Once inside the cave that had been their home for close to a decade now, Isabelle watched helplessly from the corner of her eye as Xavier had Cole dragged up the stone stairs while the rest of the pack members surrounded her to welcome her.
She forced a smile and tried to act as if all was well in the world when all she wanted to do was run after her brother to make sure he didn't hurt Cole more than he had already. She remembered all he had gone through for the past hours, getting kicked, hit, and knocked out not to mention the claw gashes on his pectoral. She clenched her jaw, nodding automatically to sympathetic words coming at her in almost all directions. Her closest friends Tiana and Opaline, rushed through the crowd to come and draw her into a tight embrace. The gesture coupled with the raging emotions inside her made her eyes smart with tears.
Isabelle turned around knowing the last thing Lorelei needed from her right then was a rescue. Her panting and quiet moaning was an indication. She did feel her twin’s pain though and hated that he was hurting. The pain was so profound it was almost physical. She rubbed her chest. Does it mean he has strong feelings for Lorelei? The other lady had always flirted with Beowulf although Isabelle never thought Lorelei would actually sleep with the man. But then Xavier never acted as if it bothered him. He always looked bored and emotionally detached. Was that a mask then? Or was it a ploy to keep their relationship a secret? But why? If he had come out and claimed her, no one in the pack wo
A gasp escaped her lips when Cole forcefully turned her around and lifted her up - tangled in chains and all. He pressed her back to the wall, nudged and settled between her legs, cupped her ass, and rammed into her again. Isabelle bit down on her lower lip to keep from moaning aloud. Her body arched, blending against his and he cupped her by the nape of her neck and covered her lips with his mouth. Cole drove into her feeling starved of her. Her scent, her soft cries, and the feel of his thick cock buried in her wet, tight pussy drove him bonkers. "I want to hear you scream my name," he breathed close to her ear, feeling out of his mind. "Not here,” she replied with a shaky breath, putting her mouth close to his ear, and suckled on his earlobe. Cole grunted. "Maybe in that hotel… where you planned to take me to? When you get me alone, with just t
Cole folded his knees and pulled his legs up just watching her lie there. He dragged his hands over his hair, roughening the already combed hair. Isabelle had tended to him in a way that mellowed him, making him feel cherished and like she was his to do as he pleased. She had even combed his hair, and he smiled. The last time he recalled anyone doing that for him was before his mother was killed. He also can not imagine any human woman doing that especially when he was not incapacitated. Although the chains would have made it a little difficult, but not impossible. He remembered how intense she had been, the concentration on her face and her insistence on patching him up. He had meant to scare her when he held her neck and found even then her concern had been for him. She called her death an escape. The comment had made a protective surge rush through him. The growing need to protect and make sure she lacked nothing welled up inside him bu
Isabelle opened her eyes at the sound of a loud snarl. The sight before her almost made her heart stop. She didn't have the time to think or pause as she jerked up, sprang into the air, and tackled the massive form heading for Cole. She landed atop a bundle of fur and their eyes met. Beowulf tried to push her off but she didn't let him. His black eyes were glassy, and darker than normal as if he had gone feral. He managed to push her off his body and rose to his feet. Isabelle pulled her door open, shape-shifted into a werewolf, and pounced in front of Cole, blocking him from Beowulf and at the same time shoving Cole backward against the wall. An act that awarded her a sharp stab in the flank as Beowulf dug his claws into her fur, and swiped hard. Isabelle growled.“Isabelle!” Cole cried in alarm. He had seen the black-furred werewolf slash at her side with his deadly claws, and he pulled
“Is that true, Belle? Did Beowulf try to molest you?” Xavier asked her via mind link. A deep frown furrowed her eyebrows. She hadn’t even pondered how Beowulf got into her room or why. She had figured Cole’s presence had made him lose control to the point of going feral - a mindless beast whose human side has been suppressed and only the animalistic instinct rules. And all the thought in her head had been to protect her mate, she hadn’t even remembered she had locked the door and he shouldn’t be in her room in the first place. “I locked my door and yet he got inside…” Isabelle responded via mind link, still, a bit befuddled. “He picked the lock. Your human stopped him. He complained of his limitations as a result of the chains,” Hallec supplied. “Let me have him, Belle,” he added, and she raised her eyes to hold his intense gaze, and from the corner of
“Isabelle—” Cole called, hating to see her cry. His heart tightened. He cupped her face and pressed his forehead against hers. “Don’t do this to me,” he whispered. “I’m just tired,” she whispered back and tried to smile but failed. She moved out of his arms and he let her, knowing he needed to allow her to put a distance between them. He balled his fist to keep from stopping her. He was getting too attached and invested too fast. He knew he needed to apply brakes and hoped it wasn’t already too late. He watched as she walked naked away from him. He admired how confident she was in her skin. He supposed she must know she was indeed a magnificent creature. He found himself wishing they had met in totally different circumstances. He thought he would have enjoyed being her boyfriend. He tried not to think of how dangerous and especially lonely such a position would be for her since he was always off on
