As a stunning redhead approached their table, Rafe's expression shifted slightly, a hint of tension creeping into his features. Delia couldn't help but notice the change, sensing an undercurrent of unease radiating from him. The woman stopped beside their table, her gaze fixed on Rafe with an intensity that made Delia's stomach churn with apprehension. “Well, well, well, if it isn't Raphael Donovan," she purred, her voice dripping with sultry charm Dressed in a form-fitting black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the woman was tall and looked like a model with fiery auburn hair. Her attire was accessorized with delicate gold jewelry that glimmered in the soft candlelight, adding a hint of glamour. She was a vision of beauty with full, ruby-red lips that curved into a playful smile, revealing a set of perfectly straight white teeth. Rafe's jaw tightened imperceptibly, his silver eyes narrowing as he regarded the woman before him. "Natasha," he acknowl
As Delia followed Ethan into the villa, her facade of composure crumbled, her distress evident in the tremble of her hands and the quiver of her voice. Turning to Ethan, she couldn't contain the torrent of questions and emotions swirling within her. “Why didn't anyone warn me about Natasha?" Delia demanded with hurt evident in her green eyes. "I had no idea Rafe was involved with her." Ethan's eyes softened, his eyes reflecting empathy. "Delia, Natasha doesn't mean a thing to Rafe," he reassured her, his tone gentle yet firm. Delia scoffed incredulously, her frustration boiling over. "It certainly didn't seem that way tonight," she retorted. Ethan sighed, a mixture of sympathy and frustration flickering in his eyes. "Yes, Rafe and Natasha have history," he admitted. "But that was awhile ago and long before he met you. I can't even begin to tell you how much you affect him." Delia shook her head in disbelief, her heart heavy with doubt and insecurity. "If that were true, Et
The sound of crashing waves provided a soothing backdrop as the moon casted a luminous glow over Delia's figure as she stood by the water's edge, her gaze fixed on the horizon. For a moment, Rafe simply watched her, his heart swelling with a mixture of longing and regret. He knew he had hurt her, and the thought gnawed at him relentlessly. Summoning every ounce of courage he possessed, Rafe took a hesitant step forward, the cool sand shifting beneath his feet. "Delia," he called out softly, his voice carrying across the gentle night breeze. Startled, Delia turned towards him, her eyes widening in surprise as she caught sight of him standing there, his imposing silhouette illuminated by the moonlight. “Rafe," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. Then, as if drawn by some invisible force, Rafe took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “Delia," he murmured, his voice a low
As Rafe hoists Delia over his shoulders and carries her to the villa, her body trembles with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. His palm kneading her behind, he easily holds her weight up the rocky terrain. When they finally enter the villa, he leads them straight to her bedroom. With a swift motion, he throws her onto the bed, the mattress bouncing beneath her. Delia's heart races as she meets his hungry gaze. She scoots back nervously, her eyes locked on him as he approaches with a predatory glint in his eyes. But before she can protest or resist, he grasps both her legs, pulling them forward while simultaneously stripping off her pajama shorts, leaving her bottom half bare to him. Rafe stares at her beautiful glistening core as if entranced, his desire evident in the hungry look in his eyes. "Mine," he whispers hoarsely before diving in and tasting her directly for the first time. Delia gasps at the sensation of his warm tongue, her fingers clutching at th
As Nate's figure disappeared from their view, Delia's attention was abruptly seized as Rafe's strong grip enclosed around her arm, yanking her into the villa. “Why is Nate here again, and why are you just in your towel?" Rafe's voice dripped with possessiveness, his eyes ablaze with jealousy. Feeling her anger flare at his accusatory tone, Delia wrenched her arm from his grasp with defiance. "He was just here to check on me. Where were you this morning?” Rafe's predatory aura intensified as he closed the distance between them, his steps deliberate and menacing. “He sure likes to check on you a lot”. Delia instinctively backed away until she felt the cool surface of the wall press against her back. Before she could react, Rafe seized both her wrists and pinned them above her head, causing her towel to slip away, leaving her exposed to his hungry gaze. Turning her around to face the wall, Rafe pressed his body against hers, the heat of his desire palpable against her skin as h
As Delia awoke from her unexpected afternoon siesta, the soft glow of evening light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm hue across the room. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she glanced at her phone, half-expecting to find a message from Rafe. Disappointment flickered briefly as she saw none, but she brushed it aside with a shrug, reminding herself that he had promised to see her later. She decided to head to the beach and take a dip into the ocean to freshen up. She slipped into her white one-piece swimsuit and made her way down the beach access. As she reached the shoreline, the sound of crashing waves greeted her. Without hesitation, Delia waded into the ocean, the water refreshing against her skin after the warmth of the day. To her surprise, she spotted Ethan in the distance, his muscular arms cutting strong strokes through the water as he swam laps in the open expanse. Delia waved out to him, a smile lighting up her face as their eyes met. Ethan returned
