Lying beside him, I couldn't help but stare up at the ceiling, my hazel green eyes filled with a mix of emotions. It had happened. The deed was done. We were officially mated now. But deep down, I knew the truth, our union was not born out of love, but rather selfish political alliances. The thought offered me no comfort, only the ache of a broken heart.Beside me, I sensed his movement as he turned towards me, his eyes searching for mine. I purposely avoided meeting his gaze, instead focusing on calming my racing breath. But try as I might, my breath still trembled, betraying my inner turmoil. Despite my rapid blinking, a single tear escaped, making its way down my cheek.I heard the covers rustle as he shifted closer to me. His finger gently brushed against my face, capturing the tear. "I'm sorry, Hailey," his voice resonated in the dimly lit room, both deep and gentle. His touch was followed by a soft stroke through my brunette hair and a tender kiss on the crook of my neck."I kno
"What?" I couldn't contain my surprise as a strange quivering feeling began to develop within me."Do not make this difficult, Hailey," Alpha Dean sighed frustratedly."Difficult?" I fought the urge to glare hard at him as my lips trembled. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening, I thought, my mind racing."The elders have requested an alliance to maintain peace. Alpha Killian leads the largest and most powerful pack in the eastern region. This is a perfect opportunity, and it seems he has taken a liking to you. He did not object to this proposal," my father explained, his voice holding a gentler tone."But... it's too sudden," I said, my gaze darting nervously across the room at Killian, who stood stoically with his hands behind his back. His expression remained distant, unreadable. I turned to my father, desperately trying to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes."What about Stephan?" I half-yelled at him, my voice filled with a mix of sadness and anger. "You know I love him. Y
Three hours later, I found myself seated at a table beside a stranger, a man whose name I did not even know.My gaze swept across the hall, my heartbeat echoing like a drum in my chest. The atmosphere was adorned with vibrant fall flowers, their colors weaving together in a tapestry of warmth. The best china gleamed upon the tables, shrouded in delicate linen cloths.An array of mouthwatering dishes, from savory meats to fresh vegetables, rolls, and salads, adorned the serving tables. I marveled at Lily's ability to effortlessly conjure a feast for the pack with such short notice.Despite the delicious spread before me, I found myself unable to partake in the meal. The food sat untouched on my plate, my appetite suppressed by the overwhelming weight of my circumstances. Well-wishes and kind words from my pack members were offered, accompanied by speeches from the elders.As the bonding ceremony commenced, Killian stepped forward, guiding me to the front of the room. Words were spoken,
In the morning, I stirred from my slumber only to find myself alone in the bed. As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, a hollow space on the pillow beside me and the disheveled covers confirmed that the events of the previous night were not mere figments of my imagination.Killian and I were now mated, bound together by an unbreakable tie, despite the absence of any genuine love between us.If it had been Stephan, our connection would have been solidified through a blood-bond, the act of biting each other's necks serving as a mark of our belongingness. Such a bond would have woven our minds together, growing stronger as our lives intertwined.However, this customary gesture was absent with Killian. While I felt a tinge of relief for avoiding the mark, an unexpected sense of annoyance crept upon me. I had secretly longed for the opportunity to refuse, to claim a small victory and reaffirm my loyalty to Stephan."Where the hell is he anyway?" Taking a soft breath, I raised my head and
One hour had passed, and I found myself standing on the forest's edge, patiently waiting for Killian. After tidying up from breakfast, he had hurried off to the pack house to attend to urgent matters, promising to meet me in thirty minutes.Uncertain if I truly desired to run with him, an activity I had previously enjoyed with Stephan, I recognized the importance of putting in effort to make our relationship work. Running together could potentially be one of the few shared interests we had.The day was a picturesque autumn scene, with trees adorned in shades of orange, red, and gold, and a clear, azure sky above. Although the morning mist was receding under the warmth of the sun's ascent, delicate tendrils of fog still danced near the ground, lending an ethereal touch to the surroundings.This place truly felt like paradise to me, and I couldn't fathom ever finding such comfort and tranquility elsewhere."Where the hell is he?" I muttered under my breath, taking a long, deep breath to
Our Lycan form moved with an elegant grace, our powerful muscles rippling beneath our sleek fur. I, a beautiful she-wolf, possessed a fur of auburn and gold, accentuated by streaks of white that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. My lithe form glided effortlessly through the forest. Eyes gleaming with a fierce determination and a spark of untamed wildness.Close behind, Killian, a magnificent alpha male, exuded an undeniable aura of dominance and strength. His fur, a mix of deep ebony and silver-gray, hinted at his lineage and the power he held within. Every movement he made was precise and deliberate, his stature commanding respect and obedience.The leaves crunched under my nimble paws, the vibrant world becoming a blur as i raced through the forest. With each leap over logs and nimble maneuver around tree trunks, the sheer joy of running propelled me forward.My vibrant eyes scanned the horizon, adjusting my course and speed effortlessly with the ever-changing terrain.Yet, I could
