"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on," Kirk shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. The sudden shift to English made everyone turn to face him as if they'd just remembered he was in the room, the air thick with unspoken revelations."We're very sorry, young man. It's rude of us to speak in our mother tongue when we have foreign guests. Please excuse us," Noni said with genuine warmth. Jared grunted something unintelligible and stalked out of the room, his anger leaving a lingering scent of aggression in the air."Come with me, Kirk—I will explain things on the way. I need to get Dale home." Juke's voice carried barely controlled tension as he adjusted Dale's unconscious form in his arms.Kirk's face darkened as understanding dawned, color rising in his cheeks. "That cocksucking motherfucker, I'll kill him. I need a knife. Give me a weapon." His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Why didn't you assholes speak English, where does he live? I'l
When Juke reappeared, his footsteps were lighter on the hardwood floor— his mood seemed to have lifted. The tension had eased from his shoulders, though his eyes still held concern. "They will be here soon. Paul said he's bringing dinner.""You guys really do have dinner early. It's a quarter after three." Kirk glanced at his watch, raising his eyebrows."Dale hasn't eaten. So we'll feed—then I will see you gone. I need to speak with Dale." The possessiveness in Juke's tone made Dale's wolf stir with interest.A short time later, Leah and Paul arrived, bringing the rich aroma of cooked food that made Dale's stomach growl. Jazz had tagged along, adding familiar warmth to the room. While Jazz and Leah busied themselves in the kitchen, the sounds of plates and cutlery creating a domestic symphony, Paul pulled Juke and Dale aside.His face was serious as he explained that Jared had called an emergency council meeting that night. Also, Juke's grandmother had arranged for Dale to meet with
Dale sat at the wooden table in the kitchen, his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. The warmth didn’t quite reach his fingers as the chill of the early morning air seeped through the open window. A quiet reminder that the full moon was only days away. His nerves were too frayed to feel much else. The sky outside was an ink-blue, the faintest glow of dawn slowly creeping over the horizon.Juke paced back and forth, his footfalls steady but tense. Like a shield, Dale could feel the weight of Juke’s protective presence. He hadn’t said much since the night before. Dale guessed Juke’s mind was on the possible outcome from the Council later that day.He had acted like he didn’t care, but Dale could feel his unease through their bond. Noni had said she would be with them soon to take them to meet the elder.Dale shifted in his chair, his stomach knotting as he thought about the questions swirling in his mind. Why was his body changing so dramatically? How was it even possible for hi
The cold bit Dale's cheeks as he ran, Juke's hand gripping his. The forest blurred, growls and snapping twigs grew closer. Dale's breath came in short gasps. His legs burned as they pounded the uneven ground."Keep moving!" Juke's voice rang in his mind. His gaze flicked behind them, and his body coiled. Juke mind-linked Paul and Jazz for help, and he gave them his suspected location as they moved forward. Dale stumbled as Juke dragged him along but caught himself, the edge of his vision swimming. The forest broke into open space—a cliff loomed ahead of them."Juke," Dale panted, his voice shaking. "It's a dead end!"Juke didn't slow his pace. "Trust me."Noni mind-linked Juke. ‘Keep running, and don't get caught. I'm heading down the narrow path, leading some of them with me. I'll head back to the pack and get help. The council needs to hear about this. Your father will know what to do.’The growls behind them grew. Dale glanced over his shoulder to see dark shapes breaking through
As they entered the council chamber, hidden deep within neutral territory, Dale noticed everything about the cavernous room, from its stone walls to its high arched ceiling. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the ancient symbols etched into the stone, giving off an eerie, medieval vibe.A long table stretched at the far end of the room, surrounded by high-backed chairs carved with intricate designs. The musty scent of dampness and age filled the air, almost suffocating in its heaviness. Underneath it lingered the faint aroma of burning lint, a reminder of the gravity of the decisions made within these walls.As he breathed in, Dale could taste the faint hint of earth and mildew, which left a gritty, unpleasant taste in his mouth. The chill of the damp air, mixed with the weight of the room’s solemn atmosphere, made him shiver.They arrived with little time to prepare. Leah briefed Dale on what to expect and a few choice phrases he should use to state his case i
As they neared the alcove, a massive gray wolf lunged at them, its eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Dale felt that strange stirring in his chest again, but Juke intercepted the attacker mid-air before he could react. They crashed to the ground in a tangle of fur and fangs, rolling close to the edge of the corridor, where it dropped off into darkness.Dale's heart leaped into his throat as he watched Juke grapple with the larger wolf in his human form. Why hadn’t he transformed? Despite Juke's skill, the gray wolf's sheer size gave it an advantage. If Juke shifted, his wolf would be larger. They teetered on the brink, locked in a deadly embrace. Dale couldn’t let them enter the darkness.“Why aren’t you shifting?” he asked Juke through the mind-link.“Right now, I can better protect you in human form. My wolf has limitations. Besides, I’m stronger than this wolf, even as a human.”It didn’t seem that way to Dale. Without thinking, he lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of the gray w
