John looked around, his nerves on edge as he braced himself for what was to come. Zion cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Before we delve into your powers, I need to ask: How do you feel?"John furrowed his brow, puzzled by the question. "What do you mean, how do I feel? I'm fine, can't you see?" he replied defensively.Zion's voice took on a hint of exasperation. "I mean about your heat," he clarified. John's expression softened as understanding dawned. "Oh, that's over now. We're mated," he stated confidently.Carla's laughter filled the room, her hysterical outburst reverberating off the walls as she slapped the armchair. John looked around, confusion etched on his face until his gaze settled on his mate, who raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry."John, your heat doesn't just disappear," Sera explained matter-of-factly, breaking through Carla's laughter. "Well, it does eventually, either if you get pregnant or after 3 to 4 days, depending on how well you are taken care
As Lex stepped into the dimly lit basement, the musty scent of old books and dried herbs filled his nostrils. He scanned the room, his gaze searching for the witch. There she sat in a worn armchair, a grimoire resting on her legs. Her piercing gaze met his as he approached, and a sly smirk played on her lips."Ah, Lex," she purred, her voice smooth as silk but laced with an underlying edge. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"Lex's jaw tightened, his frustration evident in the furrow of his brow. "Cut the crap - you know why I'm here, Kali," he growled, his voice commanding. "That lynx shifter slipped through our grasp over 24 hours ago now. I need to know if we have a plan to ensure he doesn't evade us any longer."Kali leaned back in her chair, her demeanour nonchalant as she waved her hand around the basic room. "And what do you think I have been doing, Alpha? Enjoying my time here?" she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I need more time!"A dangerous glint flic
The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room as Michael stirred from his slumber. The soft purring sound emanating from beside him tugged at his consciousness, drawing him slowly into wakefulness. As he shifted, he became acutely aware of the warmth of his mate's body pressed against his own, their limbs tangled in a tender embrace under the creased sheets Michael tightened his arms around Annie's waist with a contented sigh, relishing in the sensation of her soft skin against his. The purring intensified, a low rumble vibrated through the lion’s shifter chest as Annie nestled closer, her head finding its place on his shoulder. He could feel the steady rhythm of her breathing against his skin, creating goosebumps down his body. Annie's eyes fluttered open, drowsy and heavy with sleep, and she gazed up at Michael with a soft smile. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on his chest, a silent declaration of her affection as she basked in the intimacy of the
John stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the world outside, but his mind was elsewhere. Darius had left the room momentarily to fetch them something to eat, leaving John alone with his thoughts. His eyes were unfocused, his mind reeling with a whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties.He wasn't ready to face Darius's questions, the probing inquiries that he knew were inevitable. It hadn't escaped John's notice that Zion had intervened, deflecting the Alpha's inquiries for the time being. But John couldn't avoid the inevitable conversation forever.Fear gripped him, a cold knot tightening in his chest at the mere thought of losing his Alpha. The idea of disappointing him, of letting him down, filled John with a sense of dread.How would Darius react to the revelation that John wasn't ready, perhaps would never be prepared, to embrace the idea of pregnancy? It wasn't the concept of a baby itself that troubled him; rather, it was the prospect of undergoing a pregnancy, a process that f
It had been a couple of days since John had seen everyone. As soon as he accepted his emotions, his heat surged, allowing only brief moments of respite for the two of them to catch some rest in between waves. Darius managed to sneak in moments for water and food, ensuring they both stayed nourished. John couldn't shake the blissful feeling that lingered in the aftermath. He swore he could still feel the comfortable weight of his mate on him—the warmth of Darius's body enveloping him.Lost in his thoughts, John was brought back to the present by a snickering sound. He looked up to find Carla with a knowing smirk on her face, her eyes dancing with amusement."What's so amusing?" John asked, his voice still carrying a post-heat daze."Oh, nothing," Carla replied, her smirk widening. "Just enjoying the sight of a love-struck omega. You are practically glowing."John glanced around the room, noticing the rest of the members nodding in agreement with Carla's playful remark. Their amused exp
Darius sat at his desk, elbows resting heavily on its surface, his hands buried in his hair in a gesture of despair. He was consumed by fear for what was to come — the thought of losing his mate weighed heavily on his mind. How could he protect someone who wasn't fully versed in his shifter life, let alone his warlock side? Where did he even begin? Sitting on the other side of the desk, Prius leaned back with his right leg crossed over his knee. He observed his Alpha succumbing to his emotions and offered words of reassurance. "Give John some credit," he said gently. "He escaped a chasing wolf pack, saved Annie, and shifted alone for the first time. He's proven himself to be resilient and capable." Darius shook his head, feeling overwhelmed by his own emotions. "He's an emotional wreck," he whispered, recalling the moments when he held John's trembling body as he sobbed. "And that means what?" Prius countered, his voice firm but compassionate. "I'm sure none of us would have coped w
