Amy
The door closes behind me, shutting out the man I wish I could be throwing myself at right now. I know I should be getting ready for college, but all I can do is lean against the door, still tasting Elias on my lips. My mind reels, trying to process everything that's happened over the last twelve hours.Absentmindedly, I bring my fingers to my lips, as if I can hold onto that kiss and everything that preceded it.
Last night comes rushing back to me. I know I felt a connection with Elias that went beyond anything I've ever experienced before. The way his touch sent a fire racing through me. The way he held me so effortlessly, making me feel safe in his arms. The way he looked into my eyes like he'd known me all his life.
And then, waking up next to him, lingering for as long as I could, watching him sleep, before I knew I had to get up. His eyes when he first saw me in the morning light, like I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
I want nothing more than to see his house, to insert myself into his life as if I've always been there. I know how crazy that sounds, but as I lean against the door, still savoring the taste of him on my lips, I don't care.
For a second, I'm lost in the beauty of this unexpected connection, in the undeniable spark that flows between us, in the sudden inexplicable comfort I feel with him.
But then it hits me -- the icepick in my chest when I remember his father's steely eyes on me.
I overheard snippets of their conversation -- something about a pack that I still don't quite understand.
"That human hussy," he'd called me.
The words sting, and I'm left wondering what they mean.
One thing is clear: Elias's dad does not approve of me, and it seems like Elias is still under his father's influence.
Finally peeling myself off the door, I head to the shower, intending to wash away the confusion and lingering hurt. As I undress though, my gaze falls upon a bruise on my neck -- a memento from where Elias bit me.
A sudden wave of pleasure courses through me at the memory of how he took me, the heat of his skin on mine, and the feeling of fullness when he entered me. A smile plays on my lips, a bittersweet reminder of the night before.
The warm water of the shower washes away the physical remnants of the night, but the mix of emotions remains. Dressed and composed, I make my way to college, struggling to push away the confusion that still clouds my mind.
Soon though, my portfolio class comes around, and I realize I haven't even looked at my photos from last night. As other students flick through portraits and landscapes, I plug my memory card into my laptop and await the results.
A huge smile crosses my face as I inspect my photos. The moon shots turned out great, capturing the ethereal beauty of the night. The orb is perfectly focused, almost full but for a slight sliver of shadow on its left edge. I'm momentarily distracted from my musings about Elias as plans for Incomplete take shape in my mind.
However, as I flick through more photos, I suddenly stop. The very last shot on my card is half-obscured by a shape, and as I peer at it closer, my heart skips a beat.
The shot is dark, but I can just make out the contours of Elias' face against the moonlit backdrop. Where before the dark side of the waxing moon was met by the night sky, it's now edged with the sharp angle of Elias' jawline, the curve of his brow, the soft drape of his hair. My heart flutters and a yearning takes root within me. A yearning I can't shake.
After class, I make the impulsive decision to go back to Elias's house. The uncertainty of our connection and the disapproval from Elias's father linger in my thoughts, but I can't shake the desire to see him again.
As I approach Elias's house, I find myself caught between trepidation and anticipation. The doorbell echoes through the quiet surroundings, and moments later, Elias opens the door. Surprise flickers across his face, but just for a second, before he breaks out in a wide smile.
For a second we just stare at each other, neither of us knowing what to say, but it turns out, we don't have to say anything.
As if drawn by an invisible force, our lips meet in an impassioned kiss. It feels like we're two lovers pulled apart for years, rather than mere hours, but I know there's no way to rationalize it. I want this man, and I can tell he wants me. The rest we'll just have to figure out.
EliasI want this kiss to last forever but I know meeting Amy like this is dangerous. My father made it very clear how he felt and I'm sure by now the rest of the pack knows about it too. I finally manage to pull away."You'd better come inside," I tell her, ushering her through the door.She nods brusquely and steps inside. The moment the door is closed though, I take her in my arms again."I hope it's okay that I'm here," she tells me, her words slightly muffled from where her cheek is pressed against my chest."Of course it is," I reassure her, though my mind is racing with concerns. I run a hand through her long auburn hair though, remembering the same act as I made love to her last night. It pushes away any doubts I have and instead floods me with the same joy I felt this morning when we walked through the forest hand in hand."God you feel so good," I tell her, my voice coming out as little more than a whisper.At this, Amy pulls back, and I'm struck by a sudden sincerity in he
AmyThe tears blur my vision as I stumble away from Elias's house, the pain of this new revelation searing through my chest. My eyes sting, my head swims, my hair whips in the wind but I hardly feel any of it. All I feel is the aching in my heart, replacing the fullness I felt this morning when I woke up in his arms. "I can't believe I was so stupid," I mumble to myself as my suede boots thud against the pavement.I don't know where I'm going, and I don't care, as long as my feet take me away from Elias, away from the heartache that threatens to overwhelm me. It takes a long time before I realize my feet are no longer hitting tarmac, but earth.The woods stand tall around me, the trees silent witnesses to my inner turmoil. I can't shake the feeling that Elias was only using me as a fleeting escape before he meets his wife. The thought brings on a fresh wave of tears as I walk further and further into the woods, seeking solace in the quiet embrace of nature.The silence only serves as
Elias The quiet solitude of the cave wraps around me as I sit in contemplation. After Amy left, it was all I could do to keep myself from chasing after her, but sure enough, I found myself walking the streets. Not to find her, exactly, but to find an answer -- something that would lead me out of the mire of confusion and toward some kind of clarity. And there's only one place that affords me the peace I need to do that. The echoes of my last conversation with Amy linger in my mind, and the air is thick with the weight of uncertainty. Usually the cave is a place of solitude and silence, but today every inch of the place reminds me of her. The tousled sheets where we spent the night taunt me from the corner, as if reminding me what I've just lost. I want to find her, want to tell her I won't give up on us that easily, but the moment the thought enters my mind, it's followed by my dad's fierce warning. "Fuck him," I spit into the darkness, my face twisted in a scowl hardened by years
Amy The door creaks shut behind us, and the reality of what just transpired hangs in the air, an unspoken tension that neither of us is ready to confront. I guide Elias to the living room, my mind still reeling from the chaotic events in the woods. He winces as he lowers himself onto the couch, the gash on his bicep a tangible reminder of the evening's tumult. I know I need to address what I just saw, but I can't bring myself to say out loud the word that has been bouncing around my mind since Elias transformed before my very eyes. Instead, I retrieve the first aid kit, grateful for the distraction it offers. When I make my way back to the couch, I catch Elias' eye for a moment. That same dark, penetrating look that first drew me to him is trained on me and for a moment, my breath catches in my throat. I manage to brush away that flicker in my chest though, and instead, sit down next to him, trying my best not to sit too close. It's impossible to avoid for long though. "Let me s
Elias Any worry that lingers in my mind around the pack, around the ceremony, it all dissipates the moment my lips touch Amy's. The heat of her rushes through me and with it, a new resolve: I won't give her up, no matter what. That promise carries me into the kiss, but soon, even that thought fades away. The softness of Amy's lips and the warmth of her tongue make me feel as if nothing else exists. All I know is, I want her. I pull her close, and the pain of my wounds melts away, replaced by the heat that flows between us. I feel the rise of her breasts pressed against me, the curve of her back where my hand presses her close. I feel her hair where it falls to brush my cheek, and the softness of her hand where it lays against my chest. I feel an overwhelming rush of love for her as we kiss, deeply, longingly. Soon, my hands travel down her body -- one comes to rest on the curve of her ass while the other caresses her thighs. She's wearing a dress today and it doesn't take long for
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
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