Finn
After having eaten breakfast, Maya is holding on to my neck like a baby koala. Her legs are wrapped around my waist snugly, and when I take off, she closes her eyes on instinct.
"I won't ever get used to flying!"
I laugh with my lips straining to contain my happiness and fly toward the window leading out into the sunlight. "You better hold on tight!"
Maya squeezes me. "Please, whatever you do, don't drop me! Flying isn't my thing."
My heart squeezes when I pick up on the fear visible in her sweet doe eyes. I take a deep, calming breath not to tackle Maya to the ground and kiss her everywhere. Every bone in my body wants to comfort her, but now isn't the time to drench her with my love.
"I won't—I promise."
Maya's lips quiver, but eventually, she slumps her tense shoulders. "Okay, I trust you!"
I smile.
Size-shifting would probably be safer for traveling, but I enjoy having Maya this close to me. Her heartbe
Maya Despite Finn's earlier claim, the tree of life is what I expected—vast and colorful, with branches reaching out in every direction. The colors on the leaves are shifting in every color of the rainbow, and voices, whispering, and snickering surround me. Finn walks closer to the tree, and I hug his thumb. "Those whispering voices... What are they?" A gasp leaves Finn's mouth. "You can hear them?" "Yes." My eyes are locked on the tree. "And I can't focus on anything else while they are giggling." Finn stares at me for a fleeting second, then part his lips. "They are called sprites, and some people, with magical blood in their family, can either see or listen to their voices." Finn shrugs one massive shoulder. "Sprites also like to hang around me for some reason. They never leave me alone, but don't worry—they are entirely harmless." I open my mouth to speak. I'm about to tell Finn that I can only hear the sprites, but then I see a bl
MayaAs I take Carla's hand, the scenery around us changes drastically. The room we once stood in with its warm, inviting light disappears, along with the furniture. Soon, I see burning trees and a field with fallen soldiers on the ground. Blood colors the grass red, and there is a permanent stench in the air, making me hold my nose.My lips form an unhappy frown. "What is that rotten smell?"Carla is staring at the ground like a zombie, but eventually, she lifts her chin to watch me with glimmering eyes. Although she wears the face of a fairy, I'm having an easier time understanding she isn't a person. There isn't an ounce of emotion in her eyes, and when she steps over dead people's heads, she doesn't show remorse."We are standing right outside the city of fairies, and this is the future with the highest rate of becoming a reality. I can't tell what will happen for sure—no one knows what is written in the stars, but I fear my people are doomed. A
Maya My determination is still bubbling within me when the tree of life's roots breaks the earth. Green vines and flowers cover the plant, which opens to reveal a sleeping, human-sized Finn. I rush forward and fall to my knees. My heart is pounding in my throat as I eye the bruises covering Finn's russet skin. Thorns have pierced him, and some are left like bullets in a gunshot wounded body. "Oh-my-god," I brush his white, silky hair away from his eyes and study his dark eyelashes spread over his cheeks. He is still breathing, which takes some of my anxiety away. I hug his chest, whispering into his ear. "Thank the gods that you're okay... I don't know what I would do if you were dead..." Finn stirs, and his lips part to allow him to speak weakly. "The training almost killed me—the elders weren't happy with me and made me go through one hell of a trial to gain their abilities. Fuck—I'm sore all over my body." I smile. "Better wounded tha
MayaMy fingers are intertwined with Finn's larger, rougher ones as we head back to the city of fairies. He glances at me now and then with a sweet smile, and I'm miserable because I'm scared to be happy.Finn's skin is electric, and his touch reaches into my heart, making it flip-flop like a pancake. And the minute he squeezes my hand, it's as if something unleashes within me. The explosions of emotions are unlike anything I've felt in my entire life.Affection bounces around in my chest, and I take a deep breath as we entire the fairy city. The towering buildings are casting their shadows over us, and I have to force my steps. I don't want to find Blake and plan for the upcoming war—my heart yearns to spend every living, breathing minute with Finn, but duty calls."I guess this is it." I peer up at Finn, admiring his dimples forming on the left side of his face. "We should find Blake."Finn nods but doesn't step out of my bubble. He bends f
MayaI fall like a comet and tumble down onto the wet grass. The impact with the ground sends sharp pain shooting through me, and I whimper as I roll around, unable to stop. My head is spinning, and I'm prompted to believe I broke a few ribs, judging from the burning sensation when I breathe.'MAYA!' Finn screams my name. 'Are you alright?!'Pain is ringing in my body, and before I get the chance to answer my lover, Arvin dashes up to me with the speed of lightning. With a laugh, he summons fire and creates a circle of burning flames around us. His eyes flash with glee."At last, you're here!" Arvin claps his hands as he approaches me with anything but friendly intentions. He plants his boot on my muzzle and presses down. "My fellow witches said you would be a challenge, that you stood in the way of my plans to take over the fairy realm, but here you are, fallen already."I growl but get silenced by a surge of lightning crashing from the sky. It hu
