Faint rays of morning sun shone through the windows the following day. I rolled over onto Xander's bare, muscled chest, trying to orient myself to my surroundings, the smell of coffee thick in the air."Coffee?" Elias kissed my shoulder and then slipped on his shoes. Then he held up a cup of coffee and smiled. "Maybe this will help."I sat up and shielded my face. "Don't look at me. I'm hideous." But I took the coffee. "Thanks."He chuckled, planting a kiss on the side of my head. "You've never looked more beautiful."I scoffed. "Yeah, right." I took a sip of coffee, hoping it disguised my morning breath a little bit. "Umm... just the way I like it." I arched an eyebrow. "You've been paying attention."He gently kissed my lips. "Of course. I'm glad we all moved in together. This way, I get to see you before I go to work every morning.""Have a good day, dear," I teased, my voice filled with sarcasm. After I slipped out of bed and set my cup on the table, I put on my beige silk robe lyi
"Have a great day," Xander said, giving me a kiss goodbye before I left for work, refusing to let me do the dishes.I chuckled as I slid my backpack over my shoulder and opened the door. "At this rate, you two are going to have me spoiled rotten.""That's the whole idea." He leaned against the door facing watching me as I stepped into the hallway, looking every inch a supermodel. "Xander, at least leave the dishes for me." I felt guilty for leaving all the dishes for him. Somehow, it didn't seem right, since he had cooked, too."No way!" He laughed, shaking his head, looking at me as if I had lost my mind. "Go! Before I change my mind about letting you out of my sight today."I laughed, waving at him over my shoulder. "Have a great day!""I thought that might work," he teased, looking me up and down as I walked to the elevator. When the doors opened, he was still watching. I blew him a kiss when I stepped in and leaned against the wall when the door closed, feeling like a school girl
"Wow! It's raining out," I said, looking out the window of the Clinic at the end of the day.Bailey nodded, gathering the rest of her things. "Yeah, it doesn't happen often." She slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Well, I'm out of here. Don't stay too long.""I won't. I'm right behind you." Even though Dale had been our only serious patient the whole day—a few others stopped by for bandages for minor injuries—I was tired and ready to leave. Maybe even try to talk Xander and Elias into going to a restaurant away from the Compound. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"She burst out laughing. "Yeah, right! That kind of leaves me wide open then, doesn't it?""Hey!""Just kidding." Bailey headed toward the door, still laughing. "Have a good night. "I'll see you at dinner.""Maybe." I gave her a warm smile. "I'm going to try and talk Xander and Elias into going out tonight away from the Compound. Maybe we'll get some pizza or something."She chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, good luck wit
"What?" Cruz asked a bit louder than he had intended as he jumped to his feet. "Seriously?"I nodded and then took another sip of my margarita. Even though I couldn't get drunk, the alcohol was starting to relax me, or maybe it was just talking to Cruz. I didn't know which but whatever it was, it helped."Are you sure you didn't misunderstand?" A crease formed between his eyes. I shrugged, looking directly into his eyes. "Elias had his hand on the small of Eve's back as they walked around the corner.""Son of a—""Cruz." I laughed, shaking my head.He took another sip of his beer. "Have you told Xander?"I shook my head. "Not yet. Needless to say, I nearly turned into my wolf and murdered them, so I had to get out of there."He nodded. "So, that explains why you ran past me in the garage."My head snapped up. "You were in the garage?"He nodded, his lips curling into his impish smile. "And you never even said hello."I laughed. "Sorry. I didn't see anything but red... literally.""No
Sirens screamed in the distance through the rain, and were growing closer. "The humans are on their way," I said to Eve and Cruz. "We have to make this quick.""Umm," Eve said, her back to mine, "now might be a good time for a little bit of that magic.""Or a lot," Cruz agreed, his back to ours, too.The police sirens' screams grew louder as the men closed in. "Duratus!" I screamed, raising my arms. Suddenly, ice formed over all of them, immobilizing them all. We started running toward our vehicles."What did you do?" Eve asked, running by my side.I shrugged. "I cast a freezing spell. It won't lost long, but it'll buy us enough time to escape!" I flung open the door of my car and yelled over the roof. "Eve, get in!"Cruz was already on his motorcycle, parked right behind my car, and strapped on his helmet. "Go! I'll follow you."Eve looked at my car and then at Nightshade, debating. "Get in!" I yelled. "We'll come back for your car later!"Suddenly, guys on motorcycles jumped over
I smirked. "And what do you plan to do with us?"Balista smiled, tilting his head to the side as he walked around us, enjoying his cruel game. "I'm not sure yet. But I know exactly how it will end." He stopped pacing, lowering his head as he raised his eyes, his eyes evil incarnate. "You escaped me once. And you will not escape me again."I lifted my chin, staring straight into his eyes. "Don't bet on it."Just then, the door opened, and Sasha came walking in, her long blonde ponytail swaying back and forth. "Sasha?" Eve gasped, gripping the steel bars of her cage. "I trusted you!" I was sure that if she could have gotten her hands on her at that moment, she would have torn her apart.She smirked as she slid her arm around Balista's waist and gave him a long, lingering kiss, causing my stomach to turn. When she pulled back, she ran her thumb at the corner of her mouth. "Sorry, but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse.""Eve, now it all makes sense," I said, shaking my head. "She was
