Without food, money, or shelter, I had no choice but to remain in my wolf’s natural form for over a week. With her spirit in charge, our communication adjusted. From the nudges, little feelings, and associations she could conjure up before, now dominating our form, I could experience so much more of her. Whilst I didn’t have full control of my wolf's actions, it felt like being a cocoon. A warm, safe space. Away from Ayr. Blocking the replays of what I heard. My plans for revenge melting into fiery heartbreak. I don’t even know him. Not really. I just trusted the way he made me feel. My wolf managed to place all that hurt into another compartment of our consciousness and banish it. I welcomed the escape. I feel too weak and stupid to do anything but listen to my wolf right now, the only bond I can trust in this world. Sprinting through the trees, finding shelter, hunting, and killing prey. I saw everything through nature's eyes. Low to the ground, every scent is intense and power
As Ayr’s cousin, I was always destined to stand in his shadow. Older, stronger, broader. Fuck me he was even blonder, somehow. I never resented him for a second. Instead, even as a young boy, I wanted to impress him. My father was his father's most trusted Beta. All I wanted was to follow in the same footsteps. Except somehow, I've become the token court jester-gigolo. Mainly because I'm funny as fuck. Possibly it's because I'm the only person to have seen behind the Alpha title. The Ayr who is actually as normal as any man in his pack. Who is terrified of letting everyone down. Anyway, I am not as sleazy as they make out. In fact, after a while, most Volare girls just wanted to say they’d been with me. A badge of honour. I went along with it. They titter with their friends and brag about the size of my cock, the things I can do with my tongue. It’s not a bad reputation to suffer. Plus it’s one hundred percent accurate. I am amazing. They all want Ayr really. I’m not an idiot. Th
The door swung open, and I was attacked by a thousand different emotions. All of them are unwanted at this time. I don’t want to look at the splash of blood across his brow and worry he’s been injured. Why he has thick. angry silver lines down his throat, heading down into his thick black clothing and armour. He doesn’t deserve the sympathetic lurches of my heart. I don’t want to see his blue eyes mix with green the instant we reconnect. It’s not fair. He’s my weakness, not a strength. He’s a liar, a cheat. Humiliation mixed with pure anger causes my irises to flare with silver. every muscle tensed with hesitation.But our bond is pulsing with concrete, unmistakable need. “Don’t hurt who?” Ayr asks, his voice just as dark and rich as I remembered. The same dark tone he swore he loved me with. “You’re here to see Fenton?” “I know this isn’t a good time, but I need to ask Alpha Fenton some questions-” “Are you for real?” Marcus interrupts, “we’re in the middle of a fucking battle!
/Have you lost your fucking mind?/ Marcus asks but I don’t answer, just continue to tenderly bind my darling. I stood up after tying the last binding with my own stomach painfully knotted. If I leave it too loose, I know she’ll just take off like a firework. Too tight, I’ll just hate myself even more than I do already. I finally have an opportunity to explain myself, I won’t lose it. Her white shirt and bare stomach are coated in mud. Her gorgeous thighs too, but I try not to look. The seething resentment coming off her makes my wolf wince. But I don’t blame her. Not for a second. This battle has been won. Volare triumphs, Fenton is dead. It barely registers. The sounds of celebration and whooping ricochet around me but the mud-covered siren in front of me takes over everything. Fenton can choose a new Alpha, and the instant they do I’ll be back over here with my Betas to make sure they understand attacking Volare is no longer an option. I usually hate bloodshed. But not today.
