Ava paced the dimly lit chamber, her boots clicking against the stone floor with each agitated step. The cavernous space was illuminated only by flickering torchlight, casting ominous shadows that danced across the walls.In the center of the room, three figures lay bound and unconscious – Xander, Dax, and Kane. Ava's eyes burned with a mixture of triumph and trepidation as she studied them, her mind racing with the possibilities that lay before her.She had taken a tremendous risk in confronting Vivi and her mates, but the potential rewards had been too great to ignore. For too long, her pack had been forced to exist on the fringes, their knowledge and connection to the Starfire a closely guarded secret.But now, with these three powerful wolves in her grasp, Ava had the chance to unlock the true depths of the Starfire's power – and to claim it for herself.A low groan broke the silence, drawing Ava's attention to Xander as he began to stir. His ice-blue eyes fluttered open, confusio
"You see, I've spent years studying the intricacies of the Starfire, unlocking its secrets one by one. And now, with you three as my captives, I can finally put that knowledge to the test."She began to pace, her boots clicking against the stone floor with each agitated step. "Your bond is strong, I'll give you that," she conceded, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone. "But even the strongest bonds can be... reshaped, molded to suit one's needs."Dax's eyes widened, realization dawning in their storm-blue depths. "You want to break our bond with Vivi," he breathed, his voice laced with a mixture of horror and disbelief.Ava's lips curved into a predatory smile, her teeth glinting in the flickering torchlight. "Not break, per se," she purred. "More like... redirect. Reshape it to suit my own purposes."Kane snarled, his dark eyes burning with fury. "You're insane if you think we'll let you do that," he spat. "Our bond is unbreakable, a sacred trust that you could never hope to unders
The chamber echoed with the eerie chanting of Ava's pack, their voices rising and falling in a haunting rhythm as they called upon ancient forces. Xander, Kane, and Dax huddled together, their bond thrumming with a mixture of defiance and unease as they braced themselves for the ordeal to come.Ava stepped forward, her green eyes glinting with a predatory light as she surveyed her captives. "You see, gentlemen," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "the path to true power is paved with sacrifice. And today, you will be the ones to make that sacrifice."She turned to a figure cloaked in shadows, nodding her head in a silent command. The figure stepped forward, revealing itself to be an elderly woman with weathered features and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into their very souls."This is Maeva, our pack's shaman," Ava explained, her lips curving into a cruel smile. "She has mastered the art of manipulating the bonds that tie us all together – bonds of love, loyalty,
Vivi paced the length of Kelda's cabin, her footsteps heavy with the weight of her anxiety. The older woman watched her with a mixture of concern and understanding, her ice-blue eyes tracking Vivi's movements."You must remain calm, child," Kelda said, her voice gentle but firm. "Letting fear and desperation cloud your mind will only hinder our efforts."Vivi paused, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "How can I be calm, Kelda?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Ava has taken my mates, my family. And I can barely feel the bond between us anymore."Kelda nodded, her expression grave. "I understand your distress, Vivi. But we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by it. Ava's magic is powerful, but it is not unbreakable. And you must think of the baby as well."Vivi's hand rested on the barely rounded gaze flickered to the array of crystals and herbs laid out before Kelda, their surfaces shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Can these truly help us find them?" she
Vivi"Fuck it all to hell!" I cursed as I grabbed the ticket from the windshield of my old Jeep Wrangler. It was the third one in the last two weeks! "What happened to brotherhood of the badge shit?" Two little white-headed ladies walking by on the sidewalk gave me the stink eye for my outburst. "Sorry," I mumbled, but I wasn't really. How could a town that had literally one main road have so many fucking parking laws? I felt like I had broken most of them in the short time I'd been here and apparently there was no love lost between the game wardens and the traffic cops here.As I crumpled up the ticket and climbed into my Jeep, I thought about what had brought me across the country. The memory of my last day in Florida came flooding back, bringing with it a mix of emotions I was still trying to sort through.I remembered the suffocating heat as I'd loaded the last of my boxes into the U-Haul. Aria had been there, helping me, her eyes red-rimmed from crying."You sure you don't want
XanderI stood on the ridge with Kane, my Beta, my closest advisor, and surveyed the landscape. I could breathe when up high over my pack lands watching the sun sinking toward the trees in the valley below, the stress of leadership melted away, if only for a few minutes."There, Dax's truck," Kane pointed to the small road at the head of the valley that led into our compound set deep into the National Forest. When we had arrived in the late 1800s, Bridger had been just acres and acres of wilderness. We had slowly purchased as much as we could, working as loggers and opening one of the few sawmills in the back country. When the government had bought up the land to create the National Forest, I had refused to sell, and we had been grandfathered in. Now we were surrounded by government forest. The forest service kept the area pristine, and left us alone for the most part, so I couldn't complain. It gave us plenty of room and privacy to run - two of the main things I required to keep my p
