The door clicks shut behind me, but my focus is elsewhere—on her back as she moves ahead, leading me into the living room. The silk robe clings to her every curve, the hem swaying just enough to draw my eyes lower. My gaze drifts, helpless against the magnetic pull of her figure, and I catch myself staring at the gentle curve of her ass.My wolf stirs, growling softly in the back of my mind. “Control yourself.” he warns.The living room is cozy, dimly lit by warm lights that reflect off the water walls, casting shimmering patterns on the walls. Fishes swim lazily behind the glass, their movements graceful and hypnotic, but I can’t bring myself to admire them. My attention keeps snapping back to her, to the way her body moves, the way her presence dominates the room.I sink onto the edge of the couch, my shoulders tense, feeling out of place yet strangely comforted by the intimacy of her space. My hands rest on my thighs, fingers drumming nervously against the fabric of my jeans. She r
I glance at her from the corner of my eye, my gaze snagging on the curve of her cheek as the faint light dances over her features. I know she’s aware of me watching her; it’s impossible she wouldn’t notice. But she says nothing, choosing instead to focus on the movie. Her silence only amplifies my awareness of her—the soft sound of her breath, the occasional shift of her posture, the subtle, teasing brush of her hand against mine as we occasionally reach for the bowl at the same time.“You’ve been staring at me for the last thirty minutes,” Lynette says suddenly, her voice breaking through the fog of my thoughts.I snap my head toward her, my mouth opening to deny it, but the knowing look in her green eyes stops me. She’s smiling, playful yet sharp, and I realize she’s letting me off the hook.“The movie’s over there, you know.” She gestures toward the screen, her tone light.“Right.” I nod stiffly, forcing my gaze forward.For a while, I focus on keeping my breathing steady. The fain
The room is dimly lit, the flickering glow of the TV casting shifting shadows on the walls. The muted colors of the movie ripple across our faces, a soft kaleidoscope of blues and golds. To her, the silence between us might feel comfortable, serene even. But for me, it’s a battlefield—a relentless war of self-control. Somehow, she’s managed to close the gap between us entirely, leaving no space for me to breathe or think clearly.Her heat seeps into my skin where her side presses against mine, her head nestled on my chest as if it belongs there. Her fingers trail absentmindedly along the edge of my turtleneck, her touch featherlight but devastating. Each time her fingernails graze the bare skin of my neck, a jolt shoots through me, tightening the knot of tension in my stomach. It feels as though she’s testing me, testing the strength of my restraint—or perhaps figuring out just how hard she’d need to swing her ax to cut through my defenses entirely.My muscles tense under her touch, ev
A growl builds in my chest, low and guttural, as my instincts stirs. Different voices roar, filling my head and drowning out reason. For a moment, I’m consumed by it, lost in the heat of her, the feel of her, the taste of her.But then Fenrir barks sharply, the sound reverberating in my mind like a whip crack. “Stop!”I jerk back violently, the motion throwing Lynette off balance. She tumbles from my lap, hitting the floor with a dull thud, and my heart lurches as her head collides with the edge of the coffee table. Panic floods me, cold and suffocating. “Lynette!” I scramble to my feet, my body trembling as Fenrir snarls in my head, his demand echoing: Leave before we hurt her more.“I’m s-sorry…” My voice comes out hoarse, broken. I rake a hand through my hair, my chest heaving. “I have to go.”Lynette is sitting up now, rubbing the back of her head where it hit. She glares at me, her eyes shining with anger and something that looks dangerously close to betrayal. When I reach out to
The hum of the jet’s engines is a low, constant vibration beneath my feet, filling the cabin with a muted white noise that does little to calm the storm in my head. Outside the window, the world is a blur of dark skies and faint stars. My chin rests heavily on my palm, my eyes unfocused as I stare into nothing. The faint scent of leather from the seats mixes with the sterile air of the plane, but it feels distant, like everything else around me.I tell myself I took this business trip because it was important. Necessary. But that’s a lie. The truth is, I needed to run. I needed to get away. And while what happened with Lynette isn’t the only reason, it’s the one weighing most heavily on my mind.She knows I’m Kassian.The thought sits in my chest like a stone, heavy and suffocating. It’s almost laughable—something I didn’t realize until hours after fleeing her house. It wasn’t until I replayed the scene in my head for the hundredth time, each detail etched into my mind like a scar, tha
I watch the crowd swallow her, my heart battering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The air feels heavier with each passing second, the smell of sweat and people thick around me, and my palms are clammy, slick with a nervous heat I can’t shake. My legs, locked in place moments ago like iron pillars, suddenly feel unsteady beneath me, trembling with urgency.Move.I force one foot forward, then another, until I’m sprinting. The world around me becomes a blur of motion and sound—voices rise and fall like a chaotic symphony, the shuffle of shoes against pavement grating against my ears. I shove past people, their startled protests barely registering as the bond pulls me forward, searing my chest like molten fire. It’s a warning, a promise, a curse all at once. If I don’t reach her, if I let her slip away, this fire will consume me.“Damn the goddess,” I mutter under my breath, teeth clenched. Damn this bond. Damn everything that makes me want her. Fenrir growls low in my mind, his prim
