When Eve opened her eyes, she blinked a few times in confusion. The ceiling overhead was unfamiliar to her. Turning her head, she realized she was curled up on a bed. She lifted her head and squinted into the darkness, trying to identify anything that would give a clue to her surroundings. She groaned as her head pounded and closed her eyes again. Reaching up, she smoothed her hand over her forehead, then opened her eyes again. “At least I’m not tied up,” she muttered, turning her head to scan the room again. She sat up and groaned, holding her head as the room swam around her. “What the hell happened?” she muttered. She thought back to what she was doing before she woke here. Arec had just left to return to the office. She walked back into the kitchen to do the dishes and heard the knock on her door. Thinking it was Arec and he’d forgotten something, she opened the door with a smile. The smile left her face as she saw an unfamiliar man standing on the other side. Be
Two weeks flew by as Eve explored Arec’s house while he was at the office. She watched a couple of movies in his in-house theater, swam in the indoor pool, and roamed through the hallways, marveling at how big the house was. However, restlessness began to set in for her toward the end of the second week. She roamed the hallways, not knowing where to go or what to do. She snapped at the servants, and when Arec arrived from work, she kept as close to him as possible. They slept either in her room or his, but they didn’t spend the nights apart. “I love waking up beside you every morning,” Eve told him as they snuggled in bed one morning. He pulled her closer and brushed his lips over her hair. “I do, too,” he said. “So many advantages.” He moved his hand over her hip, causing her to giggle. “I agree,” she said, moving her hand down his back and tilting her head to kiss him. Before they could go any further, someone knocked on Arec’s bedroom door. Groaning, Arec lifted his
Eve jumped and slammed the refrigerator door shut. She whirled around to see a strange man leaning against the counter, looking at her with a smirk. “Who are you?” she asked with her hand on her racing heart. “I’m Michael,” the man said. “And if I guess right, you’re Eve, the talk of the house.” Eve lifted one eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “How is it you know who I am, but I’ve never heard of you?” she asked. Michael threw his head back and laughed. “I’m not surprised Arec would leave a woman such as yourself a secret to the rest of us,” he said, looking her over. Her eyes narrowed, and she asked, “What does that mean? Who are you again?” “I’m Arec’s brother,” he told her. “Arec sent me over to make sure you were protected.” His smile disappeared as he added, “He told me what’s been happening to you and didn’t want to leave you without protection.” Tilting her head as she looked at him, Eve pressed her lips together before saying, “That makes sense.” “
Eve picked her phone up and saw a text from Linda. “Hey, girl! What’s new with you?” she asked. “It’s been a bit since we’ve talked, so I wanted to check on you.”Eve chewed on her lip as she thought about how she would tell Linda that she was staying with Arec. Sighing, she typed a message. “Hey, my friend! Have I got news for you!” she said. “You know those creepy packages I’ve been getting? Well, Arec doesn’t want me to stay at my place alone, so he has me living with him in his house.” She waited for Linda to respond but wasn’t waiting long. “WHAT?! You mean you’re staying with your oh-so-hot boss?!” “Yup!” Eve told her friend. “In his HUGE mansion!” “He has a mansion?!” Linda asked. “I’ll have to invite you over to see it,” Eve told her. “You’ll love the indoor movie theater and the pool.” “You’re kidding me,” Linda said. “He has an indoor movie theater AND a pool?! I must see this place!” Then she sent another text. “How long are you staying?” “I’m not sure,” E
“Finally,” Arec muttered, closing the file on his desk and putting it into the bottom drawer of his desk. He glanced toward the windows and frowned at how dark it was outside. “I’d better get home before Eve starts to worry,” he said, pushing away from his desk and calling for the car. As the chauffeur drove, Arec stared out the window. “Something’s wrong,” he muttered, pulling out his phone. “I can feel it.” He dialed his brother, who answered on the second ring. “What’s up?” Michael answered the call. “Is everything okay back there?” Arec asked. “I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary,” his brother told him. “What about Eve?” Arec asked. “Where is she?”“She went for a walk on the grounds,” Michael told him. Arec sat up straight and asked, “She did what?” “She went for a walk,” Michael said, puzzled. “Why?” “Can you see her now?” he asked, leaning forward to see how far away from the house the car was. Arec could hear his brother moving before he said, “D
When Michael returned, he saw Arec had taken off his suit jacket and sat with his back against the wall. His legs were bent, and he rested his arms on them as he stared at the door across the hallway. As Michael neared his brother, the door shook as the werewolf inside thudded against the door, rattling it. “I see she’s awake,” Michael said, handing the plate of food to his brother. Arec nodded, accepting the plate. “It’s going to be a long night, so I brought a thermos of coffee,” Michael said, handing Arec the large container. “Thanks,” he said, opening it and pouring the dark liquid into the cup. “Do you want me to take a shift?” Michael asked. Arec shook his head and said, “I’ll be fine.” Grinning up at his brother, he added, “This won’t be my first overnighter.” Michael grinned back and said, “Yeah, but you were much younger then.” Arec rolled his eyes and took a drink of his coffee. Sobering, Michael said, “I’ll patrol the grounds to make sure the werewolf who
“Arec?” Eve called in a weak voice. “Is that you?” She looked at the door from where she lay curled on the floor. It slowly opened, and she closed her eyes at the light streaming inside, lifting her hand to block the brightness. “It’s me, honey,” he said, coming into the room and kicking the door shut behind him. The room was dimly lit, but he could make out the naked form of Eve curled on the ground. He set the tray down on the floor and hurried to her side. “How are you feeling?” he asked, kneeling beside her and gently touching her shoulder. “Sore,” Eve said, lifting her head to look at him. “What happened to me?” “What’s the last thing you remember?” he asked as he helped her sit up and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She melted into him and shook her head. “I’m not sure,” she said. “I remember going for a walk before dinner. I went into the trees, then….” Her voice trailed off. “Then, what?” Arec asked softly. “Do you remember anything after that?