“There’s only been you. There will only ever be you.” On his knees. Throwing himself at my mercy. I don't even know if that's what I want.My temporarily incapacitated wolf used to fire happy bliss when I thought of Ayr. But that was before. Now l, he has dried blood across his forehead. His beautiful neck and shoulders are so scarred. I can’t stop my eyes from raking over each ridge. Which means my lips are thin, not because I’m angry but because I’m fighting the urge to run my lips over his wounds. Because I love him. I wish I didn’t. I wish I were stronger, but I love him. There is just something undeniable about the way he makes me feel.I just don't know if he’s telling the truth. “Cass…” he starts but instead of speaking he holds out his powerful hand. If I want, I can place mine in it. I can reassure him everything will be okay. But it won’t. Dominic was a traitor. Robyn was clearly lying about something. Everybody lies. I only rode with Marcus to piss Ayr off. He tried t
Just walking together, my hand in his is leaving me dizzy. He’s holding on a touch too tight. I don’t complain. It's still all a bit surreal.Guiding me wordlessly through the crowd, around a huge bonfire. In the back streets, I vaguely hear Marcus shouting for everyone to get their party going. Tonight was going to be a night for Volare to remember.I doubt Ayr heard much, either. Everything about him was so stiff and tense. He's worrying about me. With his shirt still ripped open, his scars were fully visible. Up close, they look so raw, never to fully heal. I hate Elle so much for so many reasons. Thanks to my wolf, I know now this is about more than me. That I’m dealing with something more cunning than just a resentful sister. But the human, hopeful side of me wonders if maybe Ayr was right. What if we are stronger together than apart?Next time I shift, when my wolf recovers from her wolfsbane, I’ll have so many more questions. Mainly because I have a sneaking suspicion the me
There is barely any time I spend in her presence where Cass doesn’t do something to surprise me. I know it’s a truce. I know she still hasn’t said she loves me. It’s clear I’m a million miles from being trusted, too. But she’s still here. So there is a chance. Without looking back, I make my way back to the packhouse. I need a shower. To scrub the filth and blood from my face, to look somewhat decent. Like the alpha I’m meant to be. Though it’s impossible to lie and say I didn’t absolutely adore the look of Cass covered in mud. It makes me want to chase her in the woods. Goddess, she’d make it such a challenge. Getting her to concede, to win the sweetest prize, would be exquisite. The way she tricked her way out of the prison ground. Using my horse like a crazed circus act. In the moment I was exasperated. Now I just add that kind of impulse to reasons why I find her so fascinating.Her coconut scent cuts through the boring, blandness of everything around me. It’s only when she’s
His eyes widened, his beer frozen mid swig. “Two? I guess you’re counting today as one. Wrongly, I might add. But two?”“Today was absolutely a kidnapping attempt. Rope, blindfold, taken against my will? Wolfsbane! What else could you call it?” “A rescue! I got you out of Fenton without being seen?”“Only to shout my name out to your entire pack?” I counter, taking a deep drink of the delicious beer, before panicking I’d covered my nose in froth. I’m trying to keep my tentative grip on the upper hand here.Ayr grinned and pointed at me, his finger waving. “Ah, but you’re in Volare now. Huge difference.”“So you seriously think nobody will find out I’m here?”"If you didn’t care, then I could finally shout it out,” he answers calmly, and I realise he hasn’t taken a bite of his food. He’s just watching me. “You look beautiful, by the way. I should have said earlier but…”I, however, am starving. My wolf hunted when shifted. Unfortunately, in my human form it’s been hard going. I start
Corbin is the first to arrive, urgency in his steely eyes. He and Ayr now share the dubious honour of matching neck scars. I imagine his lower chest is even more grisly after the attack on him “Is everything okay? It’s so fantastic to see you,” enjoying the sweep of his huge, iron-like hug. The sweet scent of warm baking is the only soft feature about this hardened leader. “When they set up a room for me to recover in, they found this. I thought you should have it,” withdrawing a thick envelope from his jacket. “It’s written by your mother.” I stare at the aged paper and wonder just what I will gain from reading her drunken rantings. “What made you bring this? She must have hundreds of letters, I know she kept a diary too.”“She addressed it to you. It’s the only one with your name on it. No diaries found.” "Go on, I’ll greet everyone else. It will only irritate you if you don’t read it now, " Ayr suggested "Corbin and I need to talk bridges," as the pair grinned. I took the letter
Life is very different in Volare these days. Leo is almost two. Wonderful in every way, his pouty lips and blue eyes making it almost impossible to tell him no. I flit between wondering what my mother would think of my own material efforts. Praying I make better choices than her. I still don’t know what the hell was on her mind when she died. Was it out of love for me or hatred of Elle? Staring at Leo, I will never understand how she stood by all those years in silence. It has taken some serious organising but tonight, finally everyone is going to be reunited. A celebration of friendship. Raphael and Robyn have been sorely missed. Almost eighteen months without any visits between us. Corbin had requested all bridges go up for our own safety for a period. He was attacked in an uprising in the centre of Pemberton. Touring a pack and hit in the chest with a cannonball. Quite how the fuck a group of rebels got hold of a cannon is something Raphael is furiously investigating. The nigh
She’s dreamed of me? Even as my head spins in a frenzy of pure desire, I need to delve into that conversation more. Women are clearly my blind spot. No pun intended. She’s guiding me along the wooden wall, “I‘m staying in the packhouse, come on,” she breathes, and I’m so close to just being swept along. But this is serious. Flashes of Imelda cross my mind. “Jessica, Jessica, come on, what do you mean dreaming? What colour are your eyes?” as she drags me into the packhouse. Where I once snuck in order to shave in Ayr’s fancy bathroom. Her hand feels so tiny in mine. In fact, everything about her is petite. I’m almost stumbling, and I secretly love the way she doesn’t give a shit I can’t see. She’s taking me to her room regardless. “How about you just trust me?” she whispers before placing a kiss on my open chest. Shit that must be how tall she is. When she first kissed me, she must have been on her tiptoes. What the hell is this? “If you know who I am, I don’t…I’m not going to b