Maya I'm a wreck of emotions, driven by anger, when I take the shape of my midnight wolf and lounge for Arvin's throat. The man is laughing and easily evades my rage-motivated attempts to kill him. I land in the grass and growl at the man, who seems more than amused by my temper. "Oh, Maya, you have to think before jumping at your enemy. Your attacks are way too predictable. You're not thinking straight; perhaps you should lie down and take a break!" Arvin kicks me in the stomach and sends me flying. I cough up blood and lift my head, eyeing the hybrid while he burns Finn's unmoving body. He seems to be absorbing Finn's powers while the witches are chanting, including Alice. "Soon, I will be the most powerful werewolf that has ever lived, and once your lover's powers are mine, I will make both this world and earth entirely mine. My mother will be given your wolf spirit, and together we shall reign over every other living creature!" I s
Maya I run as fast as my paws can carry me, away from the burning field and into the forest. A storm is brewing, and the shadow creepers are not far behind. I can imagine their crazed eyes locked on my form. I'm their prey, the one they want dead, but I'm a wolf on a mission. My limbs feel like jelly, and my muscles ache from the effort of running over sticks and stones. I'm not sure if I can save anyone with my plan, but the reminder of how safe it was to rest my head in the crook of Finn's neck and breathe him in keeps me fighting. Alice and my sister are important to me too, but a spot in my heart is reserved for Finn. He came in like a hurricane and rocked my world—I fell in love, hard, without even noticing. The grief in my chest spreads and wraps around me, and I pant into the air, watching my breath evaporate as I stare at the tree of life before me. The branches still hold colorful leaves, but they are rapidly turning grey as if the tree of li
Finn When I watch the human girl, the first instinct to strike me is hunger and a watering mouth. I reach out my hand, ready for breakfast. Fairies eat her kind for dinner, but her teary eyes and joy-filled smile speak volumes, and although I have no clue who she is, my heart flutters. "What are you doing?" The girl asks innocently and tilts her head to let her white hair fall to one side. There is a hickey on her neck, and she flushes when she notices where my eyes have landed. "Uh? Hello, earth to Finn?" I take a deep breath, wincing at the sprites whispering around me. They seem invisible to the smiling girl, but a shock wave travels through me once one touches my shoulder, and then I'm a goner. Images of the girl standing before me flash inside my head. She is either smiling or calling my name in a grumpy tone, and then I hear my voice chuckling before saying, "little wolf." And then I hear the girl yell into my mind. "TEN YEARS?! THAT'S W
Maya Epilogue A few years later. "What is it?" I tilt my head and smile down at my daughter. It's Christmas, and Finn is busy cooking our grand feast with Kyra and my mother. Elijah is drinking wine with Alice and my father. The pack is happy, and while I'm not friends with Bianca anymore, it finally feels as if I'm home. Everything is as it should be. "You need to open it." I stand up from the couch and sit down on the floor next to Elvira. "Here, let me help you!" Elvira beams and laughs as I help her open the enormous package. She has Finn's pointed ears, but she can already shape-shift into a wolf—one with gorgeous wings. It seems she has inherited a lot from us both. "A unicorn!" Her eyes are radiating joy. "I got my own unicorn!" I laugh. "Yes, you do!" "I'm so amazed!" I sit back and smile at Elvira, who is on top of the world and holding up her XXL stuffed toy for the world to see
Maya I throw myself at Lily, snapping and biting while the people looking at our duel are shouting and whistling. Kyra is rooting for me, but I can't face my friends—I'm too invested in the fight. Finn must be worried, but seeing his expression might throw me off my game, so I continue my battle without distractions. I can't lose. Lily fights with anger, and darkness follows her with every attempted bite at my neck. Her shadow is growing, and half the sky turns black. Our fight suddenly turns into a battle of day and night. Darkness threatens to conquer the sky, but I force out light since I have to win. My blood is boiling and my frustration from all the years Lily spent harassing me offers me motivation. I bite at her shoulder, headbutt her stomach, and slash her face. Lily whimpers and falls to the ground, where I bend down to maul her. Blood splashes everywhere, and I know I've officially won the battle. Lily is still breat
Maya Lily is already waiting for us when we step out of the car. The entire block is emptied of ordinary people, and the skies above us are dark and eerie as if set for a battle. Werewolves from the Winterbite pack surround us; countless of them bare their teeth and growl viciously. They all seem ready to slaughter us if their alpha, Lily, decides to snap her fingers. Elijah glances around, baring his teeth to hiss at the wolves. Veins appear on his face, and Kyra widens her eyes at the sight of her vampire mate. I'm guessing she has never seen Elijah's true colors; regardless, newfound respect shines in her eyes. It seems even she understands that the vampire isn't to be underestimated. "I don't like this," Finn says as he takes in our surroundings. His wings spread out from his back, although the only reason for him to fight is if I lose against Lily. "Me neither," Kyra agrees. "Why are they all staring at us?" Lily chuckles.