“A Lycan?” Eve asked. “What’s that?” “We’re wolf-like beings but aren’t werewolves,” he said. “We aren’t controlled by the full moon as werewolves are.” She stared at him with wide eyes as her mouth hung open. “In our wolf form, we have complete control over our actions,” he continued. “We also remember what happened while in our wolf form.” He looked at her as he added, “Unlike werewolves.” Falling silent, he waited for her to understand what he was saying. Eve stared at him in shock as she took in what he was telling her. Suddenly, her mouth snapped shut. Then she gasped. “Are you seriously telling me I changed into a werewolf last night?” she asked. “You’re being serious about that? It’s not a joke?” He nodded but remained silent. She laughed until she realized he wasn’t laughing with her. “You’re being serious?” she asked, sitting up from the water. He nodded again. She looked away from him, frowning. “What am I going to do?” she muttered. “I’m going to tak
Eve waited, holding her breath, as Arec listened to Michael on the other end of the phone. Arec listened, then looked at Eve and nodded. “He found them?” she asked, hurrying to his side. Arec moved the phone away from his mouth and told her, “He has their trail.” Eve put her hand over her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. She hurried to the couch and sat down. As she waited for Arec to finish his conversation with his brother, she leaned forward with her hands clasped so tightly that her fingers turned white. After Arec hung up the phone, he looked at Eve and said, “He’s going to track them and call back when he has more information.”“Do you think it will take long?” she asked, her brows drawn upward in concern. “I’m not sure,” Arec told her, walking to the couch to sit beside her. “Michael is an excellent tracker, so I don’t think he’ll lose their scent.” He reached over to unclasp her hands and held her hands in his. “Linda’s going to be okay,” he told her. “How do
Eve gasped as Arec made the suggestion that Linda had been abducted. “Do you really think someone took her?” she asked. Arec and Michael sniffed the air before looking at each other and nodding. “What is it?” Eve asked, looking at them. “What do you smell?” She inhaled, then shook her head. “I don’t smell anything,” she said. “That’s because your senses are dulled when you’re not in your wolf form,” Arec told her. “Whereas we can still access our Lycan senses when we’re not in that form,” Michael said. “So, what are you smelling?” she asked. Arec and Michael glanced at each other again before Arec said, “We smell Craig.” “What?” Eve cried. “You think he has Linda?” Arec looked at Michael before nodding. “His stench is all over Linda’s car,” he said. Eve ground her teeth, and her hands balled into fists. Her eyes narrowed as she sniffed the air. She shook her head before she said, “I can’t smell anything, but I will find him and make him give Linda back!” “You
“So, how was your day with Linda?” Arec asked when Eve returned to the house, carrying her purchases inside. “It was nice to see her again,” Eve told him, smiling as she set the bags down. “You look like you had a good time,” he told her, grinning and nodding toward her shopping bags. Her smile widened into a grin as she waved toward the bags. “I think we bought out the entire shopping area,” she said. “At least, it felt like it.” Arec smiled and shook his head. “Should I even check the bank account?” he asked. Giggling, Eve shook her head and said, “It’s probably best that you don’t.” “Then, I won’t,” he said before picking up some of the bags in his left hand while holding out his right arm for her to grasp. She picked up the rest of the bags and slid her arm through his. They walked out of the living room toward the staircase. When they reached her room, she dropped her bags and dug her phone out of her purse. “Let me text Linda and tell her I made it home safe,”
Linda craned her head to follow Eve’s gaze and gasped. “That sure does look like Craig,” she said. “What is he doing here?” Eve scowled and took her napkin off her lap as she stood. “I don’t know, but I’m going to go out there and find out,” she said. Linda put her hand on Eve’s arm, stopping her friend. “Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked. “How well do you actually know that man? What if he’s dangerous?” Eve glared at him through the window and balled her hands into fists while she said, “He’ll find out who’s more dangerous when I go out there and confront him.” Linda frowned at her friend, then released her arm. Eve glanced at her friend and told her, “I’ll be right back.” Linda nodded and watched Eve leave the cafe. Eve marched out of the cafe, glaring at Craig, who leaned against a light post with his hands in his pockets. He spotted her and stood up. Linda continued to watch the scene as it played out. Eve marched out of the cafe, her eyes trained on Craig, who co
