LeanderI sat back on my knees. A few wolves remained around us, but most had already left, sufficiently sated enough to stop fucking for the time it took to make it home where they would likely continue through the night.Hycinth still hadn't said a word after my pleas to stay and declaration of love. Instead, she lay perfectly still, eyes closed, her breathing uneven. A single tear rolled down her cheek.I guess I had my answer...My throat locked tight, unable to even swallow past the boulder lodged inside it.After everything we had been through.The last three days...And she still wasn't convinced.The last spark of hope inside my chest died.I lifted off of her and stood to my feet. Hycinth's eyes snapped open at my movement. I held out my hand. She took it, letting me help her up."Let's take a shower," I grunted, working to keep my voice steady."Okay," she whispered as she let me guide her back to the cottage.I was almost surprised by her willingness to remain naked with me
When daylight broke, Hycinth stirred beneath the covers. Not quite awake, she instinctually reached for my side of the bed. Finding it empty, she sat up and looked around the room. Hair disheveled, confusion colored her expression for a moment until her eyes rested on me. And then, I could see her remember that today wasn't like our previous days.Today, she was leaving me. Her face fell.Without speaking, she got up and went into the bathroom.I stared down at my hands. Dread churned an uneasy pit in my stomach.Several minutes later, Hycinth returned, hair combed, the makeup smudges beneath her eyes removed.Pushing myself wearily to my feet, I walked across the room to her.Hycinth froze mid-step, one hand extended to stop me from coming any closer. "Leander, I can't.""I know," I muttered. "I just need to...tell you something."Hycinth's brows furrowed, recognizing distress in my features. "What is it?" she asked softly.My heart twisted painfully in my chest.Damnit, Ever! Even t
MotivationsHycinthMy Wolf's howling had echoed in my mind, panic and devastation ripping through her as she watched her mate walk away. But now, the only thing that remained was silence.I needed to comfort her. She would make it through this just as I would, but I was in no frame of mind to be of use to anyone right then. Tears coursed down my cheeks. I'd dreaded the moment I had to walk away from Leander. I'd known it would hurt. I just never anticipated feeling such striking emptiness and...lack of purpose. There was a gaping hole in my chest that I suspected would never be filled again.I also hadn't been prepared for Leander to bring up his mother right then, and I certainly wasn't emotionally prepared for the conversation, not while we were on the cusp of saying goodbye. I cringed as remembered the harsh words spoken. I wished there'd been a way to speak the truths of my heart without destroying him, but my chaotic frame of mind had resulted in cold, hard responses.On one han
But once I'd given them everything that they wanted, would Leander have just let it go and foregone his natural instinct for retribution? My parents hadn't been the very first to kill between our packs. We were at war. The killing had gone on before them for decades. It was our way. It was hard enough for me to deny my base wolf instinct for retribution and Leander was an Alpha.I highly doubted we would have lived happily ever after, and I certainly wouldn't have been allowed to just walk away right now because regardless of my mate status, punishment for a war crime as severe as killing a parent would have to have been enacted. Heck, Leander had spanked me in front of his entire pack just for slapping him. It wasn't very realistic to think he would've just let it go if I had been the one to kill his mother. No, that truth would remain with him day and night just like it did me.A knock at the door interrupted by chaotic thoughts.Lifting my head, I realized I was on my knees. When h
LeanderHycinth was gone...Ever didn't have to confirm it with words. His haggard expression, hard lines etching his face, deep brown eyes glistening with agony, told me all I needed to know. He stood inside the door of the study, rigid and unmoving, looking at me like he'd just been sucker punched.I knew the feeling...Neither of us said anything. We just stared at each other, communicating with the reflection of our souls in our eyes because mere words were obscenely inadequate at the moment. I'd known Ever my entire life. He was my best friend. He knew absolutely everything about me, good, bad and ugly. I didn't have to speak for him to hear the unspoken question on my lips: What the fuck do I do now?I seriously had no idea.After a long moment, Ever finally broke the silence. "Fuck. Leander, I..." his voice hitched, "I'm...sorry."What did one say in a moment like this? Maybe there was something appropriate. Unfortunately, I'd drank so much in the last hour, my brain was floati
I Can't BreatheHycinthAs the highest ranking member, Tommy, the Grimm MC's Sgt. in Arms, rode point with Leroy by his side. Luca and I followed behind him with the Enforcers surrounding us and Frank positioned at the back.Keeping my head tucked down in the back of Lucky's neck, I clutched his torso tightly. Eyes squeezed shut, I let the familiar rev and vibration of the motors block out my chaotic thoughts. I had no idea how to explain to them what had happened to us. Two hours later, we pulled into a diner. Lucky slowed and eased the motorcycle to a stop. Climbing down from behind him, I desperately worked to pull myself together, swiping my thumbs over my damp cheeks and smoothing hair out of my face. As we walked together into the diner, Lucky kept his body positioned slightly in front of mine. His frame was locked tight, stretching to his full height, chest puffed out, presenting himself as a formidable deterrent to anyone who might make the mistake of coming near me.The dine
