“Hello, Mother,” Arec said. He felt Eve’s hand tighten in his, but when he looked at her, she stared at his mother without expression. “Hello, Arec,” his mother said from her seat. She didn’t stand but waved him over to her. “I’ll stand, thank you,” Arec said. His mother’s eyes narrowed as she sniffed. “Suit yourself, son,” she said. When she remained silent, he sighed and asked, “What brings you by today, Mother?” His mother’s eyes glanced at Eve before returning to her son, and she said, “I think you know.” He nodded once and narrowed his eyes as he said, “But I’d like you to say it aloud.” She glared at him before breaking his gaze and sighing. “Fine,” she said, waving her hand. “I’m here because of her.” She pointed at Eve, who gasped and looked at Arec, who turned to smile at her as he squeezed her hand again. Eve’s face screwed up in a scowl, and she stepped forward. “What is it that you have against me?” she asked. “You don’t even know me.” “I know enou
Arec and Eve spent the rest of the day together until the sun started its descent on the horizon. She looked toward the orange ball of light as it dipped below the horizon. Sighing, she said, “I guess that means it’s time for me to return to that room.” Arec followed her gaze and nodded. “I’m afraid so,” he said. “But after tonight, you won’t have to stay there for a while.” Eve wrinkled her nose and said, “Yeah, but I’ll have to do it again next month.” “And I’ll be waiting right outside the door as I’ve been doing,” Arec told her, picking up her hand and lifting it to his lips. She smiled at him and asked, “You know you don’t have to do that, right?” “And let you go through this transformation alone?” he asked, shaking his head. “I don’t think so.” “You’re so good to me,” Eve told him, leaning over to brush her lips over his. “You’re my mate, and I love you, Eve,” Arec told her. “I love you, too, Arec,” she said, smiling at him. “That will get us through anything, rig
“The werewolves are back?” Bella asked, getting to her feet. “They are, and they brought reinforcements,” Michael said, looking grim. Arec put his fork down and got to his feet. “How many are there?” he asked. “More than last night,” Michael told him. Bella looked at Arec, chewing on her lower lip. “Do you think we can take them all?” she asked. Arec pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. “We have no choice,” he said. “Let’s go.” Michael and Bella hurried down the hallway as Arec walked to the door. Putting his hand on the door, he whispered, “I’ll be back soon.” He heard a whine in response and closed his eyes before removing his hand and hurrying after his siblings. Arec found Bella and Michael with Ray and Julia in the living room. “How many are there?” he asked. “It looks like at least twenty,” Ray said, frowning. Arec frowned and pursed his lips. Bella twisted her hands in front of her and asked, “Can we take that many?” “Of course, we ca
Arec stopped in his tracks as the other man stood from his crouched position in front of the door. The other man grinned at him and asked, “You didn’t expect to see me here, now did you?” Looking at Arec before glancing at the werewolves, he added, “You can change back. They won’t attack you for now.” Arec hesitated as he looked at the werewolves surrounding the man. Then he grimaced and shifted back to his human form. “Hello, Samuel,” he said. “I should have suspected something like this, but I never thought it would be from my own family.” His brother chuckled and said, “You should have known better than to have gotten involved with a werewolf.” Arec raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the werewolf pack surrounding his brother. “You should talk,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. The werewolves growled low in their throats, but Samuel growled back at them, causing them to quiet. “This is necessary to get your… girlfriend back with her own kind and for you to co
Arec led Eve up the stairs to the kitchen, where Michael and Bella waited. Eve growled when she saw them, and Arec patted her head. “It’s okay, Eve,” he said. “It’s just my sister and brother. You know them.” Eve pressed against Arec’s leg but continued to growl at Michael and Bella. Arec looked at his siblings and said, “I’ll be right back.” Michael and Bella nodded in unison as they stared at Arec, who led Eve out of the kitchen. “We’ll see how you do in my room,” he told her as they mounted the stairs. “I’m hoping that you won’t tear it apart while I’m gone.” Eve just panted as she loped up the stairs beside him. She sniffed the air as they neared his room and ran to his door, scratching to get in. “I can tell you know which one is mine,” he said as he opened the door for her. She bounded inside, smelling everything as she explored the room. Arec grinned at her before shaking his head. “I’ll be back in a few,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable, and try not to des
Arec listened for any sign that Eve was rampaging as he walked to his room, but the hallway was silent except for his footsteps. He paused when he reached his door, listening for any sign of Eve inside. He heard a faint noise, then a scratching at the door. A faint whine from Eve on the other side of the door brought a smile to his lips, and he whispered, “I’ll be right in.” He opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. Eve leaped at him, licking his face. He laughed as he put his arms around her. “I missed you, too,” he said, nuzzling her fur. He glanced toward the window and added, “It’s almost moonset. I hope you’re ready to change back into your regular form.” She yipped, causing him to laugh. “I hope it’s not painful for you,” he said, walking toward the bed. Eve followed him and jumped on the bed. He sat beside her and leaned against the headboard. She rested her head against his stomach as he rubbed her ears. They remained that way until Eve shifted and whined.
