SILASMy chest burned, a wildfire of anger and jealousy that I couldn’t extinguish. Mate. Riley’s mate. Marcus. Even the name grated on me, a reminder of what I’d lost before I ever had it. Marcus wasn’t supposed to be here—he was supposed to be dead. And yet, there he was, and Riley was with him. I saw it in Riley’s eyes, in the way their hands lingered together when he pulled away from me. It gutted me. I shoved the door open, the sound echoing in the room like the crack of a whip. Ronan was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the open window, the night air brushing against his face. I still couldn’t fully wrap my head around it—having a brother. A brother I’d let myself forget. I shut the door, the soft click echoing as I crossed the room. “I’m sorry,” Ronan said, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. He didn’t turn to look at me, just barely moved his head in acknowledgment. “I told him. That man. I told him about your change back there.” I shook my head. “It’s o
RILEYI turned my eyes from Silas’s retreating form to Marcus, and the smell of anger filled the room. The tension between them—between all of us—was suffocating, but the last thing I needed was for them to tear into each other. I couldn’t think straight as it was.“Riley,” Marcus said, his voice low, familiar, and too much all at once. The sound sent a shiver through me, a reminder of everything I thought I’d lost. Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.“What the hell was that, Marcus?” I yanked my hand free, shaking my head as I crossed my arms. The cool night air did nothing to steady me.“He started it,” he said, his voice calm like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.A scoff slipped past my lips before I could stop it. “He—? God, now you’re acting like a kid.” I leaned back against the wall, tipping my head up to the sky, desperate for some clarity.“I noticed, you know. I’m not blind,” Marcus said suddenly, his voice sharper now.I snapped m
RILEYThe car smelled like us—like sex. The kind of scent that clung to everything, sticking to my skin and seeping into the leather seats. It was too much, too obvious, and I wasn’t going to risk Marcus catching it. Reaching for the box of wet wipes, I muttered, “We reek of sex. So does the car.” Silas didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. The way his jaw locked said it all, but he still parked the car with a sharp pull of the wheel. I yanked my pants down just enough to clean myself, running the wipe over my thighs, my skin still sticky with dried cum. The coolness of it made me shiver, but not as much as the way Silas was watching me, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel. I passed him a wipe. “Seriously?” he bit out, his tone a mix of irritation and anger. But he took it anyway, pulling his denim down and dragging the wipe over himself with a little too much force. “We didn’t even fuck,” he snapped, throwing the wipe onto the dashboard and leaning back against his seat
RILEY Faster. Move. Come on. My breaths were ragged, every inhale and exhale tearing through me as I barreled through the woods. Branches snagged at my fur, cutting deep, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when I could hear them right behind me—the snarls, the barks—closing in. Hunting me down like some damned animal. Hell, who was I kidding? That’s exactly what I was to them now. A mutt to put down. An inconvenience. A betrayal. I felt the snap of jaws too close, teeth grazing my tail as I dodged right, pushing every ounce of strength I had left. A single glance over my shoulder was my mistake. My paws slipped on the slick ground, sending me skidding over jagged rocks until I slammed down hard, side-first. Pain shot through me, raw and jagged, as I collided with a sharp rock that bit deep into my skin. Howls. Sneers. They were so damn close. Get up. Get up, Riley. I forced myself to stand, paws trembling. My legs screamed to give out, but I pushed forward. I had to. The
SILAS“Come on, Scout!” I called to my dog, shutting the barn door after feeding the goats. I wiped my hands down my pants, then used the back of my hand to swipe the sweat from my brow.I glanced toward the house. Time to check on that damn dog—if it was still alive, that is.I thought about how close I’d come to running the poor thing over last night. Rain had been coming down in sheets, and I’d barely been able to see the road, just getting back from town with some supplies.As I pushed the door open, Scout bolted in ahead of me. But he stopped abruptly, tail tucked, a low growl rumbling from his chest. My senses went on high alert.Following his gaze, my eyes landed on the smears of blood. But there weren’t paw prints—no, these were human bloodprints.My hand found the bat by the wall, and I gripped it tight, creeping forward, following the trail. The marks led straight to the bathroom. With a quick breath and my hands wrapped tightly around the bat, I lifted my foot and slammed t
RILEYFuck, my head’s pounding. All I could focus on was the hammering pain in the back of my skull as I forced my eyes open, barely able to make out the dim room around me.“You’re finally awake.”The gruff voice yanked me up, and I regretted it instantly, hissing at the pain that ripped through my stomach and neck. My hand went to my throat, fingers grazing cold metal. A goddamn chain. I glared up at the guy sprawled out on the couch, legs spread like he was watching his favorite show.“You chained me.” The words came out low, almost a growl, and I jerked my neck forward, the chain biting into my skin. “You fucking chained me.”He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Well, seeing as you broke into my house and damn near choked me to death… figured it was in my best interest to keep you like that. Just in case you decided to go… wild again.”I stared him down for a second, maybe two, before slumping back onto the tiny bed. My gaze drifted to the bandage on my abdomen, the wound neatly wr