Jessica never appeared at dinner. It was a shame, I totally thought her and Marcus might hit it off, but there will be more opportunity. She’s got that daring confidence that I thought might spark his interest. When the lightning flashed and rain descended, everyone jumped in the packhouse. Ayr ran out to find Marcus. Check he hadn’t got caught in the storm and lost his bearings, but he was nowhere to be seen. His blue gauze was trodden into the mud by the packhouse door, though. “He’s not answering his link?” Ayr said, rubbing his chin. “If he wants us, he will,” Matthew answered steadily. “There’s a line of how much he’ll ask for.” Ayr reluctantly agreed, and the evening continued as planned. Drinks consumed, food eaten, I sat in our bed and watched Ayr as he stripped down. I know how long he stays awake at night reading to me. I also know how the instant he thinks I’m asleep he switches from pirate adventures to love sonnets. My dreams are warm, full of summer sun and happiness
The day I stop opening my eyes and searching for a flicker of dawn will be when my wolf stops trying too. Not once did I stop believing. Now, finally, after almost five years, something has happened. Since Ayr told me their silver wolf has vanished from the heavens, the constant blackness has started to part. There are shadows and hints of grey and white in my peripheral vision. I can’t see shapes, but there is lightness where once only pitch black existed. My first instinct was to call out to Berrybrow. But then I shut my lips and breathe sharply. This is for me to know. My secret. For if it turns out, all I can see are the shadows at the edges. What has been gained? But maybe, just maybe my purgatory is finally ending? I already know my irises have turned to jade. Mrs Berrybrow was sweet to sell it kindly, maybe as proof that my wolf is still trying to heal me. Ayr has since said he doesn’t give a fuck, that I was exactly the same man to him. Except hearing how the others hav
I secretly bought a set of jangling bells, but thankfully, they weren’t necessary. I did once tie them to her and woke up to a barrage of jangling cushions to the face. Then she pinned my wrists to the mattress as best as she could before wrapping her mouth around my semi-hard early morning dick. Confusing, briefly terrifying me and making me want to explode all in the space of five seconds. Perfection. Now, such spontaneity has been briefly retired. Instead, she has to choose from a pile of leatherbound books instead of leaping onto my groin. Holding out a selection of hardbacks, I mock-grumpily bark. “Pick one then,” before helping to place the covers over my hugely pregnant, half-glowing, half-irritated mate. We’re in the final stages of this miracle of a pregnancy, and somehow, my plan worked. “You always know which one I’ll choose,” she smiles back softly, her stunningly soft figure draped in an emerald green silk nightgown before choosing the same one she’s had for the pas
It’s not possible. “It can’t be…I mean…” only to turn and see the look on Ayr’s face. The one I’ve always wanted to see. It’s joyous. The sweetest, kindest expression. A god melted into a beaming man. But it is a look he shouldn’t be giving me. Anyway, it’s just one old lady’s opinion. I said I felt sick, but that surely happens to everyone who’s having the minor trauma of almost killing their mate in their sleep. Accepting the golden-eyed wolf could be hunting Ayr and I down for the rest of our lives out of spite is enough to turn anyone’s stomach. Or, as Mrs Berrybrow suggested, the golden-wolf attaches itself to a newborn. Then what? The instant some child turns eighteen and can connect with their spirit, will their soul be corrupted. Try to harm us? “Cass?” Ayr whispers, before reaching out for my hand. I have no idea how long I’ve been silent for whilst I felt the idyllic protection of my Volare life crumble around me. It's not safe. It will never be safe. I still can’t move
It’s been almost three months, and with Cass at my side, anything feels possible. Apart from conception, obviously, but we’ve both agreed that doesn’t matter in the slightest right now. I don’t know how it works, but even the Volare population seemed brighter. The packhouse has never seen so many bawdy nights, bands playing, people talking late into the night. Annoyingly, now I’m officially not a kidnapping, raping, deviant scumbag, the other packs are scrambling to purchase even more of our goods. Something to be remembered every time I am forced to attend a Council with the two-faced pricks. Apart from Locksley. He had absolutely zero scruples in buying fancy items from a despised Alpha. Or trying to seduce Cass via pastel suits and bouquets of flowers but thank fuck that game is over. At Cass’s request I have even led a couple of Volare full moon runs. Pretty sure she just wanted to get me naked in the Kallio side of the woods though. Unfamiliar territory to her meant I had th
Robyn had arrived in Volare with a few of my favourite gowns and essentials. Like she already knew I would never be coming back if they found me in Volare. “Cass what the hell happened here!” she gasped, taking in the dishevelled room. “Take a guess, Robyn!” I reply, towel wrapped around my body. “AH you're marked. I knew it!” she squealed.Hugging tightly, I quickly dressed, and we headed down to the main packhouse. I couldn’t resist my hunger any longer. Taking a long, empty bench in the far corner, my hair still damp from the shower with Ayr, I told her everything. Yet just last week, when we played with Lucy’s dolls house, I assured her I was fine. Snapped it at her if I recall properly. Now she knows the full extent of the agreement, the silver wolf waiting to be born. How we had decided, after making amends with everyone, that we had a clean slate. No guilt, no blame. Just forwards. “That’s exactly how it should be,” Robyn smiled. “I can not believe how much you’ve changed