“Where?” Eve asked. “Where is Craig?” Linda pointed to a man standing on the other side of the pond. When Eve looked at him, he grinned at her and walked away. “That sure looked like Craig,” Eve said, staring at his retreating back. “I wonder why he was out there.” “I wonder why he didn’t come in and say hi,” Linda said, frowning. “Maybe he knows about Arec and didn’t feel comfortable talking to us,” Eve said, turning to look at her friend. She chewed on her thumbnail as she looked back out the window toward where Linda said Craig had been. Linda leaned forward and grinned at Eve. “So, how are things going with Mr. Right?” she asked. Eve turned to look at Linda and smiled. “We’re doing good,” she said. “You must be,” Linda said. “I haven’t seen or heard much from you lately!” Eve’s face fell, and she said, “I’m sorry about ignoring you lately, Linda. I didn’t mean to shut you out.” Linda reached across the table to pat her friend’s hand and said, “Don’t worry about
Eve’s phone rang, startling her from her thoughts. Looking at the screen, she smiled before she answered it. “Hey, girl,” she greeted Linda. “How have you been?” “Long time, no talk,” her friend said. “I’ve been good. How about you?” Eve paused as she thought about the events since she’d last spoken to her friend before saying, “I’ve been good. What’s new?” “Just the same old, same old,” Linda said. “Still single and trying to mingle to find that special someone. Speaking of a special someone, how’s your man doing?” Eve felt her face warming as she smiled and said, “He’s doing good. We’re doing good.” “I haven’t seen you in a bit, so I wanted to give you a call,” Linda said. “I figured you’d been spending time with your man and forgot all about me.” Eve shook her head and said, “I could never forget about you.” “Glad to hear that,” Linda said with a chuckle. “So, what’s new with you?” Eve asked. “Found anyone who has stolen your heart yet?” Linda chuckled and said, “Not
Eve’s mouth dropped open at Arec’s announcement. “Fight you?” she asked when she found her voice. “Are you serious?” Arec nodded and said, “Of course I am. I’m the best option you have.” He held up his fingers as he counted the ways. “I’m your mate, so I’m not going to hurt you,” he said. “I know you better than Michael, so I should be able to anticipate what actions you’re going to take. Also, if you injure me, I won’t react like Michael would.” Turning to his brother, he shrugged and said, “No offense, Michael.” Michael shook his head and changed back into his human form. “None taken,” he said before asking, “Do you think it’s wise to do this, Arec?” “I would rather be the one to train her so that I can take the blame if any information gets out to the werewolves,” he said. “Plus, she’s my mate, so I don’t think she’ll tell them anything if it’s me she’s fighting.” “He makes a good point,” Bella said, tilting her head and pursing her lips as she studied them. “I don’t thin
“Is this really necessary?” Eve asked Arec, looking at Michael in his Lycan form on the other side of the gym. Arec looked at his brother, patiently waiting for Eve to finish warming up, and nodded. “You need to know how a Lycan fights so you can be prepared for what Sabrina may come at you with,” he said. “Michael won’t go full Lycan on me, though, will he?” she asked, still staring at him. “He will be full Lycan, but he won’t be using his full strength,” Arec told her. “He wants to teach you how to fight a Lycan, but he doesn’t want to hurt you while doing so. You won’t be able to fight a Lycan until you transform again during the next full moon.” Eve nodded, not taking her eyes off Michael, who noticed her staring and winked at her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. She started, blinking her eyes rapidly. “Are you ready to begin?” Arec asked her, frowning. “Or do you want me to give you a few pointers first?” Eve tore her eyes from Michael to look at him. “You’d do
“What?!” Arec roared. “What do you mean this challenge is to the death?”“That’s how we settle things these days, bro,” Samuel said, smirking at Arec. “You’d know this if you attended more Pack meetings.”Arec looked at Michael and asked, “Were you aware of this?” Michael looked at his mother and said, “I had a suspicion that Mother might still follow the old ways when it came to this.” “What old ways?” Eve asked. Arec glared at his mother before turning to Eve and saying, “In the old days, Pack law was settled by a fight to the death, but these days, I thought we’d become more civilized.” Looking back to his mother, he added, “It seems that I was wrong.” His mother pursed her lips and looked away. “Too bad for your girlfriend,” Sabrina said, bearing her teeth in a grin directed at Eve. “Now, wait just a minute,” Arec said, starting to stand. Eve put her hand on his arm. He looked at her before sitting back down in his seat. “I’ve got this,” she told him, staring at Sabri