"Why are we here, Kali?" Lex snarled, his gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar clearing in the woods, a place he had never ventured before."I told you, Lex," Kali replied calmly, her tone steady despite the tension thick in the air. "Mason demanded neutral ground for our meeting. If we want his help with your... situation, we have to play by his rules."Arlo glanced around nervously, his eyes darting between the dense forest surrounding them. "How will we know when he's here?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension."You don't need to know anything, Beta," a deep voice interrupted from behind them, causing them all to stiffen in surprise.Lex turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he saw the bulky man standing before them. "Look at you, Kali," the newcomer sneered, his voice heavy with disdain. "Mingling with shifters? How low did you stoop."Kali's expression remained impassive, though a flicker of anger flashed in her eyes. "Hello, Mason," she greeted, her voice measured but wi
John wandered around the pack, exploring the new territory that felt strangely like home. He couldn't help but reflect on the whirlwind of events that had unfolded since he accepted Carla's invitation to join her and Luke at the pack celebration.It had been almost a week, yet it felt like a lifetime. First, there was the attempted kidnapping, a harrowing experience that left him shaken and wary of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Then, meeting his grandfather, Zion, for the first time had been an eye-opening experience, a powerful warlock who had taken John under his wing, helped him discovering and harness his own latent powers as a hybridBut perhaps the most significant event of all was his first heat. The primal instincts and desires that surged within him during this time were intense and overwhelming, pushing him to the brink of his sanity. The time spent with Darius, his heated encounters and the boundaries pushed at his lynx's insistence, revealed depths of passion and e
Two months after it had served as a battleground, the square-like clearing now buzzed with life and activity. The pack was in high spirits as they prepared for the full moon celebration. Where there had once been quiet and sombre cleanup efforts following the battle, there was now joy and excitement. Members of the pack, young and old, were busy making final preparations for the evening. Large tables were set up under a gazebo on one side of the clearing, creating a communal space for dining. Nearby, some of the warriors were constructing a pile of logs and kindling, destined to become a roaring bonfire after sunset. The air was filled with laughter and chatter, and children’s playful screams echoed through the clearing as they ran around, immersed in games and chasing one another. The village, transformed by a spirit of camaraderie and celebration, was a stark contrast to its recent past. John walked alongside his grandmother, a sense of peace settling over him as he took in the liv
John hovered on the brink of consciousness, the persistent beep piercing through the fog of his mind, drawing him back from the depths of unconsciousness. Battling against heavy eyelids, he struggled to open them, confusion swirling within. With a determined effort, his eyelids fluttered apart, greeted by the glaring brightness of the room. The intense light assaulted his senses, compelling him to squint as he tried to orient himself. The walls gleamed with clinical whiteness, the scent of antiseptic triggering a sense of déjà vu. How did he end up here again? As his vision adjusted, he recognized the familiar sights of the infirmary—the neatly arranged medications on the nearby table, the incessant beeping was coming from the medical equipment attached to his chest. The more he took in his surroundings, the more reality flooded back, hitting him like a tidal wave: the attack, Mason, Darius! Darius was stabbed! Panicking, John attempted to move, urgency to find Darius consuming him
"Ah, my little pet," Mason said, pulling a handcuffed Desmond forward. "Looks like he's been used as entertainment for that werewolf pack," he laughed without emotion. "Too bad he's now my little pet, and I have no intention of returning him." "Darius," the man, Desmond, whispered with a broken voice. He sounded broken. "My family?" he asked, and Darius replied, "Prius and Carla are here, fighting against the scum that is threatening their Luna's life." John's gaze flickered between Darius and the captive, his confusion palpable. He was about to voice his inquiry when Mason's voice cut through, demanding attention once more. "Enough with the sob stuff," Mason sneered, redirecting John's focus back to him. "So, the little lamb thinks he can challenge the big bad 'wolf'," Mason taunted, a smirk playing on his lips. John's eyes narrowed, a glint of defiance shining within them. "I've faced bigger threats than you," he declared, though uncertainty lingered beneath his bravado. Mason