Maya The sky is cloudy, and rain is patting against the window as my new pack members, and I drive through a sleepy village. I'm tired of the view, and my head won't stop spinning and thinking about the upcoming fight taking place tomorrow. I'm about to challenge my sister, Lily. I shudder at the thought, knowing it won't be easy to win against her since she isn't a weakling. My sister controls the darkness while the light listens to my command—we are opposites of each other, yet I intend to win. Or more like I have to win. Lily is keeping everyone a prisoner. She has turned the Winterbite pack into something not to be proud of—the female alpha doesn't allow anyone to have a different opinion, and if you stand up against her, she will throw you to the sharks. She isn't a good alpha. 'You will be a better one,' Lumi says in a calm tone. 'Hard times breed strong women, and you've gone through hell and survived—the storm h
Maya I splash cold water up at my face, meeting my angry, determined eyes in the mirror. It's soon time to face my fate. Lily has plagued me with her nasty words from the first day in high school. She looked down upon me and laughed at me for not having an inner wolf. Even though we are sisters, she spat in my face and bullied me until I saw no other option than escape from my hometown. I left my old town behind. I abandoned my pack. I cut off the ties I had with my family, and now, I'm taking it all back. I'm angry, pissed off because Lily thinks she can do whatever the fuck she wants without consequences. But she is wrong. She killed Elijah's mate. She hurt our father, kidnapped Bianca, and I will make her pay. 'We will make her pay,' Lumi corrects me. 'Remember that I want in on this too. We will take our rightful place as the alpha of the Winterbite clan, and then NO ONE will laugh at us again.' 'I will become the a
Kyra I wake up to Elijah pulling the curtain to the side. The sunlight streams inside of the room like an unwelcome guest, and the vampire laughs when I hiss. I drag the bedsheet over my head, and the vampire sits down at the edge of the bed. "Please pull back the curtain..." I beg. Elijah chuckles in amusement. "If I didn't know better, I would say you're acting more than a vampire than I do." I speak from under the bedsheet. "Don't your kind like the sun?" "Usually not," he exhales, seeming to drag his hands over his thighs."I love the sun, but the light burns my skin unless I wear a daylight ring. I'm an original vampire, one of the first. I won't die, but the sun still hurts." Slowly, I uncover my face, meeting his red eyes. My mate smiles at me, and it hits me that Elijah must be bored. He watched me sleep for the entire duration of the night and probably can't wait to leave the bed behind. Embarrassingly enough, I vaguely
Maya I'm stirring my milkshake while walking in the park together with Finn after sunset. The future concerns me, and I sigh. "No offense, but how am I supposed to beat Lily? Last time I checked, I don't possess any offensive abilities." Finn glances down at me, smiling. "Because only the light can defeat the darkness. It doesn't matter what you throw at the shadow creepers—sticks and stones, fire, water, earth, or even lightning can't beat them." 'Finn is right,' Lumi says. 'You're the only person who can put an end to your sister's dictatorship. She wasn't made for the role of alpha. No matter what, we have to defeat her.' I grimace. "I don't even remember how to shape-shift." Finn laughs, tapping my shoulder. "That's why we are here in the park at night. You can transform here, and..." he shrugs. "Pretend to be my oversized dog if someone sees you." My lips twitch. "You haven't seen my wolf's form when you're a human—are you
Kyra Elijah is bouncing me up and down on his cock. It's fantastic, his cock is so thick, but his piercing gaze is hard to swallow. I've been avoiding his eyes for the entire duration, embarrassed by the sounds leaving my lips. What if he is embarrassed by me? "Kyra...?" I suppress the urge to moan when he lifts his ass from the ground, thrusting deeply into me. Oh-my-fucking-god. Elijah is a beast. I see stars and grow weak in my limbs. "Kyra, look at me." I don't listen. "Kyra..." Elijah slows his speed, and the building pleasure stops growing, forcing me to bounce faster. But Elijah stills my legs, holding me in place as he speaks. "If you want my cock, then you need to look at me." The authoritative tone in his voice got me peering down at him. Elijah smiles in satisfaction. He looks downright delicious, with his captivating abs and mischievous eyes. I squeeze my legs, knowing I'm about a hundred times wetter. How t
Kyra I might die from a heart attack any second now. I'm standing in the shower booth and finding it harder to stand straight as Elijah enters through the door. When my mate offered to get me cleaned up and took me to a human hotel, I didn't expect him to have hidden motives—I was wrong. As warm water pours over my head, I stand there, jaw slacking to the floor as I take in the adonis closing the door behind him. Elijah looks like he just stepped out of every woman's wet dream. He is entirely naked, making it impossible not to drool over his bulging biceps, muscular chest, and flat, washboard abs. I count the ridges and lose all breath of air. Perhaps I am more into men than I initially thought? Piercing red eyes that are even more intense now that we are both naked meet mine. Elijah smiles at me, a crooked half-smile that makes my heart seize in my chest and my belly tighten in suspense. He looks keen to eat me alive, and I'm horrifie