Bodies were being removed from inside the chamber, and the council elders reconvened, their expressions grave. Jared stood at the center, his voice carrying authority as he addressed the group.“Arif’s actions today are a blatant disregard for the council’s authority,” Jared said, his tone sharp. “He brought violence to sacred ground. This cannot go unanswered.”Arif, standing off to the side, smirked. “The attack was not sanctioned. If some of my wolves acted out of turn, I will discipline them accordingly.”“You expect us to believe that?” Jazz interjected, his voice dripping with disbelief.Dale felt the weight of their gazes turn toward him. He straightened, forcing his voice to steady. “I don’t know why Arif wants me—he was trying to kill me. He bit me and left me for dead. My turning was incidental, not deliberate. Juke saved me. Claimed me. I don’t belong to Arif.”One of the elders, a woman, leaned forward. “Something happened out there. The wolves hesitated. They responded to
Dale’s heart pounded as Arif stepped closer, his figure illuminated by slivers of moonlight. The forest was unnervingly silent—the wind stirred, and the soft rustle of leaves swirled in the faint breeze and wound through the trees. The feral glint in Arif’s eyes sent a chill racing along Dale’s spine.Juke moved, positioning himself between Dale and Arif. His stance was calm and composed but also ready for action. It was the kind of calm that spoke of malicious intent.“You’ve got nerve showing up here,” Juke said, his voice low and steady, his gaze burning into Arif. “I’d almost applaud it if it weren’t so pathetic.”Arif’s lips curled into a smirk. “I’m not here to fight, Juke. I came to talk.” his gaze bore into Dale.“Talk! Is that what you call ambushing council grounds? Or were your actions some new diplomacy trend I missed?” Juke shot back, his eyes narrowing.Arif ignored the barb, his gaze moving to Dale. “I’m here for what’s mine.”Dale stiffened, the heat in his chest stirr
Juke did as Zander instructed, reminding the others not to make it evident that they knew what Arif planned. Zander sighed, rested his head into Juke’s lap, and closed his eyes. After lovingly stroking Zander’s head, his gaze snapped to stare at Ethan. His jaws tightened, and he developed a tick that jerked at the corner of his mouth. His fist clenched into a ball in Zander’s fur, and Zander whinced, opened his eyes, and gazed at him.I'm sorry, my love. Was I a little rough? Juke asked through their link, smiling down at Zander.It’s okay, loosen your grip a little, Zander said, closing his eyes again.His gaze soon shifted back to Ethan, and the tick jerked faster as his nostrils flared at the sighed of the other man.The external wound to Ethan’s stomach was almost closed. But Juke knew he wasn’t completely healed. Kirk’s cut had been deep. Ethan had shifted to human to push the content back in—soon, he would need to shift back to his wolf for the internal injuries to heal.He prob
Kirk stood protectively beside Dale and Juke, his stance wide and defensive. The bloodied knife was still clutched in his white-knuckled grasp. His clothes were torn and dirty, smeared with his and Ethan’s blood. Despite the savagery of the fight, there was a wild, triumphant gleam in Kirk's eyes that spoke of his satisfaction.Ethan lay in a heap nearby, looking pitiful. Blood seeped from the long gash across his abdomen, staining the ground beneath him a dark crimson. His face was a mask of pain and fury—as his gaze darted between Kirk and Juke with fear and defiance.His eye movement stopped and lingered on Juke. His eyes darkened when he saw Juke gently cradle Dale's face in his hands, mindful of the bruises, as if his touch alone could heal the wounds. Tears flowed down his cheeks, dropping onto Dale's skin and mingling with the dried blood there."You're safe now," Juke murmured, pressing his forehead to Dale's. "I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you." The promise felt hollow co
Juke howled his warning to whoever it was hurting his mate. After ending the mind-link with Paul, he had decided to head back and meet that idiot Kirk before he could get himself into more trouble—only for the wind to assault his sense with a rancid stench of fear.Although he couldn't scent Dale, both he and Roran instinctively knew it was their mate's fear, as the aroma sent a weird sensation to his stomach that tightened his balls and made his ass clench in fear.His fear turned to rage. All he could do to ease the feeling was throw his head back and scream his frustration in a piercing howl into the air, letting them know he was on his way. It also held a promise to destroy them if Dale was hurt.A thought occurred to both Juke and his wolf at the same time. Although they could not scent Dale, they had shared their consciousness with him the night they had escaped during Dale's heat so he could see through their eyes.Even with a suppressant, he and Roran could still tap into Dale
