Amy It's late by the time we finally collapse into my bed, both of us still glowing and clinging to each other tightly. I never want this to end, and for a second it seems like it never will, like we'll spend the rest of our days entangled in each other's arms and peppering each other with kisses. As we wind ourselves into the bedsheets though, the glow begins to wane a little and soon, the silence between us is no longer contented, but tense. I can't help but turn my thoughts back to the conversation we left unfinished and the questions begin to pile up again. With my head still pressed to Elias' chest, I take a breath, knowing I'm about to break whatever veil of denial remains."Will you stay with me tonight?" I ask softly into the silence. The rustle of the bedsheets and the surge of his chest cause me to pull my head back on the pillow and suddenly he's turned, looking at me with those beautiful dark eyes. "Of course," he nods and it's clear there was never any risk o
Elias "I'll be back soon, I promise," I tell Amy the next morning. My hands rest gently on her waist with a new familiarity, and despite the heaviness of what I'm about to do, I still feel a thrill of excitement in my chest as I lean forward to kiss her goodbye. "Just please be careful," she tells me, worry etched in the lines that crease softly at her brow. "I don't want anything to happen to you." "I'll be okay," I reassure her, though I don't know if I quite believe my own words. She seems to realise this too, but by now there's nothing else to say. We give each other one last look before I open the door and step out of her home. I hope my brother will be the ally I need him to be. I make my way to Damien's house, heavy with the weight of the conversation I'm about to have. I know him, know his faults and his qualities, and above all, I know how seriously he takes his role as pack Alpha. I only hope he'll do what's right, rather than what's easy. The weight of the pack is hea
AmyThe minutes crawl by as I sit at home, my anxiety growing with every passing second. Elias should have been back by now, and the weight of the situation presses down on me. 'I should have gone with him,' I suddenly think, and once that thought is in my brain, I can't get it out. I know it makes little sense - in a world of werewolves, what could I possibly offer him in terms of protection? But somehow the bond between us is so strong that the logic doesn't have to be. I should be with him now, I should be there to help.But along with the desire to be close to him, comes something else - guilt. I know it's because of me that he's in this mess and, although his tales of incompleteness were there long before I was, I can't help but blame myself for the rift that has suddenly torn him from his family in ways that seem irrevocable.The guilt gnaws at my insides—I've caused Elias to confront his family, to make choices that could sever the ties that bind him to his pack.In my mind's
Elias
Amy The full moon hangs high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow through the window of my apartment. Elias and I stand together, the anticipation building as midnight approaches. "I've always wondered if this is when you turn into a wolf," I say, half-jokingly, but there's something in my wrds that hints at a truth beneath the surface. Elias chuckles, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "Not quite, but the urge is stronger around the full moon. Don't worry, though. I'm in control." "I wouldn't be scared even if you did," I reply, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I trust you." He leans in, capturing my lips in a tender kiss. "Good, because you might have to see me turn tonight if things go south with our plan." "Even if things go well..." I admit, leaving the rest onspoken. We both know the risks of tonight's endeavour. Elias nods, acknowledging the reality of our situation. "Let's just hope thi
Elias I can feel my father's eyes still boring into my back as I wait for Damien to begin the ceremony, and it takes everything I have not to turn around and confront him right then and there. But I know this needs to be approached methodically. Instead, I concentrate on Damien as he begins the ritual. The pack are all doing the same now, anticipation hanging in the air. As Damian begins the true mate ceremony, his eyes meet mine with an almost imperceptible nod. It's a nod of approval and for a moment I feel sorry for what I'm about to do. "This is the completion of the ritual that has bound our clan for centuries," Damian announces, his gaze lingering on me for a moment, as if to drive the point home. "The five men who will partake in tonight's ritual have already offered their human sides to their future mates. Tonight, they will offer their wolf sides as well." I give him a look that I hope includes an apology as I follow Seth, Max, Adrian, and Sebastian toward the altar. My h
