Loraine’s POV “What do you mean we take the fight to them? We don’t know them.” Preston’s face breaks into a triumphant smile. “Do we not? Well, we do now. I was able to break through some of the men we captured and piece A and B together. So far, I’ve been able to find out where they are hiding out for the time being, but their motives are still speculative.” I smile, but before I can respond, another man speaks up. “Besides, it might be a trap. Why would they break now and give us their hideout? We’ve captured them in the past. They were always unbreakable and would rather die than snitch.” Slowly, Preston stands, keeping his cool smile on. I think it is quite amusing to see him like this. “Maybe we have other methods of interrogation, but I don’t think that is what matters. What matters now is that we know where they are, and for once, we have the upper hand.” “Plus, waiting too long will give them time to plan an attack, Kris says, pulling his hair into a high bun as if pr
Loraine’s POV His face is a study in smooth strength and intoxicating control. Goddess, take me. I know I’m supposed to be upset at him and his brothers, but that was out there in the hall. In here, in my room, it is too difficult to wall off my emotions. I wrap my arms around myself and meet Alpha Hunter’s eyes, my chin up. “If you have come to give me more reasons why I cannot go, or to...” Alpha Hunter takes a step forward, grasping my hips. “I have never for once seen you as weak, Loraine.” He murmurs into my ear, his soft, rumbling voice making my skin blaze so hot it’s a wonder the room doesn’t catch fire. Alpha Hunter chuckles before reining in his voice. I don’t miss the fact that he called me by name or how sweet it sounded rolling off his tongue like that. “Actually, I am here to tell you that you are somewhat right.” “I—wait, what?” “You are strong, Loraine, maybe even stronger than fifty of Killian’s best men put together.” He shrugs. “You are the best of us, Lora
Loraine’s POV I woke to the scents of clean sheets mixed with pine and citrus scents that wrapped around me as tightly as the duvet. Blinking against the harsh glare of light in the room, I found Alpha Hunter sprawled on the bed beside me, his eyes trained on my face. His heavy arm was a solid weight on my waist. “Where—how long did I sleep?” Alpha Hunter brushed down my hair. “Not long. We still have some hours till evening.” His face was tight, and the pain behind his eyes was as palpable as my own. “Tomorrow, I get to see your wolf, Loraine. I really cannot wait to meet her, but then it is getting harder and harder to restrain myself from claiming you. You are close to your heat, and being close like this is dangerous if you are not going to choose all of us.” Despite his words, he reached out and pulled me against him, burying my face in his shoulder while his arms encircled me tightly. The sound of his roaring heartbeat echoed through my flesh, spurring my own. “It is not
Loraine’s POV The chill of the evening sir prickles my skin. Perspiration is escaping from my mouth, and I hug myself. The moonlight bathed everything in a golden glow, making the snow glisten like shards of glass scattered everywhere on the ground. Kris hugs me from behind, pressing me into his chest. He buries his nose in my neck, sniffing me. “Ready?” I nod. It’s not like I haven’t always done this, but with the winter solstice, I feel some sort of pull in my chest. And then there’s my mates, watching me expectantly. A gust of wind sweeps through the clearing, carrying with it the scent of pine and the crispness of the snow-covered ground. The air feels electric as if the world itself is holding its breath, waiting for me. Alpha Hunter steps towards me, cupping my face with his hand. “You are looking nervous.” He leans in and places a kiss on my lips. It’s more like a brush of his lips on mine, but it still sends a chill down my spine. “Just do your thing. So, we can run thr
Loraine’s POV Exhaustion hits us all, and we fall asleep in Alpha Hunter's bed, my mates surrounding me. We are all still recovering from the fun night we had during the winter solstice, but that’s not all. The brothers are going to leave today, and I want to keep that from happening for as long as I can. I wake up to find Killian’s face as close to mine as it can get without actually touching. Since that first time that I arrived here and Killian lost control, this is the most intimate we have gotten again, and I have a feeling I wouldn’t feel it for a long time. Or till I make my choice between all of them. If I shut my eyes, I can feel his hand pressed against my cheeks and the soft cascades of his breath as he whispers calming words to me. but when I open my eyes, he is still asleep. I want to raise my hand and brush his face, but I’m scared of ending this moment between us. A moment he might not even be aware of. The same intensity that I had always seen in him is stil
Loraine’s POV Falling asleep after the Alpha brothers are gone is almost impossible. When I wake up six hours later, I feel as though my head is full of air and not much else. I lie there for a minute, looking up at the ceiling of my room as I get my shit together enough to get into the day. There are a lot of reasons why I don’t want to move right now, and I just lie there and think of all of them. I try not to think of the guys and the fact that this is the first time I’m being left alone by myself without any of them being here. When I find myself worrying about them too much, I head over to Alpha Hunter’s room to use his shower and get ready for my new responsibility. There’s an itch under my skin to the absence of my mates, the same ones that had been there when I’d woken up and found them all gone. They had not even said goodbye. I take twice as long as I usually do in the shower as I try to scrub the ache in my chest away. I get dressed quickly and head to the kitche