I arch a brow, trying to suppress the smile threatening to break free. “I am. Is that a problem?”She blinks at me, her skepticism clear. “I’m talking about you, in the kitchen, making dinner. Not ordering takeout. You can cook?”I hesitate, the question hitting a nerve I hadn’t expected. My mouth opens, then closes as I debate how to answer. The memory of her asking me—just the other night—what I loved doing in my spare time flits through my mind. I couldn’t answer then, too ashamed to admit the truth. But now, with her standing so close, looking at me with curiosity that borders on wonder, I feel my defenses crumbling.Cooking. It’s not a big deal to most people, but for me, it’s everything. My childhood dream was to be a chef, to lose myself in the art of creating something beautiful, something that brought joy. Even when my life spiraled into violence and chaos, I clung to that dream, nurturing it in the quiet moments when the world wasn’t looking. But admitting it to her feels lik
“Lynette,” I say softly, interrupting her rambling. My voice is quieter now, steadier, though my own emotions threaten to betray me.She glances at me, her smile faltering for just a fraction of a second before she catches herself. “What?”I shake my head, forcing my expression to remain neutral. “Nothing,” I say, leaning back against the seat. “Just making sure you’re aware of a thing called food death.”Her grin returns, but it’s a little softer this time, a little less blinding. She focuses on the road, and I turn my gaze to the window, watching the city lights blur past. My mind races, torn between the warmth of her presence and the ache of knowing I’ve hurt her, of knowing she’s still carrying the weight of it.She’s just as anxious as I am, and it’s written all over her. The way her shoulders stiffen, the way her lips press together in a thin line, the way her fingers fidget with the hem of her jacket—she’s holding herself together, but just barely. I can feel it, as real and hea
Across the room, Kassian remains unmoving. His mind is a haze of static, his thoughts tangled in a thick web of denial. He watches them press their hands against Lynette’s lifeless form, listens to their frantic attempts to revive her, but none of it registers. She’s not dead.She’s just… sleeping.She’ll wake up soon. She has to.Something deep inside him pulses, hollow and aching. The mate bond—the once-constant hum of connection—has been severed, leaving behind nothing but a vast, unbearable emptiness. He feels it, deep in his soul, but he refuses to acknowledge it. Because if he does—if he admits, even for a second, that she’s really gone—he won’t survive it.His hands twitch at his sides, clenching and unclenching as his thoughts spiral.How do I live without her?How does he wake up every morning without hearing her voice? Who will roll their eyes at his brooding and call him dramatic? Who will compliment his cooking but vehemently love it more than anything? Who will read him li
A quiet hum drifts through the dimly lit office as Oliver methodically sorts through scattered documents, the faint scent of paper mixing with the lingering traces of Kassian’s scent. Outside, the day is still, save for the distant chirping of birds, a stark contrast to the turmoil that has haunted this place for days.He steals a glance at Kassian, sprawled across the worn leather couch, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. There’s something almost childlike about the way he sleeps—completely at ease, his face unburdened by the grief and rage that have shadowed him since Ryker’s death. Oliver can count on one hand the number of times he’s seen his cousin sleep, and never once has it been so peaceful. Before, it was always fitful, his brows drawn tight, his body tense, as if even in slumber, he fought unseen battles. But now… now he’s at rest.A warmth spreads through Oliver’s chest, satisfaction curling around his heart like a protective shield. Justice has been ser
It’s a good day to die.The thought crashes into my mind, and I immediately regret it. Worst possible time for jokes, Lynette.My breath is shallow, my pulse hammering against my ribs like a desperate prisoner trying to escape a cage. The scent of damp earth and pine needles fills my nose, and it almost feels as if I can perceive my own fear.I step back cautiously, my slippers sinking slightly into the forest floor, soft moss cushioning the impact. My eyes dart over my shoulder, scanning for any possible escape routes. Nothing. Thick trees enclose the area like silent spectators, their gnarled branches twisting above, casting jagged shadows in the fading sunlight. Even if I did run, what were the odds I’d make it?Slim. No—nonexistent.Panic grips me with icy fingers, tightening around my throat. My mind screams for a way out, some way to call for help. If only I had a mental link like Kassian did with his pack—something, anything to let him know I’m in danger. But I don’t. The best