“Isabelle!” Cole's voice broke through the void of pain in Isabelle’s head and she opened her eyes. She found herself looking up into Cole’s concerned eyes as she panted heavily, struggling to getaway. Gradually she took cognizant of her surroundings and her struggle eased as the sound of the strange bird outside her window pricked her ears. She couldn’t smell death or blood, nor could she sense danger close by. But the sense of doom settled upon her shoulders and she released a shuddering breath. “Calm down, and breath in and out…” Cole coached in his calm cool tone. Isabelle nodded then her eyes smart with tears. Taking steady breaths, her eyes involuntarily darted around her room over Cole’s shoulders as if reassuring herself that this was her reality. She was still in bed naked and they were both in her room alone. She accepted then that her horrific experience a moment before was nothing but a dream – a very dark and cruel dream. Tears spilled from her eyes and she whispered
“Xavier—” Isabelle said and went to squeeze herself in between the two large men. She placed a hand on Xavier’s chest and waited for him to lower his eyes to meet hers. “Is he telling the truth?” he asked and Isabelle could see an unsettling emotion in his eyes that seemed like hope. She swallowed as her eyes darted hurriedly in their sockets. “What is going on, Xavier?” She whispered with a worried frown.“Is he telling the truth?” he asked again. Isabelle nodded. “Then you will say the words to reject him, and he can accept right here, right now. Cos there’s no way in hell, I’m going to allow this!” he growled in a low cold tone.“What? You can’t say that to me. That should be my decision,” she paused, turned a bit to include Cole, and added, “Our decision.” “I can’t accept a rejection from her. We need to get her to safety,” Cole said.“Does he even know what being mated to you means? Listen to the moron. He is talking about protecting you,” Xavier said, addressing Isabelle.“
“No!” Rufus yelled, Cole turned to him and smash the butt of his gun against his head, causing his forehead to bleed. “You fucking injected my woman with wolfbane, and dared to try and kill Aaron!” “You bastard! You killed my son!” Rufus cried loudly in evident anguish. It was clear he had lost his mind. “Oh, I intend to off all your fucking sons! You idiot!” “That’s a shame—” a voice sounded from the doorway. Cole looked in the direction and saw a man that looked like Rufus holding Opaline by the throat, and when Isabelle startled forward, he brandished a gun at her. Isabelle stopped. “If any of you animals move, I will drop this and we will all die...” the newcomer said, using the barrel of his gun to tap on a grenade he held against Opaline’s throat — the very type Ash used a few minutes before, everyone stepped back except Isabelle. “Hello, Cole Miller, your father was an arrogant asshole, but I still liked him, I was looking forward to meeting you. The way he talked about yo
“Oh, hell, no! Not on my watch!” Cole muttered and ran to the open space, ignoring the fact that he was left defenceless, trusting Jason and Ash to cover him. Isabelle gaped at him, watching as he opened fire on the guards by the doorway. Isabelle watched in frozen horror as two bullets hit him on the chest, and another on the shoulder, Cole only grunted hard but pressed forward. He didn’t stop until there were no more guards still left standing by the doorway. “Is this guy on drugs?!” one of the Weres asked with disquiet. “He is fucking insane!” another interjected. “Yes, he is,” Jason said with an admiration that made Isabelle smack him on the shoulder. “Sorry,” he said in a whispered plea, and then added, “but only the insanity part. I wouldn’t have him any other way!” He smirked and pushed away from safety to join in. Ash and his men joined him. A new wave of guards came out from the house and the other side of the woods, brandishing automatic guns at Cole and the rest o
Angel let go of the man and offered him the water. He snatched the bottle and gulped down the water, then he eyed Angel before he took the steak and gorged it down his throat. Isabelle passed another bottle of water to Angel and the other Were directed his gaze passed Angel to settle on her. The pain that cloud his eyes at the sight of her made her swallow. “They killed her... raped her to death...” he growled and then whimpered in obvious pain, curling up on the floor. Angel grabbed him by the shoulders and snarled “And if you don’t get your shit together, you will never be able to avenge her! Get a hold of yourself, Wolfe, or this will be it for you! I don’t fucking have all night!” Angel said, barring his teeth. The other wolf nodded and fought to contain his emotions. Angel then offered him a change of clothes, and he accepted it. Isabelle and the other ladies moved back to allow the rescued Weres to change, and then one of the Were asked, “Why does this human smell like
