*Tilly POV*The moment I open the door, Anna yanks me into her arms, squeezing with more strength than she realizes. I feign a choking sound and she chuckles into my hair, but she doesn’t release me.“Anna…” I complain as I try to wiggle out of her embrace before I notice the small shake in her hold. My brows furrow in confusion as I try to understand why she is shaking. Is it fear or anger? Maybe she is saying goodbye because she thinks she is going to get kicked out.“They won’t kick you out.” I assure her, and she sniffles before finally letting me go. Air rushes back into my lungs in a sharp inhale.“You think I care about that?”“Then why are you crying?”“What? I am not.” She says, though she sniffles again. I place my hands on my hips and tilt my head like I am a mother seeing right through her teenage daughter’s lies.“What is wrong?” I ask as I reach out and she places her hand in mine.“You. How they treat you. How they are letting everyone treat you. Til,”I put my hand up
“GAH!” I groan out in frustration, rubbing my eyes roughly. “Stupid things!” Today is the team event, and my eyes are still shit. I mean, they are a little better every day, but still shit. What once was just near shapeless blobs are now blurry faces and formed figures. I can distinguish colors and differentiate between people. But the blurriness gives me killer headaches. Which, since I am a werewolf, there is no medication for. Human medication metabolizes out of our body too fast. So I am stuck using eyes that are defective and eventually make me want to slam my head into a wall in pain. There is nothing quite like the torture of knowing pain is imminent. I blink at my fuzzy reflection in the mirror with Anna standing next to me. I can see the downward tilt of blurry lips, but she says nothing. “This is going to suck.” I groan, and she chuckles. “Yes, but I got your back,” she promises, trying to calm me, but it only feeds my unease. “How? I’m not on your team.” I remind he
There is a low growl from my right, and I push my legs harder in panic. No way am I allowing myself to get caught. I glance over my shoulder and see nothing, but that doesn’t mean much to me.Alpha Onyx taught me to trust my ears and my instincts and both are telling me someone is chasing me. I take one more peek before turning back around and slamming roughly into a stone-like surface. I yelp in surprise as a loud whoosh of air escapes my lungs as I fly backward.“What the fuuuuu–” I wheeze.There is a deep chuckle above me as my vision sees stars from the lack of oxygen I am pulling in. I try to scramble backwards, but a hand grabs my ankle and I am dragged closer to the man who is looming over me.“Leave her, Paul.” The other man says, sounding bored.“Oh, come on! It’s been weeks since I’ve been this close to a pretty girl…” the guy above me whines. He falls to his knees, legs landing on either side of me, straddling my waist and trapping my hands at my side. I can feel my chest c
The moment I make it into camp, I beeline straight for the showers. I swear I can still feel the film of filth from Paul’s touch. My cheek burns and I am truly convinced it’s infected. How could it not be? The asshole cut up my cheek with his grubby fingers and then licked me, no doubt with a mouth just as foul as his tainted mind. I shudder, remembering his words, the promise to take advantage of me. I turn the water to the hottest setting it will go, standing under the stinging stream as steam surrounds me, clouding me with its warmth. No amount of soap can make me feel clean enough, so I choose to sear the dirt away. It doesn’t matter that it hurts and I have to grit my teeth to stop from gasping in pain. The reality of what happened slowly seeps back in with the warmth and a whimper escapes my lips. I knew becoming a rogue would be hard. It would mean leaving behind everyone I love and everything I have ever known. I knew I would need to look out for others to avoid and to keep
*Onyx POV*My fingers ache from the stress of clenching them. It was idiotic to think that seeing her would calm my nerves, but I had to see her no matter what. After coming across her with those two rogues, the only thing I can see is the blood on her face nearly sent me into a rage and the fear in her eyes. I nearly went into a tailspin when she turned and ran away. It was sheer luck Bill and Tic tackled the two before I got to them. After capturing the other four rogues that we found, I was too hopped up to not tear their throats out had it not been for my beta and gamma. “Is she doing okay?” Tic asks.The gravel drive in front of the dorm crunches under his weight as he walks toward me. The night is far from over for me, but it didn’t matter. There was no option but to check on her. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my control. Tilly has no idea the power she holds over me, and it’s frightening. Short of taking her as a mate, I would do anything for her and tha
Bill stands next to me, eyes glued to the mess on the ground. He heaves once, then twice before clearly swallowing down his dinner for a second time. It’s not that bad of a scene, or so I tell myself. I tried my best to keep the blood and mess contained to the cell, but the second Paul ran? Let’s just say my wolf growled with delight and took over. I suddenly no longer cared about keeping it tidy. I cared about making it damn well known that Paul made a mistake when he crossed the line. Both with my pack and Tilly. “Shit, Onyx.” He mutters. “What did he do to piss you off?” “He touched one of our warriors inappropriately.” I say, my eyes drilling holes into the side of his face. Bill looks over at his skin, looking a little green as he swallows hard. “You fucked him up because of Tilly?” He asks. I give him a slow, knowing nod. He gives me a curious glance. “And I am cleaning it up because…?” Our eyes lock and his eyes widen when he understands my hidden warning. This rogue’s
