey, hey. Hey, hey,” Gawain chanted, bobbing his head. “Yes mama, shake it for me.”At a brothel in Mojave, Bakka, we booked a room to kill time. Barefooted on the Persian rug, three brunette dancers jutted and jiggled their hips in the middle to ‘Too Sweet’ by Hozier. We sat disguised like regular Trenchland slums on a fuchsia semicircular couch, supposedly charmed.The Sigmas made it look easy pretending to be so giddy over these women. The guys were duly entertained with their wanton eyes glued on the ladies, giving them compliments with laughter. Freeman flicked a coin at the girls whenever they gave him a booty shake.Ray-Hart was downstairs in the over-crowded, orgy lounge at one corner with prostitutes while keeping an eye out on everyone who entered the two-story end of terrace house.Red, orange, some shades of pink, and dark brown wood. The same colors were everywhere. Cigar, liquor, sweat, sex, and the faintest whiff of fried pickles were triggering my gag ref