Was I done with Leander? The memory of Leander's hurt and betrayed face flashed before my eyes. Yes, I was done...I didn't have a choice, not anymore. I swallowed thickly, trying to generate enough saliva in my mouth to speak. It didn't help. Lifting the cold drink to my lips, I took a few sips of iced tea before setting the glass down. "Y-Yes."Tommy's intelligent gaze remained trained on my face. From his expression, it was clear he hadn't missed the conflict in my response but then seemed to let it go, lifting his drink to his lips. Ice clinked in the glass as he turned it up and swallowed the remaining liquid inside.The conversation at the tables transitioned to much less serious subjects, gruff laughter ringing out intermittently as the bikers finished their meal.Luca's voice carried an undertone of stress but he did his best to engage in the banter. I preferred to remain silent, comforted by the familiar voices around me and thankful for their unspoken understanding in giving
I Need YouHycinthEyes wide, I stared at Luca in stunned silence. There was no way he could have just said what I thought I heard come out of his mouth!How could I be pregnant?"But I, he..." I stuttered, "I can't be...you have to be w-wrong."Absinthe eyes swam with concern. Squeezing my fingers gently, Lucky shook his head. "I have never been more certain of anything in my life.""How do you know?" I whispered, my voice quivering. It wasn't until recently that I even knew the steps for mating. I had even less knowledge of shewolf pregnancies."I can scent it on you.""I smelled the pregnancy?I inhaled deeply, letting the air saturate my lungs, trying to find the scent.Nothing. "I don't smell anything.""Males can scent an in utero pup six days after mating; however, females do not discern the pregnancy until the eighth day. In two more days, you will smell what I do.""You have to be wrong," I insisted, shaking my head in denial. "This just couldn't happen. Leander pulled out ev
HYCINTH’S "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was doing perfectly fine until Cade set his eyes on me. I'm really sorry for the trouble." I said, walking alongside with Leander and taking steps farther away from the warehouse. My wrists continued to ache along with the rest of my body. There was a stiffness that I needed to get rid of."It's completely fine." Leander replied. The silence and the quietness gloomed in his voice. We barely uttered any words to each other ever since he untied me from the warehouse.I glanced over at him once more, remembering the face before my eyes diverted back to the ground.I didn't know what to feel. I was certainly shocked and consumed by the idea of Leander, my mate, being present beside me after a long year of nothing. We made no contact, not a single word or a call to one and other.When I stepped out of the warehouse, I quickly recognized the location-the outskirts of the city where no one ever came. There was a dock nearby. The smell of ship
HYCINTH'S MEMORIES"Oh!" I sucked in a startled breath as I found myself straddling his lap on the wide seat, my hands pressed flat against his bare chest for support.Skin against skin.Tingles ran from my fingertips straight to my core, making me squirm.He groaned in appreciation and tightened his hold, one large hand gripping my hip, the other wrapped around the nape of my neck. Swirling violet and cerulean orbs stared up at me. Deep. Darkening.Under his intense stare and scrutiny, I felt incredibly alive.I was entranced, caught in the raw intensity of his gaze. The invisible force that drew us together tugged at my defenses, threatening to break down my walls and demolish my resistance. It was kinetic. Glorious and warm. It flexed, pulling us closer, refusing to be denied. A pulse of truth rippled through our connection -this beautiful male belonged to me. He was mine.For this moment, I was okay with that. I welcomed it. I embraced it. I didn't want to think about tomorrow-whe
HYCINTH’S POV Leander My mate.It wasn't hard to forget your mate, especially when there were cruel memories attached with them. I had seen it all with him, the good times, and the terrible times. There was nothing else I needed to see.He was a man, of my past.I let my head fall back on the ground as the men began leaving the shady warehouse. Cade simply grinned at me before departing. My pleads became useless, inaudible as soon as he recalled that he can't kill me because Leander will come for him.Shuffling with the restraints, I groaned and kicked my feet out of frustration. I still had enough time to run away before anyone could get here and find me but the only problem I had was setting myself free.Memories of Leander snapped into me like a whip, forcing me to face my past once more and open my eyes wide to see the reality. His face flashed through my head, I closed my eyes and breathed. It had been a long time since I had seen him, since I had spoken to him and since I had