Delia was curled up with a book in the cozy reading nook of her villa, when she was startled by the sound of the doorbell. Looking at the time, she thought Rafe may have returned earlier than expected. She made her way to the door and opened it to find Phillip standing at her doorstep, looking a bit disheveled. “Phillip, what are you doing here?" Delia's voice betrayed her confusion. "Delia, lass, I hate to bother ya, but my car broke down a little ways from here," Phillip admitted sheepishly. "I think I left the headlight on draining the battery. I was wondering if you could give me a jumpstart?" Delia's brow furrowed in concern. "Of course," she replied with a reassuring smile. "Let me grab my keys, and we'll head out right away." "Thank you, lass. I really appreciate it," Phillip said earnestly. “It's no trouble at all," Delia reassured him, leading the way to her Mini parked outside. "Let's get you sorted out." With Phillip settled into the passenger seat, Delia star
As Rafe carried Delia into the villa, her protests fell on deaf ears as he firmly held her in place, his grip unyielding. "Rafe, put me down!" Delia exclaimed, her voice echoing through the halls as she thumped against his back. In response, Rafe's hand came down on her behind, lightly spanking it. He walked through the villa, out onto the veranda and then the pool area. He finally set Delia down on her feet. With a deft hand, he removed her top and unbuttoned her shorts, pulling them down and leaving her standing in nothing but her lace bra and underwear. “Rafe, what are you doing?" Delia questioned as she met his intense gaze. But Rafe's eyes darkened at the sight of her. “Let's go for a swim," he suggested in a husky tone, as he removed his shirt, revealing his sculpted eight-pack. Delia's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him in awe. This man before her was nothing short of a god. Without waiting for her response, Rafe dropped his trousers and dove into
Once Simon was back on his battleship with an unconscious Delia in his arms, he moved swiftly through the deck, his boots thudding against the wooden planks. His grip on her was firm but careful, mindful of her injuries.He pushed through the infirmary doors, his voice cutting through the tense air.“Get the doctor. Now.”The nurses jumped into action, one of them sprinting down the corridor while Simon gently laid Delia onto an empty cot. She looked fragile under the harsh medical lights, her skin pale beneath the soot and grime. His jaw clenched. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.Within a minute, the doctor arrived and he wasted no time, kneeling beside Delia and inspecting her wounds.“Her leg is badly injured,” Simon muttered, his voice tight.The doctor worked quickly, his hands moving over Delia’s body with practiced efficiency. After a thorough check, he turned to a nurse. “Put her on oxygen. She’s weakened and has inhale a lot of smoke. If we don’t stabilize her soon
The moment the scent of smoke reached Delia’s nose, a fresh wave of panic surged through her.A faint crackling sound reached her ears, followed by the distant shouts of men above deck. Heavy boots pounded against the wood, the sound chaotic—frantic.For a split second, she wondered—was this a rescue?Or something much worse?Delia scrambled to her feet, pressing her palms against the door. It was still locked, trapping her inside while something—someone—set the ship ablaze.She had to get out.If she didn’t get out, she’d burn with this damn ship.Sweat beaded on her forehead as she pressed her ear against the wooden door, her breath coming in shallow pants. The smoke was getting thicker, curling into the room like a living thing, its tendrils creeping up the walls, filling her lungs with every breath.Her fingers traced the door’s rough surface, her nails scraping at the old wood. She slammed the door again and again but no one seemed to hear her.She took a step back, then rammed h
The crew parted as Delia was shoved forward, their yellow eyes gleaming in the dim lantern light. Some grinned, others eyed her like she was prey.But it was the man standing at the railing that held her attention. His stance was casual, hands resting lightly on the wooden railing, but Delia could tell immediately—he was dangerous.His sandy brown hair was wild from the wind, and when he finally turned, the glowing gold of his wolf eyes pierced through the darkness.He was tall, broad-shouldered, and despite the way he stood with ease, Delia’s sharp eyes caught the subtle stiffness in his posture. His shirt was dark, unbuttoned just enough to reveal the bloodstained bandages beneath it.He was injured and it had likely been when they attacked St. John.A flicker of satisfaction curled in her chest. So, they hadn’t won completely.“Ah,” the man finally murmured, a slow smirk curving his lips. “So, this is the infamous Delia.”She lifted her chin, refusing to show fear. “And you are?”H