*Tilly’s POV* My skin stings as my cheek flames red. My mouth falls open and I gape at Anna, who grins victoriously. I don’t get why she is so damn happy about landing a hit. She always does. “You’re an asshole.” I mutter, and she places her hands on her hips defiantly. “You are the one who wanted extra training after hours.” She reminds me. “You’re the one that wanted extra training” I mock her in a high pitched whiny tone, throwing her words back at her. She tries to scoff in annoyance, but she ends up laughing instead. “Someone is a little grumpy today.” Anna smiles happily. “Grumpy? You slapped me!” I say, flabbergasted. “I have every right to be grumpy!” “Til, I love you, but you are acting like a child.” My eyes grow wide in shock and I scoff, licking my lips as I search my brain for a witty comeback. This is my one true talent, yet nothing comes to mind. I am too tired to think normally, let alone like the highly intelligent woman I claim to be. “Does that mean we ca
Onyx’s lips are soft and his body goes rigid momentarily before he softens and gives in to my advance. He presses harder, hungry for more as I tighten my grip on his hair, locking him in place. I have no right to kiss the alpha, but right now it’s not about right or wrong. It’s instinctual, and he has been telling me more to give into my instincts. His chest rumbles with a low growl and I bring my knees up on either side of him.Onyx leans on one arm, his other hand sliding down my side, tickling my skin that ended up exposed from the fall. His fingers trail down to my waist, his palm pressing on my hip as he uses the tip of his tongue to seek permission to kiss me deeper. I open my mouth with giddy anticipation when his tongue eases in and tastes my mouth. I’ve never kissed anyone before. Never held a boy’s hand. Yet this, all of it, seems like second nature with Onyx. Like it’s happened before so many times. Yet it hasn’t. I try my hand at using my tongue, a small war ensues as we
I can honestly say I have the best readers! Thank you for always giving my books and characters a chance! Tilly was one of a kind and writing her story was one of the best times I’ve had writing. Her sass and emotional growth journey were so special to me! I hope you will hit the follow button in the app so you can get a notice when I get my next book up an going! Currently I have the sequel to Rebel Rising: The Lost Alph’s mate in the works but I won’t be posting it until I have at least 5-10 chapters. So read up on book one! If you are all caught up on my books I have a few authors I will always recommend: Alle, J Tarr, Allie Carstens and Emma Taylor! All four of these authors have fun and original ideas that always blow me away. Join my group online called Miri’s Shifter Cafe for updates on my work, more about me and characters! (I can’t name where the group is but it starts with “Face” and ends with “book”)Until the next journey, all my love
*Onyx POV** SIX YEARS LATER*Tilly’s leg bounces nervously in the seat next to me as I chuckle to myself, shaking my head. She instantly shoots me an annoyed glare. In six years, I still can’t get enough of her, annoyed or not. Hell, sometimes I prefer her annoyed. It makes for a very fun game of groveling at the end of the day. Her glare slowly morphs into a hidden smile as my emotions transfer to her. “Stop it.” She hisses and I shake my head, looking at the road before us.“I didn’t do anything,” I laugh.“I can feel you being amused and…stuff. It’s like you don’t even care about me and my feelings.” She fakes a whine, her lips turning into a big pout, and I growl in my chest. “Oooh, Oh I promise you, I care VERY much about feeling you. Uh, I mean your feelings.”She groans and presses her head on the back of the headrest. “You know how…” She pauses and looks behind her at the perfect five-year-old little boy we created who watches us intently. Then she looks back at me, her ch
***Bonus Chapter****Anna POV*Tilly looks perfect in her usual oversized top and scuffed up jeans. If I would have had it my way, that girl would be in the most expensive lace dress Onyx could muster up, but that wouldn’t be her. That would be me dressing her and honestly…She looks just as good right now as she would in any dress. It’s not the clothing she is wearing that makes it, but the smile on her lips that I am certain will remain there until the end of our days. It wasn’t easy keeping this secret from her, but damn, was it worth it. Onyx looks at her like our wolves look at the moon. She is more than his mate but his everything, and damn it, she deserves it. I think when the Goddess made their union; she knew Tilly would need a little extra from her mate. She and Onyx dance as the rest of the party guests leave, heading home just as the sun rises. It was one long ass party, that is for sure, and I am exhausted. Ty’s hand slides into mine, lifting it to his lip and pressing a
*Two weeks later**Tilly POV*One week in my new pack and I can, with absolute certainty, say that I have found my home. The pack is full of genuinely kind pack members. I have not had a single day without at least three cookies for breakfast and that is NOT a complaint. Onyx made the joke that they love me more than him, but I think they are just happy he is happy. It makes sense now why he felt he had to make a promise to them to take Harriet as his mate. She emulates what his pack is, and she is truly beloved by them all. But she is more cherished as a Gamma, more loved by her true mate than she would have been by a chosen one. And she deserves to be with the man meant to complete her. Just like I deserve the love I have with Onyx. It took some acceptance and I’ve got a long way to go, but I deserve it. Just like everyone else. I am meant to be here. With them. With him. My whole life, I have craved this fairy tale of someone being able to love me. I gave up the notion I could e
