Eirika emerged from the dense woods, panting heavily as she sprinted towards a clearing where she could rest for a while. Her eyes scanned the surroundings for any sign of danger before she finally collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. She had been on the run for days, trying to put as much distance as possible between herself and Arric. And trying very hard not to think about him – which was not easy. Her shoulders shook in tears as she cried for him, allowing herself to scream into the void for the first time since she learned of his identity. How could the goddess be cruel as to give her the son of the man who killed her parents as a mate?! And how could he seem so perfect that he stole her heart within a few weeks of knowing him? How could such a man as Alpha Roffe Barther sire a son like Arric? The thought of his name produced fresh tears from her eyes. Her very soul craved his presence, his touch, his love. He had treated her with such care and tenderness. And it had all
Eirika took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves as she was led through the streets of the Silvertooth Nightstalkers Pack grounds. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she looked around at the well-structured village. The rows of houses on either side of the streets were neat and organized, with each one displaying the status of the pack member who lived there.As they walked through the quiet streets, Eirika couldn't help but notice the stark differences between the houses on each street. Some streets had smaller, more run-down houses, while others had grander, more opulent ones. She couldn't help but wonder what sort of hierarchy existed within the pack. Eventually, they arrived at a large, ornate gate that led to her uncle's house. Eirika's heart pounded as they approached. The house was a modern mansion built like a castle, with towers and turrets rising up into the sky. It was breathtaking, but Eirika was more concerned with what lay ahead.As they approached the g
"Now, let me tell you how we are going to play this," Her uncle said calmly as he took her through a hallway paved in gold. As if they didn't just leave a scene of slaughtered werewolves in their wake or that a few minutes before he wasn't going to have her killed. She tried to act indifferent, not knowing where this was leading. But all her senses were on high alert for any signs of danger, clutching the dagger tightly under her jacket. She didn't know if he was mated now or had offspring. The last time she saw him, he was having problems with neighboring packs and had come to her father for help. There was never any mention of an immediate family. And with how quiet the house seemed, it appeared he was living alone. He took her into his study with bookshelves framing one side of the wall and a wine cabinet on the other. The office had a high ceiling and at two corners of it were two stuffed heads of terrifying-looking wolves, mounted high up the walls. The room smelled strongly o
Eirika slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the dim light filtering through the curtains. She yawned and stretched her arms, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from sleeping too long. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock as she realized the sun had already set and the moon had risen high in the sky. She had slept for an entire day! "Holy hells!" she cursed and quickly jumped out of bed, adrenaline pumping through her veins as the happenings of the previous day replayed in her head. She looked around her new home with her eyes darting in their sockets. If she must form a plan she really couldn't afford to be carried away. The real task was just beginning and first, she must know her terrain She decided to freshen up and hurriedly made her way to the bathroom. She took a long, hot shower, feeling the warm water soothe her aching body. After getting dressed, she went to the kitchen to make herself some food. Rummaging through the cupboards, she found some eggs, bacon, and bre
Eirika saw the scar-faced guy standing up watching them intently. His eyes were cold and piercing. She held Nigel’s gaze, plastered a seductive smile on her face, and closed the distance between them, deliberately swaying her hips for effect and batting her eyelashes. “I promise, handsome, this was not my fault. The big, bad guy was being mean to me and poor Brook,” she said, pouting, and placed an open palm against his chest to stare into his unfamiliar-colored eyes. She recalled his eyes used to be hazel with gold flecks and now they were dull green like regular wolves. “And you need to be careful or I might start thinking you are following me. This is the third time we have run into each other today,” she added. Nigel’s eyebrow furrowed as he returned her keen stare. “You can’t keep getting into trouble like this, pup,” Nigel said. Eirika almost collapsed from relief. ‘Thank you,’ she mouthed. And aloud she said, “He started it!” Two werewolves tried to help Jack up but he ro
"I'm down in the basement, dad," Nigel said, and shortly after Eirika heard the door open and turned around. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw it was her uncle's beta. He eyed her warily, darting his gaze from her to Nigel. "Dad…" "Good evening or should I say morning, Miss Aria," the older werewolf said. "Aria?" Nigel repeated. "Since when are you Aria?" Nigel said with a confused frown. "You know this young lady?" his father asked. "We went to school together," Nigel said and went to stand beside his dad. The two of them stood side by side and Eirika recalled why she had thought the older man looked familiar. They looked alike but their eyes were all wrong. "Why are your eyes dull green?" Eirika asked. Nigel arched an eyebrow at her. His father frowned, looking worried. "Maybe if you explain what's really going on with you, I will trust you with my answers," Nigel said, "because we both know you are not Aria. You are wearing contacts and that is not your real hai
Nigel knocked on Eirika's door at the crack of dawn. She answered the door in her training gear, ready to start the day. They went for a jog in the woods, sticking to the shoreline away from the town’s border where they might be sighted. They jogged side by side in companionable silence. Nigel's father had warned her to be careful what she and Nigel discussed in the open, reminding them they were in a werewolf's pack and nothing much was hidden. He told them not to let anyone know that they had a history. Otherwise, that would get Nigel in trouble. When they returned to Eirika's cottage, she offered to cook Nigel breakfast, joking–in dark humor–about taking advantage of the hospitality. Nigel agreed, holding her gaze. Eirika cooked them a hearty breakfast, and Nigel quickly devoured his. "Thanks for the breakfast, Eirika. It's… not bad," Nigel said. Eirika threw a napkin at him. He chuckled and she couldn’t help but stared at him, still in disbelief that she was with Nigel Hartwell
"First, you need to be quick on your feet. Use your agility to dodge their attacks and strike when they're off balance. "Remember, Eirika, always keep your guard up," Nigel reminded her. "Your opponent can strike at any moment."Eirika followed his instructions and began to practice her moves on a punching bag.After a few minutes, Nigel decided it was time for her to try them out on him again. He put on some protective gear and stepped into the ring with her. Eirika felt a surge of adrenaline as she faced off against him. They spent hours practicing different techniques, with Nigel emphasizing the importance of strategy and quick thinking.They sparred for what felt like hours, Eirika trying out different moves and Nigel giving her tips and feedback along the way. By the end of the session, Eirika was sweating and out of breath, but she felt more confident in her ability to defend herself.Next up was archery. Nigel set up a series of targets at varying distances and instructed Eirik