Delia kicked and thrashed, but the rogues’ grip on her was unyielding.The jungle floor was a blur beneath her as they dragged her through the dense undergrowth, her legs catching on roots and jagged rocks. Thorns scraped her exposed skin, but she barely felt the pain—her mind was in pure panic mode.“Let me go, you sick bastards!” she snapped, her breath coming in ragged gasps.The rogue on her left, a burly man with a thick scar down his cheek, barked out a laugh. “Feisty little thing, ain’t she?”The other, a wiry rogue with wild, matted hair, grinned. “Shame we ain’t allowed to have a little fun with her first.”Delia’s stomach twisted in revulsion.She jerked hard, trying to rip free, but the scarred rogue yanked her back so violently that her feet nearly lifted off the ground.“You’re making this real difficult for yourself, sweetheart,” he sneered. “I’d save your energy. You’re gonna need it.”She spat at him, her eyes blazing with fury. “Go to hell.”The rogue wiped the spit o
Ethan sat near the grand windows of the mansion, his body tense as Alex’s mind-link echoed in his head.“Rafe’s been hit with wolfsbane. He’s unconscious. We’re taking him to the hospital now”A chill settled in his bones. Wolfsbane was no ordinary poison—it was lethal to werewolves, weakening them beyond recovery if not treated quickly. And if Rafe, their Alpha, had fallen in battle, the situation was even worse than he thought.But his biggest concern at the moment sat across from him.Delia was curled up on the couch, her slender fingers lightly tracing the spine of the book in her lap. Though her eyes were locked onto the pages, he could tell her mind was elsewhere. Probably on Rafe.Ethan swallowed. She didn’t know the truth.About Rafe. About werewolves. About the extent of the war that Rafe was fighting right outside these walls.And yet—he had to tell her something.Making a quick decision, he pulled out his phone, pretending to read a text. He needed an excuse. A human excuse
Delia had gone back to Rafe’s room, but her mind refused to settle. She tried lying down, hoping exhaustion would take over, but with the sunlight streaming through the windows and her thoughts tangled in knots, sleep evaded her.She kept replaying everything—Riley’s call, the men looking for her, Rafe’s reaction when she told him. She had been about to tell him everything about her past when Alex interrupted.But the look on Alex’s face—something was wrong.Unable to shake the unease creeping up her spine, she paced the room, her bare feet padding softly against the cool floor.Then came a gentle knock on the door.Delia froze for a second before quickly walking over and pulling it open.Standing there was Ethan, his usual easygoing expression replaced with something more serious.“Hi, Ethan,” she greeted, scanning his face. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”Ethan gave her a small nod, not wanting to alarm her but also not willing to lie. “Yeah. But Rafe’s handling it.”Delia folded her
Ring… ring… ring… Delia groaned softly, stirring from sleep as her phone vibrated insistently on the nightstand. Still half-asleep, she fumbled for it, squinting at the screen. Riley. A small frown creased her brow. Riley wasn’t supposed to call her. A sliver of unease crept into Delia’s chest as she swiped to answer. “Hello?” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. “Delia.” Riley’s voice came through the line, tense and anxious. Delia sat up instantly, her heart pounding. “Riley? What’s wrong?” A sniffle. Then a shaky breath. “Oh, Delia…” Riley’s voice cracked. “I think they found me. The people who were looking for you.” Delia felt the blood drain from her face. “What? How? Tell me everything!” “I don’t know,” Riley’s voice wavered. “I was headed home from work and stopped by the corner store to grab some milk. When I looked out the window, I saw them—two men standing right outside my building.” Delia’s grip tightened around the phone. “Are you sure it was them?
After Rafe and Delia finally showered, he carried her into the bedroom, his arms strong and steady as she nestled against him. The moment they reached the bed, the world outside ceased to exist. They made love with an unrelenting passion, their bodies drawn together like magnets. Time blurred as their desire seemed endless, and the day melted into night. They were insatiable, exploring every inch of each other, their connection deepening with every touch, every whispered word, and every shared breath. It wasn’t until the first rays of morning sunlight spilled into the room that they finally surrendered to exhaustion. Delia lay curled up in the sheets, her soft, steady breaths signaling her deep sleep. Rafe watched her for a moment, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and affection. A sudden twinge in his mind broke through the peaceful moment—a mind link from Alex. “Rafe, we need to meet. It’s urgent.” Rafe sighed, already knowing the responsibilities of his positio
As Rafe’s lips pressed against hers, Delia gasped softly, her hands threading into his damp hair. “Rafe…” she whispered breaking off, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions she couldn’t yet name. He pulled back slightly, his breath hot against her. “I’ve missed you, Delia,” he said, his voice husky, filled with raw honesty. “I’ve missed every part of you.” Her heart raced, each beat echoing in her ears. “Rafe,” she whispered, as she reached up to cradle his cheek. Her eyes locked with his, brimming with unspoken longing. “I’ve missed you too—so much.” Before the words could fully settle between them, their lips met again, this time with a fevered urgency. The kiss deepened, filled with the raw passion as their bodies were drawn together as though nothing else in the world existed. Rafe pressed Delia firmly against the cool bathroom wall, her back arching as the contrast of heat and cold sent shivers through her. A soft moan slipped from her lips. Rafe’s lips moved down