I stormed up the stairs towards the bedroom. The front door slammed behind as Killian entered, but I didn’t look back. my emotions were vacillating rapidly, at the moment anger was foremost. How dare Killian accuse me of infidelity? Once in our room, I headed for the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Running cold water, I splashed some on my face, trying desperately to cool down. I was so hot, my nerves were on edge, my skin was crawling... Leaning against the vanity, I looked into the mirror. Oh great! It was last night all over again, eyes dilated, cheeks flushed, rapid breathing. At least this time Killian was here, but jumping into bed with me probably wasn’t his main priority right now, and quite frankly, I was too upset with him to find the idea very appealing either. The door handle rattled. “Hailey, come out of there this instant!” “Keep your shirt on!” I shouted back. The sound of Killian huffing and stomping away followed my comment. I considered staying in the bat
I fought to suppress it, to hang on to my anger but logic was slipping away. Without even realizing it, I was drawing him close, needing what only he could give. A deep rumble sounded in Killian's chest as he stared down at me, his expression almost feral. His rage, just like mine, had been replaced by a hot, hard wildness that demanded he claim me. And, when he did, I did nothing to stop him, encouraging him with soft whimpers and gasps, caressing his strong body, breathless yet urging him to ease the ache that clawed at me. I pulled him closer, demanding more, needing more, begging him not to stop. The tension was unbearable. I was on the brink, ready to go over the edge, when the fringes of my mind sensed a change. Through passion hazed eyes, I saw Killian looming over me. His lips were pulled back, his canines were extending. A frisson of fear shot through me and I tried to focus, tried to make sense of what was happening except an all too familiar tingle was overtaking me. My
The sound of swords clashing and screams echoed through the grand hall as I nervously clutched onto the arm of Natalia. The enemy forces had breached the walls of Killian's home, and now they were making their way through the grand corridors in search of me."Hailey!," I sighed in relief watching Romeo make his way towards me with a grim expression on his face."Romeo what is happening?" I asked hoping for an answer"I don't know, an unknown pack breached through the gates, by best guess they probably belong to Viktor," Romeo gritted his teeth, "The bastard finally made his move,""Killian is currently away," Christine joined in the conversation with blood-soaked clothes. I could only presume she had just fought off the enemy."I'll try and contact him, for now, Natalia keep Hailey safe until it's all over," Romeo told Natalia who nodded. I frowned deeply at my helplessness. It had barely been a day since Killian and I blood bonded so I wasn't too confident about how it worked."Leave
I licked my lips and managed to call out, "Josephine, you have to get help. I... I think Natalia might be dead and I’m pretty sure my leg is broken.""Aww, now isn’t that a shame," Josephine said as she carefully picked her way down to me. She dusted off a rock and sat down, cocking her head sideways and staring bemusedly at me. "You know Hailey, I’ll never understand what Killian sees in you.""What?" Josephine's words took me by surprise. Natalia might be dead, and she was just sitting there! "Josephine, you’ve got to check on Natalia. She might still be alive and if we can get help in time,""You’re so...so ordinary. Boring. Why he ever agreed to be mated to you is beyond me," Josephine continued, ignoring my plea for help. "Oh well, you’ll be gone soon and then I’ll get him back. He always comes back. Guilt can work wonders on a man with a conscience."Realizing that Josephine wasn’t going to do anything to help Natalia until she’d had her say, I tried to focus on the conversatio
I stared at the carbon copy of my mate, unsure of what to say. The strength of his muscles was evident by how the material of his clothing stretched tautly over his body. Dark, faintly damp hair hung shaggily over his forehead and there was the faintest curve to his nose as if it had been broken at one point. His mouth was firm and set in a straight, unyielding line. It was amazing that the man could look so much like Killian at first glance yet exude such a different aura. Killian was strong and caring, while Viktor was...dangerous? A part of my mind acknowledged that the rocky, uninviting atmosphere of the ravine seemed to suit him, and I found myself reassured to know that, by Josephine's admission, he was not the psycho rogue wolf that I’d been led to believe. However, he was still an unknown quantity and needed to be treated with caution. Clearing my throat, I gave the lamest greeting possible while Josephine stared in shock and disgust surprised by his unexpected interventio
"No Killian don't!" What happened next was a blur of movement. Killian leapt towards his half-brother and Viktor jumped back, phasing into his wolf form even as he moved. In the blink of an eye, the two males were engaged in combat, growling and biting each other, while I clung to a tree trunk, watching in horror as the situation dissolved into a primitive battle. It was a terrifying sight, yet some ancient part of me thrilled at the idea of the powerful males clashing in battle over me. my heart pounded and blood rushed through my veins. Shaking my head, I tried to suppress the feelings inside me and clear my thinking. I wasn’t some animal waiting to be won by the strongest male! This was barbaric and I had to stop it. Frantically, I looked around for something that could be used to separate the two, but of course, there was nothing to be found. Returning my gaze to the scene in front, I stood transfixed. Snarls filled the air as teeth flashed and claws slashed. The two were equa
I awoke, my senses immediately informing me that I wasn't in my own room. The surface beneath me was too hard, the sheet too scratchy. I felt... numb, as if drifting on a cloud. Was I dead? I hesitantly opened my eyes, wincing as the bright light assaulted my pupils. A large expanse of white greeted me through the veil of my lashes. Hmm... No, definitely not dead, unless the afterlife had a crack in the ceiling plaster. And I certainly wasn't at home. My bed wasn't this uncomfortable. The infirmary? Possibly. Licking my dry lips, I tried to swallow. A bad chemical taste assaulted my tongue, and I yearned for water. I glanced down, hoping for a glass of water by the bed, but something pulled at the skin on my throat. As I lifted my hand, I felt the gauze that was there and tried to recall what had happened.A slight rustling sound drew my attention, and I cautiously turned to see Killian sleeping in a chair beside me. Dark circles under his eyes gave them a bruised look and stubble
His jaw tightened as he thought about the situation. "It’s all my fault. I should have believed what you told me, what everyone tried to tell me over the years, but I guess I didn’t want to hear it. In some ways, Josephine was like my little sister when we were growing up. Later, I thought there was something else, but it was familiarity and a misplaced sense of responsibility. I know I should be sad that she’s gone, but I’m not. The Josephine I thought I knew never really existed." I wanted to ask more questions, but Helena arrived and shooed Killian outside while she delivered medication, checked my leg, and fixed the dressing on my neck. Helena was efficient, but in my opinion, had no bedside manner. I endured the woman’s fussing by watching outside. Killian was talking to someone, just couldn’t see who. From the look on his face, he wasn’t pleased. Hitching myself up in the bed, I earned a scolding from Helena but gained a better view of the activity outside. he was talking...
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