ViviI was surprised at how disappointed I had been to not hear back from Sage about getting my hair braided before I had to return to the forest to work, though, in all honesty, there hadn't been that much time. I had to leave the next morning. I didn't often think that much about my appearance, but something about the intricate braiding had called to me.As I stood there, fingers absently combing through the ends of my ponytail, I couldn't help but wonder why I suddenly cared so much about how I looked. Was it because of him? The brother? Dax she had called him. The name sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. I shook my head, trying to clear the image of his piercing eyes and impressive tattoos from my mind.It was strange, really. I hadn't thought much about the man at first, other than how he had interacted with Sage. He'd just been part of an interesting interaction, albeit an intimidating one. But then, as I was leaving, something happened that I couldn't quite explain.I was
Xander"Brother!" I raised my head at my Sage's call. I had been going over the never-ending paperwork that went along with managing our foundation and investments. I welcomed any distraction I could get."What's happening, baby sister?" I laced my hands behind my head and stretched as she came running through my study door."I was down near Four Corners and there's a woman camped there. The woman." I raised my eyebrows in question. "The one from town, Vivi Fenrir. I never dreamed she'd come so close to our property. What do you want to do?"My posture instantly shifted. Every muscle in my body tensed at the thought of her being so close. The woman called Fenrir Sage had mentioned earlier. Surely it couldn't be a coincidence."I've got to speak to Kane." I tried to quench the lick of hope that flared in my chest. I kissed Sage on the top of her head as I ducked out of the room. "Thank you, sister."Quickly finding my second, Kane and I shifted and set off to check out this woman my si
Vivi paced the length of Kelda's cabin, her footsteps heavy with the weight of her anxiety. The older woman watched her with a mixture of concern and understanding, her ice-blue eyes tracking Vivi's movements."You must remain calm, child," Kelda said, her voice gentle but firm. "Letting fear and desperation cloud your mind will only hinder our efforts."Vivi paused, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "How can I be calm, Kelda?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "Ava has taken my mates, my family. And I can barely feel the bond between us anymore."Kelda nodded, her expression grave. "I understand your distress, Vivi. But we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by it. Ava's magic is powerful, but it is not unbreakable. And you must think of the baby as well."Vivi's hand rested on the barely rounded gaze flickered to the array of crystals and herbs laid out before Kelda, their surfaces shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Can these truly help us find them?" she
The chamber echoed with the eerie chanting of Ava's pack, their voices rising and falling in a haunting rhythm as they called upon ancient forces. Xander, Kane, and Dax huddled together, their bond thrumming with a mixture of defiance and unease as they braced themselves for the ordeal to come.Ava stepped forward, her green eyes glinting with a predatory light as she surveyed her captives. "You see, gentlemen," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "the path to true power is paved with sacrifice. And today, you will be the ones to make that sacrifice."She turned to a figure cloaked in shadows, nodding her head in a silent command. The figure stepped forward, revealing itself to be an elderly woman with weathered features and piercing eyes that seemed to bore into their very souls."This is Maeva, our pack's shaman," Ava explained, her lips curving into a cruel smile. "She has mastered the art of manipulating the bonds that tie us all together – bonds of love, loyalty,
"You see, I've spent years studying the intricacies of the Starfire, unlocking its secrets one by one. And now, with you three as my captives, I can finally put that knowledge to the test."She began to pace, her boots clicking against the stone floor with each agitated step. "Your bond is strong, I'll give you that," she conceded, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone. "But even the strongest bonds can be... reshaped, molded to suit one's needs."Dax's eyes widened, realization dawning in their storm-blue depths. "You want to break our bond with Vivi," he breathed, his voice laced with a mixture of horror and disbelief.Ava's lips curved into a predatory smile, her teeth glinting in the flickering torchlight. "Not break, per se," she purred. "More like... redirect. Reshape it to suit my own purposes."Kane snarled, his dark eyes burning with fury. "You're insane if you think we'll let you do that," he spat. "Our bond is unbreakable, a sacred trust that you could never hope to unders