Loraine’s POV The pack meeting hall is loud and buzzing with people. Long tables are filled with food and people digging into food. Maddox leads us to a table in the corner. One that gives us a good view of the hall but still keeps us out of the main hustle. I sit beside Sasha, who is already helping herself to a plate of food, while Maddox, Jack, and Kade settle around us. “I know I can finish this whole plate before you chew down five spoons,” Kade says, eyeing the mountain of food Sasha is piling up. Sasha smiles, thrilled to take on his challenge. “You’re on, loser.” She hollers, grabbing a fork. I shake my head at Kade. I’m not sure he wants to challenge Sasha, especially when it comes to food. I laugh, watching them both as they wolf down their food. It's funny because Kade is not actually trying—as much as Sasha—but he still empties his plate before Sasha has gone halfway through hers. “Come on, Luna-in-training,” Jack says with a grin, pulling my attention from Sasha
Loraine’s POV I wake with a jolt, my head pounding like a drum in my skull. Silk sheets rasp against my skin, and harsh morning light filters in through the window, almost striking me blind. Memories of last night rush through my vision—more beer with the guys, more stupid stories, more thoughts of my Alphas. Werewolves don’t usually get drunk—our drunken episodes never last past a few minutes—but the hangovers we get are usually very bad. It's like our wolves refuse to do something about the pain just to punish us or something. Recalling that I still have work to do down at the camping sites sends me sitting upright. Shit! How late am I? A wave of nausea rushes through me, sending me back down. Shit! shit! shit! I can’t lie here all day. Scrambling out of bed, I wince as my body screams in protest. I rush to the bathroom, rushing through the shower and getting dressed. My phone buzzes weakly—I'm quite certain it’s Sasha or one of the betas. Relief washes over me when I see tha
Loraine’s POV The moment Alpha Gordon’s dark eyes locked onto mine, I felt my stomach churn. His gaze was the same as it had always been: intense, domineering, and calculating. I turned to Mabel, hoping to steer us into another store and avoid him altogether, but it was too late. He was already weaving through the crowd, his towering figure cutting through the bustling shoppers with purpose. “Loraine,” his deep voice called out as he stopped in front of me, blocking my path. I froze. The sound of his voice brought back a flood of memories—none of them good. Mabel looked between us, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Gordon,” I said stiffly, my voice void of warmth. “What the fuck do you want now?” His lips curled into a half-smile, the kind that once made me weak in the knees but now only made my blood boil. “We need to talk.” “I think we said all we needed to say weeks ago,” I snapped, stepping around him, but he grabbed my wrist gently—not enough to hurt, but enough to make me
Loraine’s POV That evening, as we wrapped up dinner, I could feel the tension simmering between the boys. It had been an exhausting day, and I was looking forward to finally getting some sleep. Just as I stood to leave the dining area, Preston called out, his voice softer than usual. “Loraine,” he began, a hint of hesitation in his tone, “would you mind staying in my room tonight? I’d like to spend some time with you.” Before I could respond, Killian’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly. “Why should she stay with you, Preston? She stayed with you last week,” Killian said, his voice edged with irritation. Hunter chimed in, his arms crossed over his chest. “I don’t see why she shouldn’t stay in my room. It’s been a while, and I think it’s only fair.” Kris, leaning casually against the doorway, gave a lazy smirk. “You’re all ridiculous. If anyone gets her company tonight, it’s me. I think I deserve it after me being shot by wolfsbane and everything.” Their bickeri
Loraine’s POV After an awkward hour, I excused myself to the restroom to compose myself and came back. When I stepped back into the game room, the atmosphere was electric with laughter and playful teasing. Everyone seemed so carefree, sprawled across couches or lounging on the floor. Mabel was sitting cross-legged next to Kris, a small smile tugging at her lips as he joked about something. I hesitated in the doorway, letting the moment wash over me. I had to fix things, not just for her but for myself. “Loraine!” Hunter’s booming voice broke through my thoughts. He pushed off the wall where he’d been leaning, his grin widening. “You’re just in time. We’re about to up the stakes.” “Oh no,” Chloe groaned, though she was smiling. “This better not be another one of your ridiculous games.” Hunter smirked. “Come on, my games are legendary.” “They’re legendary for getting people in trouble,” Sasha pointed out, narrowing her eyes. “Exactly!” Hunter shot back. “Now, shut up and
Loraine’s POV It started as a normal morning. Kris had insisted on dragging himself out of bed, despite the doctor’s warnings to rest, and was now lingering in the living room, watching everyone bustle around. The others were preparing to head out after breakfast, and I was forced to stay behind, nursing a lingering sense of unease. Mabel was there too, sitting across from me with her usual air of quiet confidence. She didn’t say much, but somehow, her presence always felt larger than life. I tried to ignore the pang in my chest every time she flashed her perfect smile or casually caught someone’s attention. It wasn’t that I disliked her—at least, not consciously. But lately, it seemed like she was everywhere, always shining brighter, always winning over everyone in ways I couldn’t seem to match. Kris caught my eye, his brows furrowing slightly as he studied my face. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “I’m fine,” I replied quickly, forcing a smile.
