Loraine’s POV It's taking all of my self-control to prevent me from leaping over the table and claiming all of them as mine. Mine! I want to scream. They are all fucking mine! Their enticing scent fills the room, overtaking my senses and closing my judgement. But I don’t mind. As long as they are all here. Nothing else matters but the fact that we are together again and complete. I thought of the words from the meeting the other day. The thought of them taking another fated who was not me disturbed me. It raised an inferno inside me. It has not been up to a month since I met them, and I am already a mess. It terrifies me to an extent, but at the same time, it excites me in an unfathomable way. The mating bond has worked its way too far inside of me. “Maddox was unconscious when we found him.” Killian states. His fingers drummed the table, and his eyes are far away, like they are relieving distant memories. The sudden urge to go over and comfort him overcomes me, but before
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
Loraine’s POV For a long time, none of us speaks, including Alpha Hunter. He simply watches me. He has that mysterious look in his eyes. A light I can’t quite read, although I want nothing but to know what is going on in his head. What he’s feeling. The bond would do that. My wolf assures me. Bond with him. Bond with all of them. I swallow. That cannot happen. Why? I have no answer to that except I know that it's usually two mates for a bond, not fucking five! “Loraine needs to be in close proximity of all of us.” Alpha Hunter finally speaks, breaking the silence. All eyes in the room snap to his face, and I wonder if I have heard wrong. Is he joking right now? I am expecting to be punished for fuckin getting to spend more ‘intimate’ time with all of them. What the hell is he thinking? “We are going to arrange a schedule, and she’ll have to be spending time with one of us each night. It’s only after the ball that she finally picks who she wants to mate with.” The fuck, he
Kris’ POV I realise I should not have spoken to her like that, but I’m upset. Well, not entirely upset… scared. My wolf is scared. What if she does not get to pick me? What if my other brothers, who know how to be more forward in their advances, win this thing over us? I know I’ll never be the same again, especially if I have to lose her after meeting her and learning the sweet personality she has. I’m not sure I’ll be able to live with the pain of seeing her bound to one of my brothers. I had snapped, and that’s one of the reasons why I cannot look her in the eyes, although she’s fucking sitting across from me. The other reason is because I think she might be upset herself. She has not uttered a word since leaving my brother’s office hours ago. She has kept her mouth sealed shut, her facial expression neutral, and has not tried to initiate a conversation, although we are seated around a dining table enjoying the most exotic lunch a werewolf could ever ask for. Hunter has als
Loraine’s POV The drive to the store is quite short and filled with silence. It is in a part of Alpha Hunter’s settlement that I’ve not been to. Kris has said nothing more since we left the house, and I have not tried to engage him in a conversation either. “What do you think suits him?” I ask, closing the distance between us. When my shoulder brushes his arm, jolts of electricity run through me, but I don’t pull away. I can’t. “You know him more than I do.” Keeping up the casual facade is draining. I had thought I would be able to keep it up, but spending time with him is doing the exact opposite of what I want. I can almost touch the tension charged in the air between us. I almost taste all the words he wants to say to me. My wolf has been purring all day, eager to get closer to her mate. I have no idea how Alpha Hunter expects me to go through this and maintain a certain level of neutrality. After all this, there’s no way I won't be biassed when choosing. What if I end up l
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