SILAS I wasn’t an evil person, but I’d be lying if I called myself a saint. Life had taught me long ago that no one was entirely good or bad—we were all somewhere in the messy, gray middle. And right now, as I looked down at this stranger, passed out and burning up on my dog’s bed, I was firmly planted in that moral gray zone. Riley—if that was even his real name—was in bad shape. He’d been feverish and muttering incoherently for the past few minutes, his body a bundle of shivers one second and burning hot the next. His skin was so flushed I could feel the heat radiating off him, seeping into my shirt where he’d clawed at it like a lifeline. He twisted on his side, mumbling something I couldn’t quite catch, teeth chattering like he was freezing, though sweat drenched his skin. “I didn’t do it…” The words escaped his lips in a faint murmur, his fingers unclenching and curling into the mattress instead. I frowned, my eyes narrowing as I watched him. Didn’t do what? He wasn’t making
SILAS “Are you even listening to me?” I demanded, leaning forward, my voice a low growl. Riley’s eyes were glazed, lost in whatever fevered haze had taken over, and I was starting to doubt he could even hear me. He didn’t respond, just stared, his lips parting in some kind of dazed surrender. And then he leaned in, lips brushing against mine, the contact so brief, it was almost a whisper. But in the same instant, my grip on the knife tightened, the blade biting deeper into his skin. Warm, slick blood coated my fingers, forcing me to jerk back. The heat, the scent—it was too intimate, too close. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I spat, glaring at him. He groaned, hips lifting under my weight, his breath shuddering as he muttered, “I—I can’t help it…” His head rolled to the side, before his gaze met mine, pupils blown wide. “Please… make it stop… Marcus.” That name. Marcus. I didn’t know why it made my skin crawl, but it did. I bit down on the frustration, fingers pressing into
RILEYThe car smelled like us—like sex. The kind of scent that clung to everything, sticking to my skin and seeping into the leather seats. It was too much, too obvious, and I wasn’t going to risk Marcus catching it. Reaching for the box of wet wipes, I muttered, “We reek of sex. So does the car.” Silas didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. The way his jaw locked said it all, but he still parked the car with a sharp pull of the wheel. I yanked my pants down just enough to clean myself, running the wipe over my thighs, my skin still sticky with dried cum. The coolness of it made me shiver, but not as much as the way Silas was watching me, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel. I passed him a wipe. “Seriously?” he bit out, his tone a mix of irritation and anger. But he took it anyway, pulling his denim down and dragging the wipe over himself with a little too much force. “We didn’t even fuck,” he snapped, throwing the wipe onto the dashboard and leaning back against his seat
RILEYI turned my eyes from Silas’s retreating form to Marcus, and the smell of anger filled the room. The tension between them—between all of us—was suffocating, but the last thing I needed was for them to tear into each other. I couldn’t think straight as it was.“Riley,” Marcus said, his voice low, familiar, and too much all at once. The sound sent a shiver through me, a reminder of everything I thought I’d lost. Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.“What the hell was that, Marcus?” I yanked my hand free, shaking my head as I crossed my arms. The cool night air did nothing to steady me.“He started it,” he said, his voice calm like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.A scoff slipped past my lips before I could stop it. “He—? God, now you’re acting like a kid.” I leaned back against the wall, tipping my head up to the sky, desperate for some clarity.“I noticed, you know. I’m not blind,” Marcus said suddenly, his voice sharper now.I snapped m
SILASMy chest burned, a wildfire of anger and jealousy that I couldn’t extinguish. Mate. Riley’s mate. Marcus. Even the name grated on me, a reminder of what I’d lost before I ever had it. Marcus wasn’t supposed to be here—he was supposed to be dead. And yet, there he was, and Riley was with him. I saw it in Riley’s eyes, in the way their hands lingered together when he pulled away from me. It gutted me. I shoved the door open, the sound echoing in the room like the crack of a whip. Ronan was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the open window, the night air brushing against his face. I still couldn’t fully wrap my head around it—having a brother. A brother I’d let myself forget. I shut the door, the soft click echoing as I crossed the room. “I’m sorry,” Ronan said, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. He didn’t turn to look at me, just barely moved his head in acknowledgment. “I told him. That man. I told him about your change back there.” I shook my head. “It’s o