Cole signalled to Ash to wait with his team, beckoned Jason, mind linked with Isabelle to follow him then asked Xavier to mind link with Hallec, Darrow, Wulfrun, Opaline, and Tiana to come with them. The chosen Weres followed Angel closely, heading into the side woods to a secluded area about 5 minutes walk from the house, but it only took the Weres three. Angel brought them to a clearing in the woods and Cole could see a large iron grate-like shield, spanning about five meters of the grounds. Angel climbed atop it, looking down into the hole. Xavier went to join him, and Cole and Jason followed. Looking down through the iron bars, Cole could see an iron ladder leading down into a pit and the stench was killing. “Heavens! This is where they are?!” Xavier asked with gritted teeth, his anger was evident
The following morning Cole and Xavier asked to speak with Ash privately, and shortly after the other man peered into the study before entering. Xavier was standing by the window and Cole was by the liquor cabinet. “Thanks for honouring our call Ash—” Cole said and almost bit his tongue for the nonsense. It was quite obvious he wasn’t comfortable speaking with another man about his choice of a partner. Heck! If it weren’t for the impending mission he would have let whatever the two were playing at work itself out. What’s the point of living if you have to keep it safe all the time? A deep frown formed a groove in between his eyebrows. It was plain he would not be a perfect person to discuss the topic of ‘the birds and bees’ when the time comes. He evidently sucks at it. He doubted Isabelle would approve of him telling their kids to explore as much as they want. He wasn’t a parent yet and that scenario had him imaging an angel giving him a disapproving glare. He shook his head as if th
A gentle tap on the door woke Cole up and his eyes automatically went to the wall clock. He sighed. He had fallen asleep curled up with Isabelle in front of the fireplace on the duvet he had dragged from the bed. Lying there and chatting with her about their future felt right. It felt beautiful and now he just needed to go and secure that future for all of them. He disengaged from her and she turned her face to hold his gaze “Xavier needs me...” Cole said, lowering his head to plant a kiss on her lips. “Okay,” she said. Cole got up and quickly threw some clothes on before leaving the room when he got downstairs all the Weres were there including Ash. Cole sighed. He figured if Tiana hadn’t told Ash yet who she was he would have to be the one to do it or speak to Xavier about it. The last thing he needed was a surprised lover, freaking out at the wrong time and messing up their mission. He nodded a greeting to everyone and walked in the direction of Alexander’s office he had
She walked to the bathroom door that was at a corner of the opposite wall to the door she came in through, and slowly pushed it open, leaving it just slightly open. Cole was under the shower and his entire body was lathered and on display. Isabelle’s heart shook. He stood under the shower with his hands pressed to the wall as the water washed off the soap slowly on his body. Isabelle allowed her eyes to follow the flow down his deliciously sexy body. It reminded her of the time back at his cabin when he had washed her body and made her wash his too. “Touch me...” his raspy voice echoed in her head, and she leaned against the door frame watching him as her body flamed up for him. Cole heard the adjoining door open and knew she was coming before she got to the bathroom door. He could feel her gaze on him and could smell her excitement. The thought and the scent of her, mingled with her arousal affected his body in an unbelievable way. It was as if he could feel exactly what she was f
“Belle?” Xavier called, causing her to snap out of her musings. She realised everyone had sat down and she was the only one standing by the open French door like some social recluse. She flashed a smile that she hoped didn’t appear as a grimace and went to take the seat next to Xavier and Amèlie. The others started to eat, and low murmuring filled the room. They were all so aware of the male servants, standing by, and close to the side walls, evidently there to wait on them, but that didn’t make it less awkward. When she continued to sit still without reaching out to eat, Xavier gave her a gentle nudge with his leg, and she winced delicately, before reaching for her food. They were first served with an appetizer and Isabelle slowly tasted the chicken soup before she started to eat. They were on the main course dish when Cole entered the room. Two male servants quickly went to serve his appetizer, placing it by the head of the table. “I am sorry. I have been quite a terrible host.
With chest heaving, she breathed through parted lips returning his scrutiny. Cole took the seat beside her. Reaching for her hand, he held it firmly in his and then leaned into her and took her lips in a searing kiss. Isabelle gasped, confused by his actions, but he didn’t stop. The taste of whiskey on his tongue mixed with coffee coupled with the effect of his drugging kiss made her gradually lose herself in the kiss and it wasn’t long before she completely forgot why she was scared and where she was.When he finally let go for her to breathe, her eyes searched his smouldering ones before darting to the open window shield behind him. She found then that they were airborne, and the plane had stabilised. She swallowed. “I’m sorry, I haven’t—” she said. Cole raised his hand to brush a knuckle against her cheek. “Don’t do that… Don’t apologise to me. I'm sorry, I should have realised, and come sooner,” he replied and the tears she had been fighting to hold back spilt down her face. ‘