I stirred from a deep slumber, my eyes fluttering open to a previously unfamiliar room. Momentary confusion clouded my thoughts as i attempted to grasp my surroundings.Where am I?, It took a moment for reality to set in, i was in a cabin, sharing it with my new mate, Killian. The memories of the past twenty-four hours flooded back, their connection no longer just a figment of my imagination.Allowing my head to sink back onto the soft pillow, I silently observed Kilian as he dressed. A sense of awe washed over me as my eyes absorbed the sight of his well-toned sexy physique, each muscle rippling across his back and his defined buttocks.His legs, strong and sturdy, provided further evidence of his physical prowess. Just as my gaze traveled downward, he turned, catching me watching him.A small seductive smile of mischief played on his lips as he acknowledged my sly stare. "You can do more than just watch, I won't mind," my cheeks heated up at his words,"I see you're awake,""Mhmm,"
I couldn't help but smile at Jace's playful comment, a hint of wistfulness in my expression. "You'll have to find someone else to annoy now," I teased, my voice tinged with a touch of sadness.Jace chuckled and ruffled my hair affectionately one last time. "Don't worry, I'll manage. But seriously, Hailey, you've grown into such a remarkable young woman. I'm proud of you, and I know you'll do great things in your new pack."His words warmed my heart, reminding me of the bond we had formed over the years. Jace had been like a fun-loving uncle, always there to lend an ear or engage in a silly prank.His presence had brought joy and laughter to my life, and I would miss his carefree spirit.As I pulled away from Jace's embrace, I turned to face Lily, my eyes brimming with gratitude."And you, Lily," I said softly, my voice filled with emotion, "thank you for everything. You've been more than just a caretaker to me and my siblings. You've been our rock, our guiding light."Tears glistened
A week later, the world felt a little flatter. The police had finally wrapped up their investigation. It was a random act of violence, they said. Lucy, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A stupid, pointless loss. The idea that Aldrich wouldn’t be blamed for anything grated on me, but I knew involving him would open a can of worms I wasn’t ready to deal with. It wouldn’t bring Lucy back anyway.We brought her home, to Stump River. The town was in mourning. Armand was a shadow of himself, the twinkle gone from his eyes. He disappeared for days after the service and I wondered if he’d turned into a bear and wandered off to grieve in the woods. Were his emotions as raw when he was in animal form? Or did he spend his time scratching at trees, trying to claw the pain away? When he finally reappeared, he looked haggard, but there was a strange kind of peace in his eyes.Beth and Josh went all out with the newspaper article. Pictures of Lucy, smiling and laughing, filled the pages.
Morning. I reclined in the seat as Viktor slowly drove the car out of the parking garage. We’d talked on and off throughout the night and I’d finally accepted the truth of what he’d been telling me. I was becoming a werewolf. There’d been anger and tears; he’d apologized, even though forcing my transformation hadn’t been intentional. Eventually, I’d come to a sort of numb acceptance of the fact.However, my whole life was changing now. I wasn’t just Adriana Watson, waitress and journalism student. Now I was Adriana Watson, secret werewolf. From what I could gather from Viktor's ‘crash course in wolves,’ they were social creatures and lived in packs. There was an Alpha who kept everyone in line and made the important decisions, though pack meetings were held to discuss options. Full moons were a time to party and, if you were new to the whole werewolf thing like me, you had no control and transformed once a month. Older wolves could fight the effects if they wished, though most didn’
My heart pounded like a trapped animal as the lycans closed in, their red eyes burning into me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. These creatures were straight out of a nightmare."Adriana, get behind me," my voice was frantic as I shoved her aside, preparing to shift."Vik..." she whispered, clinging to my arm."Don't worry, Everything will be alright, just need to handle a few stray dogs that's all" I managed a reassuring smile, and then I charged. A towering black wolf replaced me, my fur bristling with tension.The air was thick with the metallic taste of blood and the sharp scent of fear. My senses were on high alert, every hair on my body standing on end. Dozens of pairs of eyes, glowing like embers, focused on me. A massive red lycan charged, but I was faster, slipping beneath its snapping jaws. I countered with a swift attack, his teeth sinking into the lycan's flesh.A deafening howl filled the cavern as the red lycan bucked me off, sending me crashing into the cold, damp