At the sound of Eve’s voice, the man on the other side of the room looked up. “Eve? Is that you?” he asked in a scratchy voice. Eve started toward him, but Arec touched her arm, causing her to stop and look at him with raised eyebrows. Arec shook his head and stepped in front of her. “Why did you turn Eve?” he asked, glaring at the other man. Craig turned his focus from Eve to Arec. His expression soured, and he snarled at Arec. “You!” he said, struggling to his feet. “Why couldn’t you have just left well enough alone? Why did you have to get in between us?” Arec snarled back at him and said, “You shouldn’t have changed her!” Craig sneered at him and said, “You should have minded your own business!” “Eve is my business!” Arec growled. Eve stepped in front of Arec, putting her hand on his chest. “Stop it,” she said, looking at Arec before turning toward Craig. Stepping toward him, she asked, “Why did you turn me, Craig?” “Because we’re meant to be together,” he said
“What?” Arec asked, hurrying toward Eve and taking the paper out of her hand. He scanned it and looked at Michael. “Mother has issued an official invitation to Eve to come to the family compound,” he said, holding the paper up. Michael walked to his brother and took the paper from his hand to read it. Arec put his arm around Eve’s shoulder. Lowering the paper, Michael looked at them and asked, “What’s the plan?” “Go and meet your family,” Eve said. “I don’t think I have any other choice.” Arec shook his head and said, “I don’t think that’s a wise idea, Eve.” Eve took the paper back and skimmed it again. “It doesn’t look like I can get out of it, Arec,” she said, shaking her head. Arec strode toward her and took the paper out of her hand. Crumpling it in his fist, he said, “You do have a choice, Eve, regardless of what my mother thinks.” Eve shook her head and said, “I don’t want to cause any trouble between you and the rest of your family.” Arec laughed without mirth and
“What?” Arec asked, scrambling to his feet. “You mean to tell me Michael lost Craig and Linda’s trail?” Bella nodded, not looking up as a tear falling from her eye and rolling down her cheek. “He’s still out there, looking for them,” she said, “but he lost it on the other side of the creek.” “Damn it!” Arec swore, hitting the palm of his hand with his fist. “I knew we shouldn’t have left,” Eve said, scowling at him. “We should have stayed to help him search.” Arec walked over to Eve and put his arm around her shoulders. She shrugged it off, glaring at him. “I wanted to stay to help, but you told me Michael would be able to find Craig’s trail,” she said. “Now look what happened. Linda’s out somewhere with Craig, and we don’t know where they are.” Arec reached for her again, but she stepped out of his reach. “You should have let me stay,” she told him before stalking out of the room. Arec started to go after her, but Bella held him back. “What are you doing?” he asked his
When Eve met with Arec in the gym, she had changed into her workout leggings and tank top. She saw he had put on an old t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts and had spread the gym mats across the floor in preparation for their session. He was already warming up for their session and grinned as he spotted her. “Ready to warm up?” he asked her, leaning with his hands pressed against the wall to stretch his legs. She nodded, stretching her arms and shoulders as she walked toward him, and said, “Let’s do this.” Squatting, she moved from side to side to stretch her leg muscles. She stretched her legs out before standing. Arec stood from the wall and stretched his arms before jerking his head toward the center of the room. She nodded once. They walked to the center of the room and faced each other. Arec crouched into a fighting position and nodded at her. “Aren’t you going to transform first?” she asked, frowning as she waited for him to do so. He shook his head and said, “Not to warm
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