Ava paced the dimly lit chamber, her boots clicking against the stone floor with each agitated step. The cavernous space was illuminated only by flickering torchlight, casting ominous shadows that danced across the walls.In the center of the room, three figures lay bound and unconscious – Xander, Dax, and Kane. Ava's eyes burned with a mixture of triumph and trepidation as she studied them, her mind racing with the possibilities that lay before her.She had taken a tremendous risk in confronting Vivi and her mates, but the potential rewards had been too great to ignore. For too long, her pack had been forced to exist on the fringes, their knowledge and connection to the Starfire a closely guarded secret.But now, with these three powerful wolves in her grasp, Ava had the chance to unlock the true depths of the Starfire's power – and to claim it for herself.A low groan broke the silence, drawing Ava's attention to Xander as he began to stir. His ice-blue eyes fluttered open, confusio
Later, as they retreated to the privacy of their cabin, Vivi broached the subject with her mates, her voice laced with concern."Did you notice the way Ava was looking at Xander tonight?" she asked, her brow furrowed.Kane and Dax exchanged a glance, their expressions guarded."We noticed," Kane replied, his dark eyes somber. "It wasn't just Xander, either. There were moments when she seemed... fixated on all of us."Dax nodded, his storm-blue eyes narrowed. "It's almost like she's sizing us up, trying to figure out our weaknesses."Xander's jaw tightened, his ice-blue gaze hardening. "Whatever her game is, we can't let our guard down. We need to be prepared for anything."As they huddled together, the bond between them thrumming with a mixture of wariness and determination, Vivi couldn't shake the feeling that they were teetering on the edge of something momentous, a shift in the delicate balance of power that had existed within their pack.Ava's true motivations remained shrouded in
In the days that followed, the newly expanded pack settled into a routine, with the freed wolves seamlessly integrating themselves into the daily life of the compound. Vivi watched with a sense of pride as they found their footing, their initial wariness slowly giving way to a growing sense of belonging.Ava, in particular, had become a constant presence at Vivi's side, her calm demeanor and keen insights proving invaluable as they navigated the challenges of their newfound alliance. Vivi found herself drawn to the other woman, her curiosity piqued by the subtle power that seemed to emanate from her.As they walked the perimeter of the compound together, Ava turned to Vivi, her green eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "So, Vivi, tell me – what do you know of the Starfire?"Vivi felt a jolt of surprise at the unexpected question, her steps faltering momentarily. "The Starfire?" she echoed, her brow furrowing. "Well, I know it's a powerful force, one that's connected to me in a way
The freed wolves were a mix of weary resignation and guarded hope as they gathered around the fire, their eyes darting between the members of Vivi's pack. Kelda moved among them, her gentle presence and soothing touch easing their lingering tension.Xander stood at the head of the group, his ice-blue eyes scanning the faces before him. "Welcome," he said, his voice calm and measured. "You've been through a terrible ordeal, but you're safe now. We're here to help you heal and recover."One of the wolves, a woman with silver-streaked hair, stepped forward. "Thank you," she said, her voice rough with emotion. "We thought we were lost, that we'd never be free of their control. But you... you saved us."Vivi felt a swell of pride at the woman's words, the bond between her and her mates thrumming with a renewed sense of purpose. "We're just glad you're safe," she said, moving to stand beside Xander. "We know what it's like to have your freedom taken from you. But now, you're part of our pac
As Vivi followed Xander back to the cabin, a sense of unease coiled in the pit of her stomach. The news he had shared - about the poachers potentially regrouping - only added to the weight of the Broker's looming threat. Xander's hand was a steady presence at the small of her back, guiding her forward with a reassuring touch. She could feel the tension in his body, the protectiveness radiating from him in waves. It was comforting, but also a stark reminder of the dangers they faced.When they entered the cabin, Vivi's eyes immediately sought out Kane and Dax. The two men were tangled together on the couch, their expressions softening as they sensed her and Xander's approach. The bond between them pulsed with a soothing warmth, a reminder that she wasn't alone."What's happening?" Kane asked, his dark eyes shining with concern as he disentangled himself from Dax.Xander's jaw tightened. "The poachers may be regrouping. Liam's pack has agreed to lend their support, but we need to be re
Kane paced the living room of their cabin, his dark eyes flashing with barely contained worry. Dax watched him from the couch, his storm-blue eyes warm with understanding.Ever since Xander had dragged a protesting Vivi out the door to meet with Kelda and the other pack members, Kane had been a wreck. Vivi's earlier confession about meeting with the Broker alone weighed heavily on him and the ensuing battle had made things worse. Even with her power on full display Kane couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen to her."You're going to wear down the floorboards if you keep that up," Dax said mildly, patting the spot next to him on the couch. "Dwelling on worst-case scenarios doesn't do either of us any good. We have to trust Xander and focus on being here for Vivi when she gets back."Dax sat next to him and opened his arms. "Come. Let me help take your mind off things.""I hate this," Kane growled, resting his forehead against Dax's broad chest. "Hate her