The quiet hum of the AC fills the office, cold air whispering through the space, blending with the faint rush of wind from the open window. Somewhere in the background, the coffee machine lets out a low gurgle. The silence is heavy. Oppressive. It settles around us like a second skin, thick enough to suffocate.I want to say something. I want to fix this. But the words lodge themselves in my throat, tangled between the fear of hurting him and the desperation to pull him back before it’s too late.Then, warmth.A gentle pressure over my fidgeting hands, stopping their restless movements.I jolt slightly at the unexpected contact, my heart skipping a beat. Kassian’s hands are warm—so warm—completely engulfing mine as if he’s trying to ground himself through me.I look up at him, breath catching at the raw emotion on his face. The sadness, the exhaustion, the fear—it’s all there, painted across his features in shades of grief and torment. His amethyst eyes, dulled with sorrow, meet mine,
The hallway outside Kassian’s office is eerily quiet, the usual buzz of the pack absent. The air smells of old parchment, ink, and something heavier—like exhaustion and fading traces of stress-induced sweat. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before rapping my knuckles against the door.“Knock knock, it’s me!” I call out, my voice deliberately cheerful, a singsong lilt added for effect. A wide smile stretches across my lips, but inside, I’m anything but lighthearted.It has been over a week since Kassian defeated his father, and everything has changed. The pack. The leadership. Him.At the pack’s request, he revealed the truth—the real Rowan Draven had died long ago, and Kassian had been living in his place. Doubts lingered, of course. Murmurs of suspicion slithered through the media, but the CCTV footage he once hid sealed the truth. Footage proving he hadn’t been anywhere near Rowan’s death. That was the easy part. After all, back then, Kassian had dyed his hair black.I didn’t
The arena is silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of hearts, the quiet inhales and exhales of tense bodies, and the occasional nervous shuffling of feet against the stone seating. A warm breeze drifts through the vast space, whispering through the ears of the gathered pack members, carrying the distant cries of birds and rustling leaves from beyond the towering arena walls. The scent of smoky vanilla and cream—the distinct fragrance that unites them as one—lingers in the air, blending with the individual scents of sweat, fear, and anticipation. The heavy mix of emotions clogs the atmosphere, suffocating to anyone with heightened senses.Yet, among the hundreds of anxious onlookers, one figure remains entirely unaffected.At the highest point of the arena, where the view is unobstructed, Lynette lounges with effortless ease, legs crossed as she leisurely munches on the cookies in the large bowl at her feet. Sunlight spills through the glass roof above, catching the frosty strands of
The air in the pack arena is thick with tension, the faint strong scents of emotions mingling with the crisp bite of evening air. The weight of everything that has happened in the past hour presses against my chest like a boulder, suffocating, heavy.Vivian made Lynette’s demand clear, and then everything spiraled. My father—weak but still an alpha—exploded in fury, his roar shaking the very foundation of the hall. The guards tried to restrain him, but it was useless. His presence alone is enough to make seasoned warriors hesitate, their instincts screaming at them to submit. It was only when Vivian, despite her own exhaustion, used her magic to subdue him that he finally fell. But at a cost—her body shook violently, blood spilling from her lips as the spell took its toll.Then the truth unraveled, piece by piece, in the most horrifying way.I had always wondered why a powerful witch like Vivian tolerated a man like my father. Now, I know. And the knowledge is sickening.Noelle walked
My mother stared back with wide, horrified eyes. Her lips parted, trembling, unable to form words. Then the scream that tore through her throat, so raw it sent a shiver down my spine even now, years later.She lost her mind in that moment. And in that moment, she lost everything.The gleam of the blade was the last thing I saw before she pressed it to her throat and dragged it across her skin.I remember the gurgling sound, the way the air filled with the thick, metallic scent of blood. I remember her collapsing, her body convulsing. The life draining from her eyes.And I remember him. Ryker, my so-called father, standing there. Watching.He rolled his eyes.And then he turned his back and walked away.He never turned back when I ran after him, my screams tearing from my throat as I begged him to save her. He never cared.And neither did anyone else.The pack didn’t mourn the loss of their unkind and selfish Luna. No one spoke of the pain she endured. No one cared about the woman she
Lynette’s fingers tighten around my forearm before she lets go, stepping forward. My muscles tense instinctively, my gut twisting. What is she doing?“Lynette,” I murmur, leaning toward her, my voice low, questioning. Her sudden change of topic throws me off, her choice of words even more so. She knows what she’s doing—she has to. But why?She doesn’t look at me, but I see the way her shoulders rise and fall in a deep breath. “Trust me.”My throat bobs, and I force myself to nod, even as unease prickles beneath my skin.Then, she shifts her attention back to my father, her head tilting. “You know,” she begins, almost casually, “I thought my father was the worst man alive. But I stand corrected. Turns out, he’s top-tier garbage, while you, Ryker, take the spot of F-rank waste.”A beat of silence. Then—a strangled noise from the crowd. I hear the sharp inhale of people struggling to keep their composure, the barely stifled coughs that are most certainly hiding laughter. Even the guards