“Are you sore?” Onyx teases me as I limp to the bathroom, looking back to shoot him a glare. “No.” I lie and bite back a smile. “Mmm, good.” He murmurs, making the bed. “Means I can go harder tonight.” I gulp as a pang of needy pleasure shoots right for my sore bits, and I curse Onyx under my breath. He knows what his words do to me, and he is taking great pleasure in my struggle for more of him while my body simultaneously begs for reprieve. I’m a glutton for sweet, delicious punishment at his hands, apparently. He surprises me as he wraps his hands around my tummy from behind his chin finding the crook of my neck and he presses his cheek flush to mine. Then he walks me to the window, showing me the stunning view of snow-capped mountains as the sun cascades down on them. The world has been awake for hours while we had snuggled in the comfort of our bubble. “That’s home,” he mutters, nuzzling my jawline and dropping two kisses there. “Our home. Just beyond the mountains.” “Hm
Onyx eats the last of the pesto chicken and stands from the bed, taking our plates and setting them on the desk near the door. When he spins around, he has a glint in his eyes and I blush as his emotions flood my mind. It seems he is hungry again. Instead of coming to me, he moves to the bathroom to clean himself up and I chuckle to myself as my body is ravaged by the barrage of emotions he still has hammering into me. When he walks back out, he is clean shaven, his perfectly angled jawline on full display and it does to me exactly what the v shape at his waist does. Which is going to be great when we are in public. Nothing wrong with being hot and bothered ALL the time, right? His smile morphs into a sheepish grin as he stalks over to me, his eyes dark and his hands dropping to the waistband of his shorts. Before he shimmies them off and leaps onto the bed. I howl in laughter, giggling as he reaches out and takes hold of my ankles, yanking me down onto my back. Onyx then crawls u
*Tilly POV*“I hate meetings,” I whisper to Anna, who elbows me in my side. I stick my tongue out at her and she rolls her eyes before biting back a smile. Onyx reaches out and takes my hand, entwining our fingers as he pulls me back to the conversation that’s about to start.“Behave,” he whispers in my ear, but I hear the smile there. He prefers it when I misbehave and we both know it. It was my lack of decorum that drew him to me in the first place, right? My grandmother sits to the right of my grandfather and to his left another middle-aged man with a peppering of gray in his black hair. I tilt my head, trying to figure out who he is when my grandfather clears his throat, calling everyone’s attention. Only respective alphas and their mates are here. Anna being the exception to the rule since she will take the role once she gets home since she has found her mate.“I would like to first start by apologizing profusely.” My grandpa mutters, his eyes much clearer than they had been whe
I stand, and in one singular motion, I lift her and spin so she is on my lap. She rises on her knees, hovering just above me as I look up at her. The light shines from behind her, illuminating her hair and outlining the curves of her body as water splashes off her skin.The look in her eyes, that shy hunger, has my heart stuttering in my chest. I reach up, gingerly stroking her cheek before wrapping my hand around the nape of her neck and yank her lips to mine in a needy kiss. Her body presses to mine and the shock of how strong the sparks are makes us both gasp. She giggles into my mouth and it sends a thrill through me and down to the place where I need our bodies to meet.There is nothing I need more than to feel her in every way. But we are on her time right now. Meeting or not, nothing will make me rush this, rush her. Why the hell would I want to? I want to lap up every damn second like the thirsty wolf I am. I nibble on her bottom lip, then press my tongue along her lips, sea
*Onyx POV*We are all on edge, as we should be, considering where we are, but if what Tilly and Anna have told me is true, I think they are trustworthy. Not to mention Tilly is now this pack’s only hope of survival. To attack her or anyone she wishes to protect is death to the pack with no redemption. And it’s their own dumb rules that tied their hands like this.The boy leading us to our room stops for a minute and then turns toward Tilly. She clings to me, her pain seeping through the mate bond, notifying me she has once again done too much too soon. She should have just let me carry her the entire way. “If you need anything, just stick your head out and holler. I’ve already put clean towels and linens out. Audra, the she-wolf attending to you will be by with some clothing that fits.” He then gives a curt bow and walks off. “Well, that was interesting…” Tilly says, then her tired gray eyes look up at me. “Do we have servants like this in our pack?”My heart swells at her words. Ou