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 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,
DamianThe night air is crisp
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
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
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
PART 1: Elias and AmyEliasThe true mate ceremony that I'm supposed to be a part of has almost begun by the time I make my way to the clearing. The light of the impending full moon guides me until I set eyes on the bonfire, but with every step I take, I hesitate. I know that once I step forward into the ring of firelight, there'll be no going back.From a few paces away, I see the fire crackle, sending sparks dancing into the night, casting flickering shadows on the faces of my pack. They stand in a loose circle, a congregation of the people I've known my whole life. But two faces in particular make me stop dead in my tracks.At the edge of the crowd, my parents stand, and I can't help but notice my father's arm clamped tightly around my mother's waist. To anyone else this might seem like a gesture of affection -- certainly that's how it's intended to look -- but I know better. Even by the dim light of the fire I can see the strained expression on my mother's face, the grimace that p
AmyThe woods wrap around me like a secret haven as I crouch down, fingers gliding over the settings of my camera. The sky is clear tonight, the moon glowing in the night sky, and as I set up my shot, I know my photography professor is going to go nuts for this. That is, if I can figure out my settings. As I adjust the exposure, I hear the distant echo of wolf howls. I smile to myself at the sound, brushing aside my long auburn hair to peer through the viewfinder. As I twist the focus on my camera's lens, I remember my classmates' words that afternoon when I told them where I was going."You can't go out there alone!" one had said, eyes wide."Haven't you heard the stories?" chimed in another.Of course, I've heard the stories -- everyone in the town of Shepherd's Range has. Even now it's as if whispers of folklore float through the shadows—tales of mythical creatures, monsters, and even werewolves.I chuckle to myself though, shaking my head slightly. The stories have always amused
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