I remembered screaming for a minute before my world blacked out and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, the first thing that struck me was the thick scent of death and blood. I didn't want to imagine where I was or who had taken me but there was an idea in my head.Just an hour before I was blacked out, I recalled a man I knew warning me that they were coming for me. I ignored all the flags waving in front of me and continued with my life.The Alpha of the Night shade pack Cade.He had me.I placed my hand underneath and pressed my palm against the cold, unknown ground. My eyes opened wide, but I couldn't see anything. It was pitch-black and silent as a graveyard.And my hands were tied.The ropes were digging into my wrists as I tried to break free. My hands were tied behind my back therefore every time I stood up, I fell back on the ground without any hope.A few seconds later, when I began feeling my sore legs, I quickly realized that my feet were tied together. My shoes were ta
In the middle of the morning, my phone began ringing and buzzing. I thrashed over the bed, my eyes still closed and a pain sweeping through my head. My hand stretched and reached for the phone. I wanted to silence and cut the call, but a glimpse of the unknown number at the caller ID tore the sleep right through me and forced me up.I picked up the call and heard heavy breathing on the other end for a few seconds before the man spoke up. "They are onto you." He said, giving me a warning. "Be careful."I didn't say anything but I knew the person who had called to warn me. A few more seconds passed before the call ended. I pulled the phone away from my ears. My heart thudded hard against my chest.Fuck. I groaned at myself while rubbing my forehead, hoping the throbbing would leave me for a minute.They were onto me.By saying "they" , he meant Alpha Cade of the Night shade pack. He was also among the Alpha's that worked with Dagger to bring me down. He was among the bastards that wante
HYCINTH’S POVThere was no peace.Not in this world. I had no peace and I no longer wanted it.I think I had cried for exactly six months before wiping my own tears and setting my focus on something else, my revenge. There wasn't a single day I hadn't thought about my unborn child that was viciously murdered by someone who had a grudge against me. I had mercy before but right now I didn't have that in me.I wanted that bitch."Please, please, don't kill him. He hasn't done anything to you." The naked woman nearby begged, her hands clasped together and meeting with her chest.I never looked in the direction of weakness. Not since I ran away from Leander and came here, hoping to find peace. The world ahead of me was red, full of blood, death, and an urge to kill. And I wanted to revenge for everything. Yes everything happened, l lost my unborn pup but luckily the moment I left Leander the moon goddess helped me and gave me back my wolf.Before getting it, I spent nights and days cryin
LEANDER'S POVEverything good had to come to an end.It was how the world worked. Even with all the riches and power, no one could save anyone from death. There was no such thing as immortality or giving one a life. There were two instances where I had ever cried, one was where my mother died, where I couldn't do anything to bring her back, where I felt the weakest of all, where I felt nothing could help me and the second time was when my unborn child was killed.Same feelings.Same emotions.Different people.Different deaths.One's grave was big and the other one was small. The tears were the same and the pain was the same. But I never thought I was ever going to cry for someone who was living, breathing right next to me. It took courage and a lot of strength to love someone and seeing them going through pain was worse than the pain of any death.When I held Hycinth in my arms after her surgery of abortion, I wept like a child while she struck her fists into my chest, screaming how
Every body moved away, creating a path for us as l moved quickly. I clutched Hycinth to my chest as she writhed and began to groan in pain. The guard's eyes widened as they saw Hycinth spitting up blood in my arms. “Guard around the pack, no one in , no one out , there might be a reason why she is vomiting blood”, l shouted at my beta, Ever brushing past him to run.I didn’t wait for his response.Gwen was running behind me as I raced for the pack’s infirmary. My heart was beating painfully in my chest as l pushed myself faster than I had ever moved before. “Lay her on the bed here”, Gwen gestured to the first open bed and l gingerly laid Hycinth on bed. I held her head to the side so she wouldn’t choke on the dark colored blood. “Hycinth my darling, can you hear me?”, My voice was strained as l held her face and brushed her hair back from her forehead.A cold sweat was forming on her face and she continued to spasm in pain. Somehow her cloudy eyes seemed to find me and her lips moved
I wasn't sure if Hycinth's surprised response and rapid heartbeat were related to Sydney's actions or my reference to her as my Luna. "I can only tell you what I've seen. I really do think her punishment changed her perspective, and again, we will discuss it with her to confirm exactly where she stands now, but she has held you in her lap while kissing your hair and whispering softly spoken sentiments of affection. She watched over you whenever I was forced to leave your side and whenever I returned, she never failed to whisper a loving goodbye to you.Hycinth blinked, her eyes taking on a glistening shine. After a long moment she said softly, "Okay."Transitioning back to our original conversation, I asked quietly, "Were there any other reasons you kept our daughter from me?""No," Hycinth whispered. "I've always known you would be a good father. I knew you would come for her...you would save her." Expression turned glassy, utter anguish radiated through the bond.Still connected to