Aria “Tracy will be taking over Arthur’s responsibilities,” Darren said, resulting in a soft ripple of murmurs from the team. “I trust you will find her more than capable.” Tracy. I recalled the others mentioning that name before when Arthur had first been fired, but I never expected her to be s
“There were multiple factors, Lily.” Such a calm and practiced response. So much so that it was even a little suspicious. If he had the means to hire someone as qualified as Tracy, then why me? Why take me on full-time—the human girl with no degree? And as for Lily, she still hadn’t said a word
Aria Tracy smiled warmly, although there was a sense of humor behind her words. “Oh, I’m, uh, Lucas’s part-time nanny,” I said, a little flustered, as I gestured vaguely in Lucas’s direction. “It’s sort of an arrangement Darren made with me on the side. And, well… Lucas likes calling me ‘Mommy’
And yet, thinking about this made something else creep back into my mind. Tracy’s words. Lucas had told me once that his mother had died. And yet, Tracy was so sure that she’d simply walked out, abandoned him. I looked down at Lucas, wondering what the truth was, and why he seemed so certain tha
Darren & Aria Darren The night Lucas was born was a night I would never forget. But not necessarily for the right reasons. What should have been a joyous occasion was instead filled with heartbreak and loss. My sister had been fighting for hours. The baby was turned in her belly—or at least,
Darren paused, then shook his head, looking a little guilty. “Not yet. I do plan to tell him, just… When he’s a little older. Partially because I fear that the secret would get out if he knew.” He let out a wry chuckle. “The kid likes to yap, as you well know.” I couldn’t help but snort at that. “
Aria I looked down at the stack of paperwork in my arms, the numbers swimming slightly on the paper as I tried to make sense of it all. The columns, the calculations, the graphs—it felt like I was staring at a page full of hieroglyphics. But there was something about Tracy’s words that made me w
Tracy’s lips curved into a small smile, but there was something in her expression that made me uneasy. I couldn’t place my finger on it, though. Maybe I was just nervous. “Oh, of course, Aria,” she said gently. “Just give me the papers. I’ll see what I can do.” Relief washed over me, and I hande
Then, with painstaking slowness as if teasing me, he hooked one finger under my bra strap and slipped it down. The moment his mouth connected with my breast, my back arched of its own accord. I couldn’t contain the small whimper that escaped me as he carefully twirled his tongue around the nipple,
Aria Darren’s arms around me felt like the one thing I had been missing all my life. As he held me there, curled up on the floor with nothing but the snow and the wind outside, I felt more safe and steady than I’d ever felt before. I had never felt like this with any man—certainly not Jackson, a
As if on cue, I heard it coming. It was faint, but unmistakable: the distant, droning buzz of wings. My blood ran cold. The swarm would be here in moments. Aria blinked up at me slowly, as if she hadn’t heard a word I said. Her hands moved to my chest instead, clumsily gripping my coat. “So muscul
Darren I glanced over my shoulder, grinning as I carved a path down the slope. “You keeping up back there?” But the answer never came. My smile faltered. Aria wasn’t there. I turned my skis sideways, snow spraying up in a flurry as I came to a stop. My breath fogged in the cold air as I look
Darren didn’t even try to hide his laughter as he stepped toward me. “You okay down there?” “Oh, I’m just peachy,” I grumbled, trying to sit up. My skis tangled awkwardly, and I flailed like a bug stuck on its back. “Stop laughing and help me up!” Still chuckling, Darren grabbed my arm and pulle
Aria Lucas’s face crumpled before the words even left Darren’s mouth. “No,” Darren said firmly, shaking his head. “You’re not coming, Lucas.” Lucas’s little hands curled into fists at his sides as he looked up at Darren with wide, watery eyes. “But why not? You always say I’m brave!” His voice
“We’ll be watching,” the elder said coldly. “Both of you.” Darren nodded. “I’d expect nothing less.” With that, the crowd began to disperse, although a few wolves—the warriors who had first sprang to action when Charles commanded them to drag me away—lingered for a moment longer, glaring at me h
Aria A heavy silence fell after Charles made his demand. Darren was tense in front of me, his broad form nearly blocking out my view of the old Beta, but I could still feel Charles’s eyes boring into my skull. “Do the right thing, Alpha,” Charles sneered. “Before she proves all of us right.” A
I stared at him, my mind reeling. “A moment of great need,” I finally muttered, shaking my head. “What kind of ‘great need’?” Darren and the doctor exchanged glances again before Darren turned to me. “There’s no way for us to know,” he explained gently. “Perhaps your wolf will emerge when you ne