Preston’s POV Our kisses grow fervent with every passing second. Pulling out of the kiss, I carry her—bridal style—to my room and place her gently on the bed. Her blue eyes are settled on my face. On my lips, and I can see just how much she wants this. Tilting her head up, I kiss her again. Pressing her against my side, and my arm heavily draped over her stomach. I drag the tip of my nose against the length of her neck, breathing in her sweet, intoxicating scent. It makes my wolf come alive—a new form of energy buzzing through my body, threatening to make me burst. She whimpers, and my wolf responds with a growl, placing a kiss on the juncture of her neck and shoulder. “My little wolf.” She likes the name. I can tell because she clenches her legs, placing her hand on my chest to push me away, only to end up pulling me even closer. Goddess, she smells amazing. I place more kisses on her neck. She squirms under me. I have discovered a profound need for her. Ever since we brought
Loraine’s POV “Please,” I beg, arching my back so our sweaty bodies meet. My body is burning with an intense need for him. Slightly, he pushes forward, and then the strokes become steady, then fast until I can barely breathe. My control is about to snap—if it hasn’t already—with the way he’s grinding me fiercely. Pleasure ricochets up my spine. Preston’s whispering sweet nonsense to me only causes the pleasure to swell more inside me. His lips trace my chest and go up to my chest. I know he wants to claim me, mark me. but then he’s thinking of his brothers. It won’t be fair to them. And to me, to take that choice away from me, although in this moment, all I want is to feel his fangs breaking through my skin. “You taste so good, little wolf.” Preston whispers against my neck. “I want you’.” His thrust became slow and passionate. He pulls back, staring into my eyes, and I’m completely lost in this pool of grey eyes. Slowly, gently, he picks up the pace again, his eyes never leavi
Kris’ POV No matter how much I try, I can’t focus on work. There is a lot to be done, especially with what is happening in our packs. Keeping an eye on Maddox. Helping my brothers find out who did this. Dealing with the committee that was set up to investigate things and mainly dealing with every other thing that arises in my brothers’ pack. Despite all of this work, my mind keeps coming back to her. My mate. I know what she did. I had felt it, thanks to the bond I share with my brothers. All of my brothers had felt it, and saying they're upset is only downplaying it. Hunter is head over his heels with fury. Killian has always tried to keep his emotions in check, but with the way he marched off to Loraine’s room minutes ago, I doubt she will be okay. As for me, I don’t know what to think. The mate bond knows how to fuck with us, especially since we have been around each other for this long. Something was bound to happen, but then we had not thought it would happen like this.
Loraine’s POV The first thing I see after coming out of my room sends adrenaline and nerves running up my spine. What I hear from Preston has me doubling back with hurt; it reminds me once again of the incident with Alpha Gordon and how he had quickly and mercilessly rejected me. Although Preston is not outright rejecting me, his complete and utter disregard for my feelings and our privacy feels like a rejection. My heart clenches tight in my chest as Kris’ eyes meet mine briefly. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I can see that he’s hurt. I have no idea what kind of bond the brothers share or the extent of the bind, but from the look on his face, I gather that he has an idea what transpired between Preston and me yesterday, and Preston’s flaunting everything in his face like that is only making things worse. Kris may not have gotten his Alpha title just yet, but that does not make him any less of an Alpha or any less ready to back down for his brother. I can’t do anything
Today is a good day for me. Not only did I just get my wolf, but I also got to bind with my mate and live forever with him. For me, this is one of the best days of my life because I have been looking forward to this day forever. “C’mon, Loraine. Get your ass moving or we are going to be late.” My best friend, Jennifer, calls out to me, and I flip her away. I can’t seem to step away from the mirror. I want to appear perfect for him. I can already imagine the look on his face when he sees me standing in front of him in the tight-fitting, curving, accentuating ball gown I have chosen. Anxiety is causing me to break out in sweats, and I know I have to calm myself down or I’ll ruin the little makeup I’ve managed to put on. My best friend appears beside me suddenly and pulls me away. “That’s enough!” she says sternly. She has taken up the role of being a mom to me ever since my parents passed away in an auto crash two years ago, and the role fits her well. After all, she’s a bit older
“I, Alpha Gordon Graylock, reject you, Loraine Kellen, as my mate, and Luna of the Withall pack.”WHAT?!I can’t hide the surprise that makes its way to my face or the pain and hurt that follow. His eyes are cold and detached as they stare me down after that proclamation, and I am left wondering if this is the same man whom I have always known as kind and good. I open my mouth to choke out words, but the priestess beats me to it. “Loraine Kellen, you have been rejected by your mate.” as if I did not just hear it loud and clear and in front of the entire pack. “You can either accept or decline his rejection, but bear in mind that declining his rejection might be risky for both you and your wolf.”Tears pour down my face, and I immediately wipe them away. My wolf has folded herself away into a corner. I’m sure that she is even more hurt and shocked than I am. We had both been anxious for this day. The mate bond starts to break slowly. I can feel it. It’s like being ripped apart slowl
“I, Alpha Gordon Graylock, reject you, Loraine Kellen, as my mate, and Luna of the Withall pack.”WHAT?!I can’t hide the surprise that makes its way to my face or the pain and hurt that follow. His eyes are cold and detached as they stare me down after that proclamation, and I am left wondering if this is the same man whom I have always known as kind and good. I open my mouth to choke out words, but the priestess beats me to it. “Loraine Kellen, you have been rejected by your mate.” as if I did not just hear it loud and clear and in front of the entire pack. “You can either accept or decline his rejection, but bear in mind that declining his rejection might be risky for both you and your wolf.”Tears pour down my face, and I immediately wipe them away. My wolf has folded herself away into a corner. I’m sure that she is even more hurt and shocked than I am. We had both been anxious for this day. The mate bond starts to break slowly. I can feel it. It’s like being ripped apart slowl
“What does it look like I'm doing, Jennifer?” I retort. “I never expected something like this from you, of all people. But since it happened, it's only been proven that I have nothing here, so I’m leaving.”She shakes her head, and I feel the sudden urge to slap her. Her motherly act is beginning to get on my nerve. QUIT ACTING LIKE MY MOTHER, GODDAMMIT!“Loraine, seriously. You have to think about what you are doing now. You know, leaving the pack like this nullifies your membership in this pack. You risk losing everything you have worked so hard for.”I tilt my head and ask, “Have I not already lost everything? I told you I suspected that the Alpha was my mate because of the pull I had towards him, but you forgot to mention that you both were already seeing each other.”“I didn’t think you were actually going to be his mate, and I did not want to hurt your feelings.”“Yeah, of course. Even in the end, you were thinking about me. Which is why you spent four hours in his room consolin