Amy I watch from afar as the crowd in front of me begins to react to the series of photos I just sent from Elias' phone. The shots of his father and the rival alpha are having just the effect Elias and I hoped. This isn't the scariest part though. I take a deep breath, my trembling fingers still clasped tight around Elias' phone. I take a step forward just outside the cover of trees and Elias and I exchange a quick glance. I might not be a part of this world, but I understand enough now to know this revelation could reshape the future of the Thorntree pack. Elias is the only one that's noticed me so far, as the rest of the wolves react to the incriminating images. But soon I feel a set of familiar steely eyes set on me. "You!" comes the growl from Elias' father. He takes a step toward me, but Elias blocks his path. By now, the whole pack is watching, their eyes darting between Elias, his father, and me. "Don't take another step," I hear Elias whisper to his dad before he turns an
EliasMy father snarls, the black and silver coat of his wolf standing up as he faces me with vioelnce in his eyes. It's not the first time I've seen my father turn against a family member -- this sort of display was rife throughout my childhood. But it's the first time he's turned on me."Dad, what are you doing?" I ask, but it's more a warning than a question.Even through mindlink though, he remains silent, the only answer is the growl that emanates from the back of his throat.I can feel my own wolf beginning to rise in me, the instincive need to protect myself, my pack, and my mate. And there's something else in me. A lifelong anger, a resentment against the man who raised me at the same time as trying to break me. This has been a long time coming."You think you can scare me?" I ask, taking a step forward to shield Amy from the wolf that is my father."It's too late dad. It's over."Again, my father doesn't respond with words, but his growl reaches a higher pitch, a sound I know
Damian I'm trying hard not to freak out about the fact that Sophie is here, in our house, with my mate. Instead, I remind myself this isn't a big deal. Sophie's just here because she's hurt. I ignore the fact that she's hurt because she just witnessed me get into a werewolf fight - something she sould never have seen. "Okay, just take a seat," Desiree tells her. I watch as the woman I'm in love with and the woman I'm obsessed with settle themselves on the couch. It takes all my willpower to keep a cool head. Desiree still has no idea about my connection with Sophie and, although I haven't technically done anything wrong, I've definitely come way too close. "Damian," Desiree says, pulling me out of my reverie. "Can you come over and check out Sophie's wound. I just need to get the medical supplies." I swallow hard, but the last thing I want to do is make this weird. Instead, I nod, taking my place on the other side of Sophie wh
DesireeThe fairgrounds light up as I approach, casting their red-orange glow over me. I was planning on staying in tonight, even though Damian tried to get me to join him. At the time I'd declined the invitation, opting instead to stay at home with a good book and a bottle of wine. But as the night wore on I found myself missing Damian. After so many years together, it was a welcome reminder of the way we felt when we first met - not being able to get enough of each other. But then again, that's been happening a lot lately. On my end, I put it down to the fantasies that have been playing in my mind ever since I saw him with Sophie. And on his end? I can only assume flirting with her reawakened the animal in him. All the better for me. I tried just waiting until he got home, but every minute that passed by had me longing for him more. In the end, I decided to leave the book, which I couldn't concentrate on anyway, and surprise him at the fair
Sophie The moon hangs high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the fairgrounds. The usual joyous atmosphere twists into an eerie tension as Damian's secret unravels before my eyes. I stand frozen for a moment, my fascination momentarily overpowering the fear that should consume me. The tales of werewolves have always been distant echoes, whispered warnings from from my grandmother to keep curious minds like mine at bay. Yet, here I am, on the front lines of a supernatural battle, witnessing the transformation of humans into majestic, fearsome creatures. When I see Damian shift, his human form contorts and morphs, the bones beneath the skin reshaping into something otherworldly. The sheer power emanating from his wolf form is both terrifying and mesmerizing. The moonlight dances on his black fur, creating a spectacle that transcends the bounds of the ordinary. The other wolves, are just as impressive, though the look in th
DamianThe night air is crisp
