Leaning forward, I caught a mischievous glint in Stephen's eye. His voice dipped to a slow, creepy tone that sent shivers down my spine. "They say evil drops of water sometimes stalk unsuspecting maidens in the dead of night.""Not funny," I grumbled, shoving ineffectually at his thighs. "Get off me!""Don't think so, love. I'm perfectly comfortable right here."Heat flooded my cheeks. Not only was he on top of me, but his gaze lingered pointedly on my chest. The thin t-shirt offered little protection in the chilly room, and I could only imagine what he must be seeing.Just then, the door creaked open and Stephen's snickering was cut short by Stephen entering with a bucket. He chuckled, the sound laced with amusement. "Ria, mind holding off until I leave? Seeing Viktor 'get off' isn't exactly my cup of tea, good friends and all."My face burned like fire. "That's not what I meant!" I exclaimed, crossing my arms defensively. Stephen offered no apology, simply placing the bucket down wi
I arched my back as the sensations caused by his sucking mixed with the stroking of my swollen nub. Need coiled inside me and I abandoned his back in favor of gripping the bed sheets. He switched to my other nipple and I began to whimper, tremors starting to build. His stroking changed pace and he added another finger inside me, then a third. With the extra thickness stretching me, I went over the edge, convulsing as my release swept through me from head to toe, leaving me panting and limp.“Hmm… A much better morning expression; all happy and relaxed,” Viktor smoothed his hand down my body, sounding much too smug. If I hadn’t been so pleasantly relaxed, I would have slapped him. Not knowing and probably not caring about my thoughts, he continued on in a teasing tone of voice. “But, you look so much more relaxed than I do, and we really should be a matched set, don’t you think?” With that, he put on a condom, moved over me, and settled between my thighs.“Again?” I managed to make m
Viktor's povThe wind howled outside, a wild symphony of rattling branches and whipping debris. It was the kind of day that messed with your senses, swirling scents around until you couldn't tell a rose from a skunk. Sound got all distorted too, and every rustle of leaves had me on edge. Great. Just what I needed.I shoved the front door shut and finally got a break from the wind's icy grip. Back inside. Civilization.Almost.The smell of coffee hit me first, warm and inviting. Then came another scent, fainter but familiar – Adriana. And the memory of her flushed skin, tangled in the sheets. My wolf stirred, a low growl rumbling in my chest. I'd slept with plenty of women, some way prettier, some way more experienced. But this morning with Adriana… it was different. Something about her.Except here's the problem: Adriana a freaking journalist. The last thing I needed was to get tangled up with a nosy reporter. Especially one who smelled like sunshine and temptation. I had to keep my
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