Kirk skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Sweat trickled down his brow despite the cool forest air. He looked around, sniffing the air, frowning.Why is Juke’s scent fading instead of growing stronger?"You idiot," a voice growled. "You're going the wrong way."Kirk spun around, searching for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" he asked."It's me, you fool. Zane. Your wolf."Kirk's jaw dropped. "My, what now? You can talk.”“Not only can I talk! I also know how to say you're an asshole in several languages—would you like to hear?”“No…Where are you?"“Where the hell do you think I am?” the voice tsked. “If brains were dynamite, we’d be in trouble.” Kirk didn’t know how he knew but felt his wolf face-palmed before speaking again with a sigh. “I’m you, and you are me. So dipstick, where the hell do you think I’d be?”“Are you in my head?”“No, I'm lurking behind that bush over there. Come find me.” Zane let out a huff that sounded like another sigh. "You can
Paul felt a mild scratching inside his head—someone was trying to mind-link him. He moved outside the packhouse and closer to the trees near the training field. Juke’s voice entered his head.“Paul, can you hear me?”“Yes, Alpha.”“That’s good. I thought I was out of range.”“You were. I’m in the woods. What’s new?”“The vampire scenting was a ruse to throw me off what’s happening here. We have a traitor in the pack, someone close enough who knows my actions well.”“Other than Jazz and myself, who knows you that well?”“I am still trying to figure it out.”“Could it be someone who knows you well, but you're not close with them? You know, like a stalker.”“That’s possible. It’s not as if my personality is a closed book. Anyway, send this message to my dad. He is to check the pack for a missing person. He can sense them, but they would not be close or assigned off-site tasks. ”“Why?”“Because whoever took Dale is still out here with him. There is no way they had time to return to the p
Kirk's silver eyes darted around the room, taking in his surroundings with an unnerving intensity. His nostrils flared as he inhaled, processing the scents around him. When he spoke, his voice was rough and strained."Water... I need water."Jazz fetched a glass of water while Paul and Leah helped Kirk sit up. He gulped down the water when Jazz handed it to him, droplets spilling down his chin. As he drank, the silver glow in his eyes faded, returning to their normal color."How do you feel?" Paul asked, still supporting Kirk's back.Kirk lowered the empty glass, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I feel... different. Reborn, almost. It's like all my senses have been dialed up to eleven. I can hear your heartbeats, smell the fear lingering in the air, see dust motes dancing in the sunlight."He swung his legs over the edge of the table, testing his balance. "Everything's so clear, so vivid. It's overwhelming."Jazz exchanged a glance with Paul. "Kirk, do you remember what happened?"
Jared threw Kirk to the ground. Grabbing his neck, Kirk yelled. “You cocksucking motherfucker. What happened to giving a guy the heads-up?” Kirk’s eyes rolled back in his head as he continued his tirade. “I hope you rot in hell plagued with a gay virus that turns you into a bottom that’s shagged so hard you gain a second asshole. Fucking wanker.”He didn’t hear the other’s response to his verbiage as he faded into the nothingness that welcomed him.“Dad! What have you done?” Jazz asked, eyes wide with disbelief.“I turned him just like he wanted. It's up to him now if he lives or dies.” Jared tsked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, then cleaning his hand on his pants.“That’s not what I meant. Did you have to be so vicious?”“He shouldn’t have pissed me off. Anyway, he had it coming.” Jared glared at the unconscious Kirk lying motionless on the ground, still gripping the wound on his neck, and nudged him with his foot. “What’s with the fussing? He’s not dead—not yet, anyway
“Roran, calm down. You’re making me anxious. Let’s think this through.”“What do you mean human?” If the situation weren’t so dire, Juke would have laughed at Roran's attempt to insult him by calling him human.“The clothes are Dale’s, but they’re the clothes he borrowed from Kirk. We bought him new ones. The blood is fresh but not enough to cause any life-threatening damage. The vampire scent is stale, probably used to throw us off. Arif is a vile, ruthless creature, but even he has a bottom line, and collaborating with vampires is one of them.” Juke waited for Roran to stop pacing as the fog of panic began to subside.“You’re saying this is staged for my benefit.”“Yes, they knew we would search for Dale in wolf form. They knew you would turn primal in your desire to save our mate. They assumed I would give you full control, and I almost did until I saw the shirt.”“So the one who did this knows us well?”“Yes. We have a traitor, and he is someone close. They know our full strength
While they were in the conference room, Juke’s wolf began to pace in his mind.“Roran, what is it? What as you so restless?”“Something is wrong. I can’t feel my little wolf anywhere. Juke, we must find him.”“Are you sure?”“Don’t ask ridiculous questions, and go look for him.” Roran's voice rang loud inside Juke’s head.Juke turned to his father. “Dad, I’d like to leave if you can continue without me. Something is wrong with Dale. I have to check it out.”Juke's father nodded, concern etching his features. "Of course, son. Find him. Let us know if you need help."Without another word, Juke bolted from the room, his heart pounding in sync with Roran's anxious pacing. He raced through the corridors of the main house, checking rooms as he went and reaching out with his mind, desperately searching for any trace of Dale's presence.Nothing.Panic rose in his chest when he didn’t find Dale in their bedroom. Juke burst out into the cool mid-morning air. He paused, scenting the wind, hoping