Loraine’s POV Hunter was on the phone, pacing the room like a caged animal as Kris groaned in frustration. The doctor Hunter had called had just finished applying a thick, pungent salve to his arm, explaining it would neutralize the wolfsbane poisoning. But the second the doctor started to wrap the wound, Kris squirmed, loosening the bandage with an irritated huff. “Kris, stop fucking moving,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “It itches,” Kris snapped, glaring at his arm. “This stuff is torture.” Hunter put his phone down with a sigh. “Doctor, is this normal? He’s acting like you dipped his ass in acid.” “It’s perfectly normal,” the doctor said with a chuckle. “The medication is designed to draw out toxins, which can make the area tender and itchy. But it’s crucial that it stays on all night if he wants to heal properly.” “All night? Are you fucking kidding?!” Kris groaned, rolling his eyes. “You mean I’m stuck like this?” “Someone needs to stay with him,” Killian interj
Loraine’s POV The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink as Sasha and Chloe gathered their things. The day had gone better than I expected—no major fights, no icy glares (from Sasha, at least), and plenty of laughter. It felt… normal. Something I hadn’t realized I missed until now. “I had a really great time,” Sasha said, giving Mabel a tentative smile. “I’m… glad we did this. I look forward to spending more time together.” Mabel’s eyes lit up with relief, and she nodded. “Me too. Thanks for giving me a chance, Sasha.” I felt warmth bloom in my chest. This was exactly what I’d hoped for. “That’s wonderful,” I said, smiling at both of them. But Chloe, standing slightly behind Sasha, caught my eye. She shot me a pointed, cautious look that sent a clear message: Don’t fuck this up. The moment passed quickly, and Chloe stepped forward. “Alright, time to go, Sasha. Let’s not overstay our welcome.” Sasha rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, turning to Mabel
Loraine’s POV Waking up in Killian’s room wasn’t something I planned to make a habit of, but here I was again because a certain somebody refused to share me with his brothers. And when I say a certain somebody, I mean the big sulky oaf called Killian, who was currently hugging me tightly like he was scared I would disappear if he relaxed. I could feel the thick bulge of his cock pressing against me through his pants, but I already knew he wouldn’t let me help him out, so I let it go. But no matter my grumble, I actually enjoyed waking up like this. His scent wrapped around me, warm and intoxicating, making it harder to get up than it should’ve been. I sighed, slipping out from under the blankets and trying to fix my hair in the faint morning light. The last thing I needed was for Killian to wake up and catch me sneaking out of bed. He’d drag me right back into bed! I opened the door quietly, only for my clumsy ass to bump straight into Mabel. “Oh!” she exclaimed, her hands sh
Loraine’s POV If I thought the drama at breakfast was the worst that could happen, I soon realized that I was very, very wrong. By afternoon, things were even worse. Hunter had called for a meeting so we could look over how the security measures were holding up. And the word awkward couldn’t even begin to describe how the atmosphere was anytime Mabel and the boys entered the same room. The tension in the room was suffocating as we all gathered in the sitting area. Hunter stood at the center, his presence commanding as usual, but even he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. The boys were scattered—Kris leaning against the wall, arms crossed; Preston sprawled in the armchair with a scowl; and Killian standing rigidly near the door, his cold stare fixed on Mabel. Mabel sat at the far end of the couch, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Her eyes darted between the boys, a mix of hope and dread in her expression. It didn’t help that none of them had acknowledged her pres
Loraine’s POV Hiding from the attackers yesterday had knocked me out so much that I had fallen asleep on the couch, and I wasn’t even aware when Killian picked me up and carried me to his room. He let me sleep in today because the morning light had already filtered through the dining room windows when I took a seat at the long dining table. Preston was already pouring himself a cup of coffee, Kris was buttering a slice of toast, and Hunter and Killian were deep in a discussion about the patrol schedule for the day. The mood was calm, almost normal, and I found myself relaxing for the first time since yesterday’s shitfest. “Sleep well?” Hunter asked me, his tone warm. I nodded, giving him a small smile. “Better than I expected. Thanks for checking on me last night.” Killian had told me that Hunter kept coming to check that I was safe. “Of course,” he said, his gaze softening. Preston slid a plate of fruit toward me. “Eat. You need to keep your strength up.” “Oh goddess Presto