When the games were over and the people began to disperse, Tatum couldn’t help but train his eyes at Baka. He had sensed her presence the moment she joined the scene, just in time to see the ruby necklace. He felt the weight of her emotions upon discovering it was his favourite.Her look told him she suspected why. He could sense it the moment her eyes landed on him. Yes, he wanted to say through their untested bond. It’s my favourite because it bears your name.She didn’t know what she meant to him. Not yet. But she will.He caught Eugene waving frantically at her. Either she hadn’t seen him or she pretended not to, because she turned away quickly. But Eugene only followed after her, running in front of her and she came to a halt. Then he embraced her. In front of everyone who cared to watch.Tatum couldn’t control the reverberating rage that soared through him as his wolf growled deeply within his cage. It was livid with rage and jealousy, threatening to burst through him at any sec
Morning came, and with it, a foul mood. Tatum had returned home a little later than he had expected last night. It hadn’t been as easy hiding in plain sight as it had been when he moved around in his dark cloak. He had still called some unwanted attention to himself but had managed to avoid causing a huge scene. His stay at Healer Freya’s shop had been long but thankfully Stephan had slept through it as she had given him a sleeping drug for some pain he still suffered from.Tatum had been relieved to find the palace asleep. The last thing he needed was to run into someone nosy enough to ask him questions.It hadn’t been up to ten minutes before he too gave himself to deep sleep. His dreams had been about Baka. He couldn’t be free of her.Maybe that was what had him in a foul mood this morning. He couldn’t afford his disposition. It was unacceptable. He was spending the day with Tamara Trinity, the winner of the games. She wouldn’t appreciate his mood. He wouldn’t appreciate his mood.
When Baka had finished her chores for the day, she made her way to Tatum’s room. He still wasn’t back from his date with that Trinity girl. What a nightmare she was. A beautiful one. In fact, she might be the most beautiful werewolf girl Baka had ever seen.And Tatum was out on a date with her.She hoped he was having the worst date ever recorded in history.She couldn’t deny that a part of her had felt jealous, watching them strut off together into the sunset and knowing he would spend the whole day with her. She had tried to keep the thought of them together out of her mind as she busied herself with her chores. But they eventually found their way at its forefront every now and then.Opening the door to his room, Baka found Eugene hovering over his desk. His eyes were glued to the documents laying open on it. Nothing in his expression gave anything away. It was his body language. It was stiff. Engrossed. So unlike his usual flexibility. Her hackles immediately shot up.He snapped h
Her heart ached at the realisation, finally understanding what Aja’s words and solemn countenance had meant. Be careful. It wasn’t concern like she had thought. It was guilt.She closed her mind off to the searing pain of betrayal and sought a way to flee from her attackers. Slowly, she took a step back. Ares and his friend laughed, continuing their painfully slow advancement towards her, as if they had all the time in the world. Their reason and intent were obvious. She was human, they were werewolves. They could snuff her out like a fly. She was utterly defenseless. They had planned this well, waiting until Tatum was not around to launch at her.Before she could turn around and run, a hand grabbed her mouth from behind, shutting out her intended scream. Her hand flew to it through reflex, biting down hard at it.Her attacker released his grip a little with an angry cry. “She bit me!” He yanked her around to face him and she saw his face clearly, recognising it in an instant. He wa
Something was wrong. Tatum could feel it in his bones. He had started feeling uneasy a moment ago and had ignored it at first, chalking it up to his present company.He and Tamara Trinity were just outside Khandom City, riding their horses slowly in awkward silence as darkness loomed over them.But the uneasiness within him was only growing deeper, unsettling his wolf and nothing could quiet it. He felt a sudden jolt of pain through the bond. The one he shared with Baka. It was very faint but it was there. Crippling fear coursed through it. It’s Baka, his wolf cried. I - I think she’s dying!Fear the likes of which he’d never known seized him and he kicked his horse against the belly. “Run, Kal!”It flew at heightened speed, leaving a confused Tamara behind as she called after him wildly. But Tatum barely heard her over the hard pounding of his heart. His mind was racing with each leap. What was happening with Baka? He searched through their shared bond, sensing her faintly. Their b
Baka could barely hear Ares over the blinding pain shooting through her. She had lost count of how many fingers he had broken. Each time he had touched her, her flesh burnt. She had answered every question with the truth, but he didn’t believe her. Even though they both knew he could hear her heartbeat defending her statement.Ares was a sadist and enjoyed seeing her in pain. He had said as much, reveling in the act of inflicting pain on her naked body.She was so, so weak. Darkness creeped around her, calling to her and she wanted to welcome it. Anything to be free of the insurmountable pain. Then there was a sudden loud explosion as blocks of bricks flew every which way. She could barely keep her eyes open long enough to see what was happening around her. One moment she had closed her eyes and the next Ares was lying unmoving on the ground, a large wolf as dark as night towering over him with its claws hooked into his face.Tatum. He said he would come for her. Relief flooded thr
Tatum saw the panic in Baka’s eyes and tried to soothe her. “Don’t be alarmed. It’s Eugene.” He got up slowly from the couch and smiled down at her. “He’s probably brought us some food.”But Baka didn’t seem relieved. If anything, she grew very uncomfortable. He wondered what that meant as he marched towards the door, cursing Eugene’s impeccable timing. The man really knew how to spoil a moment.Springing the door open, he glared at a grinning Eugene holding a bundle of food in his arms. Shoving them into Tatum’s unprepared arms, Eugene breezed past him and said, “How’s the patient?”Tatum nearly growled, struggling to balance the food while trying to close the door. “Come on in, why don’t you.”Eugene ignored him, crouching down beside Baka. “Hi, Gorgeous. You gave us all a fright.”“I did?” came her quiet reply. Was it Tatum or did it sound forced?“Oh, yes. I nearly died of worry, and Tatum had sleepless nights. It’s good to see you awake.”Tatum marched to the table and dropped t
When Baka awoke again, Tatum was sleeping on the chair, his hand cradling his face and the book opened on his lap. He must’ve fallen asleep reading to her. She sighed, taking the opportunity to study his face. His dark hair that had always been so neat was now a bird's nest. Looking at him now, so unkempt and exhausted from lack of sleep and worry over her, he couldn’t be more beautiful to her. The most beautiful man she had ever seen. Her heart tugged at the sight.She had never watched him sleep before. She found it comforting.“You’re staring,” he drawled suddenly, his eyes still closed. He hadn’t been sleeping. She was mortified. She snapped her eyes away from him and faced the opened window in front of her.“Please, carry on. I don’t mind you staring. In fact, it pleases me greatly. I was beginning to think this wasn’t mutual.”She wished it wasn’t. Oh, how she wished it. Their connection was beginning to scare her. And she had a feeling it was much deeper than she realised.“