-LYKOAN’S POV-Shuffling through my cards, I cursed under my breath. I was barely winning this Gin Rummy game against Nia.I was surprised I could concentrate right now, let alone win. I stole long glimpses of her over the top of my cards more than I managed to obtain these triple jacks.Nia had on a cerise pink cami shorts set. The curve of her chest flowing down into her small waist before billowing outward to her full hips was imprinted in my mind.The tiny, impractical, shorts showed off her smooth legs. At the same time, the frilled edge top bunched up her breasts into two mouth-drooling mounts that had me going almost feral in this chair.Oh my God. The things I would do to this woman if she would let me."You alright?" I asked her tightly as she took her time sifting through her cards.She appeared flustered as she shifted in the gray woven rope chair around the breakfast nook."The heat is maddening. It’s hard to function," she groaned, fanning herself with her hand.It wasn’t
-NIA’S POV-With slow butterfly strokes, I swam towards Lykoan. The water moved around my body in swirls as a rippling eagerness to satisfy my curiosity surged forth.His sexy lips held that devilishly attractive smirk and his sinful eyes darkened with lust. Danger, my mind screamed, well aware that he was naked, and I was naked.It was clear our wolves desired to be mated. The threads of the bond strive to connect at all endpoints. Perhaps that’s what accounted for how I yearned to open up to him.Gliding through the water, my actions surprised even me as I held his raunchy lilacs—the silver light reflecting off his skin. For the first time, after a long while, I felt light and unburdened as the water refreshed both my mind and body.Once I was close enough, he snagged me around the waist and pulled me toward him. I wrapped my legs around his torso to keep myself above the water. My hands snaked around his neck with my breasts pressed against his taut chest. Our eyes locked, and the
-NIA’S POV-Lykoan’s dark eyebrows furrowed and a small frown adorned his lips.Torment filled his lilacs when he uttered, “The Quintessa witches tried and most of the illusions stopped except that I see her at nights. I know she’s not real but, it’s kept me sane. Our nightly talks gave me something to look forward to. It was as though she was still around. So I haven’t slept in years because I couldn’t miss one night without her.”My chest tightened, and I squeezed my eyes shut. The pain in his voice lanced through my very own soul. But, I did not want him to stop talking to me. I opened my eyes and tilted my head up to find him solemnly gazing down at me.To console him, my fingers massaged the back of his neck, making him groan and roll his shoulders.Lykoan’s throat bobbed. Then he explained with a heartbreaking tenderness. “Although, all I feel is guilt when she visits. The guilt that I couldn’t save her. The guilt that I lived, and she died with my son.”Listening keenly, I inte
-LYKOAN’S POV-Dawn's honey-peach glow awakened me from my quiet slumber. A new freshness stoked within me as if the world had been enhanced to a higher plane. That’s because Nia has lit up my life in many ways.She was sleeping soundly and wrapped around me with her head on my chest, an arm thrown over my waist, and our legs entwined. I lay there, memorizing every detail of this moment.We were both naked, too tired last night to get any clothes on. Besides, the tingling feel of our skin-to-skin sated the physical need to be near her and to touch her, not necessarily in a sexual way, but in a way that just made me feel content.Feeling Nia starting to move and stretch against me, I caressed her side, making sure she knew I was still there as she became fully awake and aware.Her eyelids fluttered, making one of her dark lashes feathered against my skin, and my chest jolted at how much it tickled.Without lifting her head, she looked up at me. Her stunning orange eyes peeked through th
-NIA’S POV-Lykoan began to grit his teeth, and I squeezed his hand gently. Starr was antsy, more agitated as these lycans spoke in opposition to our mate. It was absurd to deny Lykoan the natural right to open his heart to whomever he pleased and to wreck his life just because of his curse.Irritation wrapped itself around my throat. “Lykoan and I met under unforeseen circumstances that bound me here. The moon goddess herself bid that I become his Sigma Spade. To go against us is to go against our deity. So, all this hostility is extremely unnecessary and aggravating."“Impossible,” ejaculated from Agnes in a high-pitched raspy voice, disbelief cloaking her timeworn features.Korbeck snorted. Thebian raked a hand through his canescent brown hair.At the same time, Jacques threw his head back and laughed out loud. “You expect us to believe you spoke with the moon goddess.” He spat bitterly. “The gods don’t bother with your kind.”Low growls reverberated around the room, to which Lykoa
NIA’S POV-“Nia, we invited Caliste, our pack witch.” Olsen addressed me in a cautious tone with his hazel eyes settling on mine. “To gain our trust, we require that you pass a minor test.”“Are you for real?” Lykoan scoffed. I groaned internally, reeling from the unexpected sting of that one word.“Okay.” I acquiesced with fake composure. Inside, I was freaking out. Test? What bloody test?"Excellent!" Olsen exclaimed with a nod. "I'm glad for your consent. It’s an amicable solution." He smiled, but it never touched his hazel eyes. He was hiding something.Alpha Jacques and his Beta exchanged snarky glances. He gave him a flick of the chin and T.K. moved from his spot, strolling down the table, and going towards the door. It was too late to back out without arousing more suspicion. For a piercing minute, I regretted my decision. Now, I had no choice but to see it through. To steady my heart, I forced myself to remember my initial motivation for doing this…to be acquitted of all the
NIA’S POV-“We're not done yet, Alpha,” Caliste politely interjected, stopping the advancing footsteps that had made my golden ears perk up.Using my left hand, I gripped my right wrist, thrashing on my chair as I tugged and pulled, harder and harder. Yet nothing happened, only more coughing and more smoke that puffed out of my ears.My throat felt chafed, dry, and aching. Hissing from the shortness of breath, I clasped my neck, blinking my wet eyelids excessively, and I nearly passed out.My heart instantly ached for my mate. Wanting Lykoan to be at my side and make it stop. My first instinct was to scream for his assistance. However, my voice was lodged in my throat, as if some sort of imaginary block had been placed where my vocal cords were.I gripped the side of my head as a splitting headache ripped through it. The pressure built. Sweat stung my eyes like vipers. I yelped in agony. When will this terrible spell end?Then it happened.I was somewhere else, alone and petrified. I
LYKOAN’S POV-“Well—I’ll be damned,” Tank muttered to Hogan, still in shock. “She's so scary,”“Let's not kill her momentum,” Hogan added in a low voice with his hand in the way to hamper Tank and Josh from advancing.Both of them did not move, but they were definitely pleased at the minor destruction that she had caused. In this case, Nia did not need our protection. Instead, she held the witch hostage with glowing palms burning her temples. My lips twitched, itching to smile.“Nia, let me take it from here,” I prompted for her eyes to meet mine.Still apprehensive, Nia’s messy mid-pony-haired head finally whipped up at me. Anger contorted her beautiful face into a Tasmanian devil. Her orange eyes seethed like embers, and she gritted, “The witch tried to kill me.”“Nonsense!” Jacques roared grotesquely, pointing his finger in accusation. “You attacked her.”Narrowing my eyes, I swung my head in his direction, unleashing a guttural growl in warning.“Even when she’s wrong you choose t
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