RILEYThe silence was suffocating, thick like smoke in a room with no windows. My hands trembled slightly as I sat in the car, crammed into the confined space with Silas, Ronan, and Marcus. None of us had spoken since we left.Marcus.My mate. Alive.The thought circled in my head like a cruel joke, over and over again. He was here, flesh and blood, close enough to touch. But no matter how hard I tried to wrap my mind around it, no matter how much I told myself to be happy, my gut twisted in protest.Because I had seen him die.I had watched as his body crumpled, blood pooling beneath him, the knife lodged deep in his chest. I had held him, felt the life slip away from his body. That memory was seared into me like a brand. And yet, here he was. Breathing.I couldn’t bring myself to look at Silas. His silence was loud, deafening, and I didn’t need to see his face to know what he was thinking. His jaw was clenched so tight it could snap steel, and his knuckles had turned white against t
RILEYI couldn’t wait any longer. Orin was taking too damn long, and the thought of what he might be doing to Silas made my blood boil. So I barged in.The door slammed against Orin, sending him flying to the ground. My chest heaved as my eyes landed on Silas—trapped inside a damned glass cage. His fists were pressed against the barrier, his expression a mix of relief and fear.Orin groaned as he got to his feet, wiping blood from his nose. “You’re still following my boy like a lost pup, I see,” he sneered, straightening his stance.I didn’t let him finish. My fist collided with his jaw, snapping his head to the side. He stumbled, but not for long—his recovery was too fast.He grinned, blood trickling from his split lip. “Still as weak as you were in my basement,” he mocked before lunging at me.The memory of that basement flashed through my mind—the chains, the cold stone floor, the way he laughed every time.The hesitation cost me. His shoulder slammed into my stomach, driving us bo
SILASNo, no, no...My eyes flew open, panic clawing at my chest. My neck throbbed, my head ached, and my mind was hazy as I took in my surroundings.A cage.A fucking cage just like the others.The walls were smooth, seamless glass. My reflection stared back at me, as I pressed my palms against the cold surface and shoved. My muscles strained, my breaths coming fast and shallow as I slammed my fists into it, over and over. Nothing. Not even a crack.“Fuck. Fuck!” I hissed, dragging my hands through my hair, pacing the small enclosure like a caged animal.How long had I been here? Hours? And Riley—had he realized something was wrong? Had he gotten away?God, I hoped he’d left.I slumped into the corner, my back pressed against the glass. My jaw clenched, teeth grinding as I glared at the single door in the spacious room. It stood there, silent and mocking, daring me to hope for an escape.I sat in the corner, the minutes felt like they stretched forever. The only sound was the dull rh
RILEYI couldn’t stop pacing. Every second that passed felt like a countdown to disaster. It had been over an four house since Silas disappeared into that compound, and every what if clawed at my brain.What if he was caught? What if he was dead? What if I’d already lost him, and I was too much of a coward to stop it, to follow him?“Fuck,” I hissed, gripping the car door handle. My chest heaved as I stared at the treeline where he’d vanished. I should’ve gone with him. Should’ve followed sooner.No more waiting.I swung the door open, stepped into the biting morning air, and ran toward the compound.The sun had risen, painting the sky in soft blues and yellows, but it didn’t ease the dread crawling up my spine. Birds chirped overhead, oblivious to the hell happening in my head. I reached the metal gate, gripped the cold bar, and swung over. My feet hit the snow, sending a sharp jolt up my legs.I paused, scanning the open space. Too exposed. If anyone was watching, they’d see me.I b
SILAS“We have to go.”Riley shook his head again, the same sharp refusal he’d been giving me all day. Without a word, he turned and stalked back to the kitchen. I followed him, leaning against the counter as he grabbed a glass of water.This thing I’d become—the wolf—I hadn’t figured out how to settle into it yet. Everything felt too much: sounds sharper, scents stronger. It was like the world had been turned up to an unbearable volume. Even Riley’s voice, when he wasn’t careful, could scrape against my nerves like glass.And then there was us. The tension that hung in the air every time he so much as glanced at the door. My gut clenched at the thought of him leaving—my mind spinning out scenarios where he walked away and never came back.“It’s a death sentence,” Riley muttered, finally breaking the silence. His voice was rough, edged with frustration. “And he might already be—” He stopped himself, his jaw tightening as he gave me a look that said it all: *Why are we wasting our time
SILASSomething warm brushed against my cheek. Gentle, slowly—like it wasn’t meant to wake me but couldn’t help doing so. My eyes snapped open, and there he was. Riley. His hand stayed on my face, his fingers trembling as he stared at me.It wasn’t relief in his eyes. Not exactly. Relief would’ve been too easy, too kind for me. No, what stared back at me was jagged and raw, a mix of anger, pain, and hate.My lips twitched into the ghost of a bitter smile, as the memory of our reversal came to my mind. Back at the farm, it had been me tending to him. Now the roles were reversed.I shifted, trying to sit up, but the weight on my wrists stopped me. Not pain—chains. Cold and tight on my wrist. My gaze flicked back to Riley, who hadn’t moved, hadn’t flinched, his hand still hovering over my skin like he wasn’t sure whether to hold on or pull away.“Riley,” I rasped, his name cracking on my tongue, the word too dry.His expression changed in an instant. His hand fell away, and his lips curl