As they stepped through the door, Darius swiftly enveloped John in his arms, eliciting an embarrassed squeak from him. John instinctively wrapped his arms around Darius, feeling the warmth and safety of his embrace. The alpha carried him towards the sitting room, settling on the couch with John nestled against him. Darius buried his face into John's neck, inhaling deeply again and again, his breaths coming shallow. John gently cupped Darius's face, turning it to meet his gaze, concern etched into his features. "What's wrong? Talk to me," John whispered, sensing the turmoil brewing within his mate. "Everything and nothing," Darius replied with a heavy sigh, his voice laden with frustration and self-doubt. "It was too close a call with Carla and Sera today, and then I left my pack on edge because I wasn't thinking clearly. How am I supposed to be protecting you when I'm failing miserably at my basic Alpha duties?" "No," John interjected softly, shaking his head. "Don't think like that
Mason's voice cut through the heavy silence of Kali’s place like a knife as he recounted his unsettling past with Zion, the old warlock who had once played a crucial role in Mason's expulsion from the coven. The air was heavy with tension as Mason spoke about the sacrifice of one of his mates, an act that had propelled him into the realm of dark magic, a realm where death was the price to pay. Mason's voice, calm and detached, painted a horrifying picture of his transformation. He spoke of the sacrifice as casually as if he were discussing the mundane details of everyday life, his words weaving a chilling narrative. Arlo and Mia absorbed the weight of his words, their minds reeling with the realisation of the depths of Mason's depravity. Arlo, struggling to make sense of the situation, initiated a telepathic link with Lex, the Alpha, expressing his doubts and concerns. "Alpha, are you sure about all this?" he questioned, seeking guidance. Lex, however, remained silent, his contem
Annie sat on the edge of the bed, her posture tense, hands clenched tightly between her knees, her head bowed as if carrying the weight of the world. Her hair cascaded forward, a curtain veiling her troubled expression from the late afternoon sun filtering through the window.Sensing his mate's distress, Michael entered the room, his lion on edge at the sight of Annie's vulnerability. With each step closer, he felt the heaviness in the air, a palpable tension that threatened to suffocate them both. Kneeling in front of her, he placed his hands gently on her legs, "What's wrong, sweetheart?" Michael asked softly, his voice a soothing balm in the midst of Annie's turmoil. He met her gaze, his heart clenching at the fear he saw dancing in her eyes, a reflection of the storm raging within her.Annie hesitated, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to articulate the overwhelming emotions weighing her down. "I... I..." she began but then, she shook her head, dismissing her own vulnera
The loud knock at the door jolts Darius awake, causing him to grunt and shift in his sleep-induced haze. Disoriented, he surveys his surroundings before his gaze settles on his mate, peacefully asleep in his arms. A soft smile graces his lips as he admires the relaxed features of his beloved while he slumbers. Memories of their earlier passionate encounter flicker in his mind, the intensity of their connection still lingering. They had fallen asleep spent on the couch.Now fully awake, Darius feels a presence pushing into his mind. He reluctantly lowers his mental barriers, and Prius's voice filters through."Alpha, it's me at the door. I'm sorry to bother you, but we have to talk," Prius's urgency is like a cold wake-up call, and Darius suddenly becomes alert. "Give me five minutes. Wait for me in the office," he replies through the link. He disentangles himself slowly from his mate's arms. John whimpers in his sleep at the loss, but Darius plants a soft kiss on his forehead. "Sleep
Kali sat in her softly lit room, her hand absentmindedly playing with the pages of her grimoire laid open on the table in front of her. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of retaliation against the arrogant, domineering figure known as Mason. She paced back and forth, plotting her next move, when suddenly, Mason appeared in the room, a satisfied grin on his face, his presence suffocating the air with tension, the smell of damp still lingering in his clothes. His black eyes were as dark as ever, yet there was something different to him. It was so subtle that Kali doubted the warlock had even realised it.Startled, Kali whipped around to face him, her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of fear and fury coursing through her veins. "What do you want, Mason?" she spat, her voice laced with defiance.Mason smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "Call the Alpha dog," he ordered with a condescending tone."I am not your bitch, Mason. Call him yourself," Kali retorted, her jaw clenching.Bef
John stepped outside onto the patio at the back of the pack house with Darius, the scene before him bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The firepit crackled and flickered, casting a comforting warmth that cut through the chill of the evening air. The pack members bustled around, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they mingled and enjoyed each other's company. A sense of contentment washed over John as he took in the sight before him. These people, this pack, were more than just shifters of his mate’s pack—they felt like family. He lightly squeezed his mate's hand, his heart swelling with affection as he looked upon his handsome face, framed by long, styled hair and a neatly trimmed beard. A dark thought slithered into John's mind, the lynx within him hissing with discontent. How had someone as good-looking as his mate ended up with someone as average as him?What were the fates thinking? The thought gnawed at him, but before he could spiral into darker thoughts, his
Stunned by the unexpected encounter, John's mind reeled with a whirlwind of questions. Who was this man? And why did he look so much like Zion? But as he searched for answers in the depths of the stranger's gaze, John knew one thing for certain: his escape had been thwarted, and he was now at the mercy of this mysterious newcomer."Let me go!" John growled lowly, his tone desperate as he shifted back into his human form. He wasn't about to resort to violence, but he needed to break free from the stranger's tight hold.Struggling against the man's grip, John's mind raced with questions. What did this stranger want from him? And why didn’t he exactly feel like a stranger? The confusion only intensified as he felt his lynx's own bewilderment echoing in his mind.Sensing John's agitation, the man relaxed his hold slightly, but he didn't release him completely. "What's going on? Calm down," the man urged, his voice filled with concern, but John couldn't afford to stay there any longer. Wi
It was as if a tornado had torn through Lex's office, leaving destruction in its wake. Arlo, who had borne the brunt of Mason's fury, was on the floor against the wall. The warlock had unleashed his powers in a fit of rage upon hearing the news of John's escape. The once orderly room was now a scene of chaos, with cracked walls, plaster dust coating every surface, and a suffocating aura of darkness lingering in the air. "Tell me what happened again," Mason's voice commanded, dark and menacing. Arlo swallowed hard from his place on the floor, his face cut and bruised, his clothes torn and revealing healing wounds on his body. "By the time we got there, he was going through a portal," Arlo explained, readjusting his broken nose. "I tried to grab him, but I only managed to slash his back." "Bloody Zion," Mason growled, his voice impressively low, as if he were a primal shifter. "But I will take care of it once I snatch his precious little thing before his eyes." He squeezed his fists ti