John felt a growing unease gnawing at him as he muttered to himself, "What's happening?" while scanning the area with a furrowed brow. Turning to Darius, he sought an update. Seeking information, Darius reached out to Fez. "What's the status?" he asked. Fez's response was swift. "The rogues are holding their position, as if they're waiting for orders. They seem to be alone." As the pack's Luna, John tuned into their mindlink conversation, raising an eyebrow. "How many are we talking about, Fez?" he piped in. "About seven on our side, Luna," Fez reported. "Only seven?" John's concern deepened. "And overall?" "Approximately sixty, as we have estimated," Fez confirmed. Though Fez couldn't see him, John nodded,sharing his feeling of unease and asking the tracker to keep his guard up. John couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something felt amiss. Prius had briefed him on the ruthless nature of the rogues, their disregard for life being well-known. However, this situation didn't
Desmond sat in his usual position, seated on the floor, his back against the cold stonewall of the cell. His arms were folded over his knees, and he rested his head on one of them, the dim light casting faint shadows across the room. It was a small comfort to him as the darkness was no longer as suffocating as it once was, courtesy of what he could only assume was the intervention of his mate. Though he still lacked the “luxuries” of the other cells, such as a bed or amenities, Desmond was no longer shackled like an animal. Instead, he had been granted small reprieves—a daily meal, the absence of chains—that served as a stark reminder of his newfound, albeit uncertain, freedom. Despite the lingering grime and tattered clothing, he felt a glimmer of strength returning to him, his body slowly healing from the wounds inflicted during his captivity. The scars would remain, a testament to his endurance and resilience in the face of adversity, but they no longer bore the weight of despair
Mason paced back and forth, his keen gaze sweeping over the crowd of shifters gathered before him. Low growls filled the air, a testament to the simmering anger and tension that emanated from the group of rogues standing before him. Their red eyes glinted with defiance, their dirty clothes and unkempt appearances serving as a stark contrast to the more polished warriors of the Feral Glen pack. Turning his attention to Arlo, Mason's expression was unreadable as he addressed him. "You are not as useless as I thought," he remarked with a hint of begrudging respect. "How many do we have now?" Arlo gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin in the presence of the egocentric warlock. "59," he replied tersely, his voice tinged with irritation. "We are still short, but it's all we could do." Mason's lips curled into a smug smile as he dismissed Arlo's concerns with a wave of his hand. "They are more than enough," he declared confidently. "Ruthless and with no care for their pathetic lives
The day of the full moon had arrived, bringing with it a palpable tension that hung heavy in the air. If the predictions held true, Mason and his werewolves would launch their attack today. The uncertainty surrounding the exact timing of the assault only heightened the unease. Moonrise occurred at 21:14, with the peak of the full moon set for 12:48 AM. Would the enemy strike before, during, or after the peak? Without a spy among the enemy pack to help them with such information, there was no way to know for sure. This detail only added to the tension, casting a shadow over their anticipation of what was to come.Darius and John sat in the pack dining hall alongside their comrades. Despite attempts to maintain a façade of normalcy, the tension was evident in the subdued atmosphere. On a typical day when lunch was being served, the room would be bustling with laughter and the playful chaos of children. Darius glanced to his right, where his mate sat. He took in John's profile, his fair
As Darius and John arrived at the packhouse, they found Prius and Luke awaiting them on the front porch. John couldn't miss the subtle sniff Prius gave the air, nor the knowing smirk that crossed his lips. "Glad to see you made it back," Prius said with a wink, his words causing a blush to creep up John's cheeks. Ignoring the Beta's teasing, Darius draped an arm around John's shoulder and turned to Prius, asking, "Where are the rest of the elite?"Prius responded promptly, "We've been awaiting your return, Alpha. Your timelines weren't exactly clear."Darius nodded, his gaze steady as he addressed Prius. "We're here now. Mind-link everyone for a pack meeting; we have a lot to discuss.""Of course, boss," Prius said quietly behind his Alpha's back. John couldn't help but notice the Beta's mocking salute and muttered remark, which caused him to start giggling.Darius turned to John, raising an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. John simply nodded enthusiastically to avoid furthe
Mason barged into Lex's office without bothering to knock, walking in as if he owned the place. Lex, accustomed to the warlock's brash demeanour, rose from his chair slowly, his movements deliberate and measured.He met Mason's gaze, refusing to be intimidated by the dark aura that surrounded the warlock.Mason's lips curled into a sneer as he addressed Lex, his tone dripping with disdain. "Time to get those losers that you call a pack together and get working," he spat.Lex's jaw clenched at the offensive remark, but he remained composed, his expression unreadable. With a nod, he gestured for Mason to follow him, his silence a subtle acknowledgment of the task at hand.As they walked, a palpable tension hung in the air between them, the nervous energy crackling like electricity between the two. Lex's movements were purposeful, each step a silent declaration of his determination to see their mission through to the end.Mason’s eyes, dark and piercing, bore into Lex's back, a silent re