Sophie It's been days since Amy revealed the truth about Damian and, although I know it's stupid, I still can't stop thinking about him. My thoughts have begun to evolve from simple memories of him from the day we met, to elaborate fantasies. And now that I know he's a werewolf, those fantasies are more and more intriguing.I can't help but wonder what sex with a werewolf is like. There's got to be something thrilling about fucking a man with such a dark secret. The strength in him, the heightened senses, the animal desire - it's all I can do to stop myself from quizzing Amy about Elias.Still, my curiosity is becoming something of an obsession - so much so that my coursework is suffering from it. There's an assignment I've been putting off for days now - a study in street photography. I know I can't keep avoiding it and when the local fair rolls around I know it's a good way to kill two birds with one stone - actually get this assignment done,
Damian The days after the gallery event unfold with a peculiar weight, something I can't seem to shake, along with the memory of Sophie's smile, of the way her skin felt against my hand. I try to push it away but the memory of her doesn't fade like I hoped it would. If anything, it's only getting stronger with each passing day. There are times I've almost wanted to tell Desiree, just to get it off my chest. But the thought of hurting her is like a knife through my own heart. And there's something else. Strangely, my attraction to Sophie, while it's distracting in some ways, has also made me more drawn to my mate than ever. The last three nights we've made mad, passionate love, exploring each other with a fervor we haven't experiened since we were first mated. It's like Sophie has awakened something new in me, an animal heat that, rather than pulling me away from Desiree, only makes me desire her all the more. And somehow, it's not just me that's feeling it. Just this morning, as we
Sophie I'm supposed to be writing an essay on light theory for my Photography In Practice class, but instead of flying across my keyboard, by fingers are employed in twirling a strand of hair. It's a habit I've had all my life - one that I can't seem to shake, even though I know it makes me look ditsy.Here in the library though, it's only Amy beside me, and she knows me well enough to get that that's not the case at all. Still, if I keep daydreaming like this, I might very well end up at the bottom of our class. I pull my finger away from the now-curled blond lock at my shoulder, and try my best to buckle down. But no matter how hard I try to concentrate, my mind keeps wandering back to him, to Damian.I have to hold myself back from giggling out loud when I think of our connection. There was something electric there, I could feel it, and even though he didn't ask for my number, I have a feeling I'll be hearing from him. At least, I hope I will. He could find me through Amy easily
Desiree The gallery is already bustling by the time I arrive, plenty of familiar faces greeting me as I make my way into the space. There are so many people there it takes me a while to spot Damian, but when I finally do, I pause. He's chatting animatedly with a young blonde woman I don't know and as I watch them, I'm struck by something all too familiar. The half-cocked smile, the sparkle in his dark eyes, the way he leans in a little too close... I'd know that stance anywhere, not least of all because it's usually directed at me. But as I observe him interact with the gorgeous woman in front of him, an unexpected thrill courses through me. Surprising even myself, I find a certain excitement in watching them flirt. The notion takes me aback momentarily. There's an undeniable curiosity sparked by watching the two of them and as I observe their easy rapport, a part of me wonders about the uncharted territories of my desires. The traditional mating rituals of the Thorntree pack means
PART 2: Damian, Sophie, and DesireeDamianThe gallery hums with the murmur of conversations, but the only thing I hear is Sophie's lilting voice as we fall deeper and deeper into conversation. There's an inexplicable connection, a magnetic pull that draws me toward her that, try as I might, I can't escape."You've got a lovely laugh," I say before I even think about how my words must sound.It's the kind of thing I would have said to Desiree when we were first mated and which, admittedly, I still do tell her all the time. But in the seven years we've been mated, I've never felt drawn to flirt so openly with another woman. It's both exciting and terrifying, especially since I can't seem to stop myself.In the back of my mind, I'm urging tmyself to just walk away. But who could walk away from a woman like this? Her bright blue eyes practically sparkle, while her blonde hair, brushing her cheeks and shoulders, is like spun gold. The freckles across her nose hint at the mischief I can al