Adriana's povThe metallic tang of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating. Viktor and I stood frozen, our gazes glued to Aldrich's lifeless body slumped on the floor. A single, neat bullet hole marred his forehead. What the hell just happened?The echo of Mr. Greyson's voice shattered the stunned silence. "A pleasure to finally meet you both, Miss Watson and Viktor Donovan... or should I say Viktor Dominique?"My head snapped towards Viktor, relief flooding my chest at his presence. According to him, he was some kind of werewolf. Maybe, just maybe, with him by my side, I had a fighting chance.A nagging worry gnawed at me. If what Viktor said was true, then did that mean I wasn't entirely human? I shoved the thought aside. This wasn't the time to unravel my existential crisis. Getting out of this place alive was priority number one. Viktor could explain everything later.Viktor narrowed his eyes at Greyson, his voice laced with suspicion. "How'd you figure out my real name?"Grey
Viktor's povFollowing a hunch, I hailed a cab and rattled off the address for Greyson's estate. The city was a chaotic mess, a constant symphony of honking horns and shouted insults. I tuned it out, my gut churning with worry. My wolf whined its primal need to find Adriana, to know she was safe.The thought of her alone, grappling with the Change with no guidance, tore at me. Would her body and mind accept this forced transformation? Or would she fight it, a resistance that could be fatal according to Nadia? The icy grip of fear tightened around my heart.But then, a chilling logic surfaced. If she'd spilled the secret, if the wolves knew, she was already a dead woman walking. Was a swift death from the Change preferable to one at my hand? Could I even look her in the eye, deliver the killing blow?Alpha. Duty. The words echoed in my head, hollow and meaningless. Images of Adriana flooded my mind her warm brown eyes, the defiant lift of her chin, the way she'd make me laugh with her
Panic clawed at my throat as Lucy's ragged breaths became uneven. Her pale face, framed by blood-soaked blonde hair, sent a jolt of fear through me. My fingers trembled as I brushed her cheek, whispering her name, but there was no response. A string of curses ripped from my lips. This wasn't right. She shouldn't be hurt, possibly dying. This wasn't her mess. Lucy was pure sunshine, always radiating warmth and kindness. Guilt gnawed at me, reminding me of her playful teasing, the way she'd sashay around with a tray of drinks and a witty comment on her lips. I blinked back the moisture stinging my eyes. Steeling myself, I rose. Moving to the sofa, I sniffed where the unknown male's scent lingered. A scent and a maybe-name –l meager scraps of evidence in a city this size. The scent would be impossible to track, and "Greyson" meant nothing to me. What the hell was I supposed to do? Sirens wailed in the distance, a sharp reminder of the need to leave. Being caught at a crime scene would
The door suddenly opened and I was forced to abandon my conflicted thoughts. Jumping to my feet, I turned to face an obviously surprised Lucy. “Viktor, what are you doing here?” “Hi, Lucy. I… um… ” She walked up to me and kissed my cheek, before moving to take her coat off. “Never mind. I know the truth." “You do?” He stiffened, assuming the worst. “Of course. You’re sorry for your fight with Ria and came here to make up.” “Uh… Right. That’s it.” I latched onto the lifeline she’d unknowingly handed to me. “I’m here to make things right.” Lucy nodded, glancing at Adriana lying on the sofa, her face quickly changing from a happy to grin to real concern. “Oh, is she sick again?” “Yeah. She fainted coming into the building and I carried her up here. She has a fever. I was just going to give her an aspirin." “I’ll get some from the medicine cabinet.” Lucy turned to go. “No. I already checked. There isn’t any. Um… why don’t you sit with her and I’ll go to the store.” I f
I didn't know where she was. Just be quiet, I ordered myself, clenching my jaw. Creeping past the doorway, I peeked into the first room the bedroom. Clothes were strewn everywhere, a mishmash of Lucy's floral patterns and my own dark t-shirts. Her scent lingered, a familiar mix of lavender and something distinctly... her. The bathroom was empty, the towels abandoned in a heap. Back in the living area, a few papers lay scattered on the counter. Junk mail, bills, nothing interesting. But then aha! On a nearby table, Adriana laptop glowed, left open. Sitting down, I scanned the screen, my stomach tightening. My name stared back at me, bold and accusing, next to a picture file I knew for a fact I'd deleted. That little...! Somehow, she'd gotten more copies. Fury surged through me as I clicked on the document titled with my name. The more I read, the deeper my scowl became. By the time I reached the final paragraphs, I wanted to hurl the damn machine across the room. There it was, in bl
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Lucy stared at me with a frown. “You still don’t look so good.” We were leaning against the kitchen counter sipping coffee and preparing to start our day. I, however reluctantly, had to head off to meet with Aldrich, while Lucy was going to spend the morning taking a bus tour of the city that I had recommended. Rolling my eyes, I reassured Lucy, yet again. "Honestly, I'm fine. The fever broke last night. My arm's not as sore. It's just a lack of sleep and nerves over this meeting that are making me look less than prime. I'll go see Aldrich and give him this report while you take a tour of the city. Then we'll meet back here for lunch and go shopping." "Why don't you just e-mail the report and come with me?" I sighed. "I wish, but Aldrich hates e-mail. He wants face to face contact. I think he likes to watch people squirm." Seeing Lucy's concerned expression, I added a light laugh. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." "Well… if you're sure." "Go." I