"We need to try and find some of those silver wristbands. Then we can slap one on Balista," Eve whispered as we headed down the hallway. "Where do you think he might have them?""But we'd have to get close enough to use it." I cocked my head to the side, raising my eyebrows. "When he put one on me, he pulled one out of his pocket."Eve scoffed, keeping her voice low. "Please, tell me it's not that simple.""Either that or maybe he has some in his office. But I'd bet that he carries some on him, just in case." I glanced at her over my shoulder, ready in case someone surprised us. "But we need to stay quiet and figure out where we are before we get caught."Just then, we came to a corridor with a hallway going in opposite directions. Without windows, it was hard to tell where we were.I motioned with my head toward the left. "This way.""What makes you so sure?" she asked behind me.I shrugged. "Seemed as good a choice as any."In the distance, male voices echoed from the hallway around
"There," I said, brushing off my hands after we finished pulling the men into the office. "That should do it."Eve bent down and felt for a pulse. "They're still alive, but they'll be out for a while.""I should think so after being hit in the head with a pipe!" I laughed, shaking my head. "Let's go."Eve smiled as she slowly opened the door and nodded toward the right. "Maybe there's another way out that'll attract less attention.""One can only hope." I nodded. "Let's do it."I followed her out, and we stopped at the corner. Down the hallway, two men darted across the hallway into another room."They we're looking for us," I whispered. Eve nodded her agreement.Staying out of sight, we darted across the hallway and ran. At the end was a door and another hallway to the right. If only we could make it there. I just hoped that no one saw us. If I knew where we were going, I could just teleport us outside. But then again, I could unwittingly teleport us to the edge of a canyon or worse..
Over the next few days, we prepared for our Pledging Ceremony and Eve and Dannan's wedding. Their wedding had been a few days before our Pledging Ceremony and had been nothing short of an event—the complete opposite of Cruz and Eve's Wedding. But it suited them well. After all, Dannan and Eve were much more flamboyant than Cruz and Bailey. Also, nearly every member of Dannan's pack had arrived for their Wedding, adding to their numbers. But it was a lot of fun.Xander had performed the ceremony, and we had danced into the night. Eve and Dannan looked happy, too. Since they had found each other, both of them seemed to be less grumpy and easier to get along with. And with the trial behind her, Eve was able to concentrate on the wedding and enjoy it. She had surprised me by asking me to be her Maid of Honor, and I had graciously accepted. After what we had been through together, we had continued to grow closer. Even though she was still Eve, she was a better version of herself than she h
The next day, Sasha was found guilty of treason and sentenced to fifty years in the Alpha Supreme's prison. Eve and Dannan were in attendance, along with Xander, Elias, and me. Seven, her brother, was there, too."I'm so sorry, Seven," I said, patting his arm after the trial. "But the evidence was overwhelming."Seven nodded, a crease forming between his eyes. "Yes, I know. Who knows? Maybe the next fifty years will give her time to think. She should be punished for siding with Nightshade against the wolves." He let out a deep breath. "But I'll visit her in prison and will try to help her in any way I can."I gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "You're a good brother."He shook his head. "Thanks, but I don't feel like it.""Seven, this wasn't your fault." I let out a deep breath. "You had no idea what she was up to."He nodded. "I know. I had a feeling she was up to something, but I had no idea what it was." He smiled, looking at Xander, Elias, and me. "Thank you all for everything you've d
When we walked into the Main Dining Hall, Gray was already at the table, talking to Dannan and Eve. Cruz and Bailey were sitting at their usual table, but I stopped, scrunching up my nose as I took them in."What are you two doing here?" I chuckled. "You're supposed to be up there with us!"Cruz smirked as he looked over at Bailey, arching an eyebrow. "Well? What do you think?"Bailey looked up at me and shrugged. "With the Alpha Supreme here, we didn't want to intrude.""Get up here!" I teased. "You're never intruding! Besides, I'd like to introduce you two to him."Bailey looked at me sheepishly. "Are you sure there's enough room?""Absolutely!" I glanced over at Xander. "We could always have another table brought up. Couldn't we?""Yes, of course!" Xander smirked, holding Bailey's chair. "You two are part of the family now."Cruz chuckled. "You go ahead. We're right behind you."I pulled Bailey in for a quick hug, smiling sweetly. "If you don't come up there, then I'll come back for
Chapter 117: Time Alone"You don't think Rolph would do anything, do you?" All we needed right now was for Rolph to find out that we're being Pledged and then do something to stop it. Xander shook his head as we headed toward the elevator. We had just taken the Alpha Supreme to his room to rest before dinner and had a few minutes alone. Xander shook his head, looking toward Gray's room, and his door was closed.We stepped into the elevator before Xander spoke. "No, I don't think so. If he hadn't done anything by now, then I don't think he will."I nodded. "I hope you're right."Once the doors closed, Xander backed me against the wall, placing his hands on either side of me. "Kalyssa, the only thing I want you to think about right now is the Pledging Ceremony." He brushed a strand of hair back away from my face, looking into my eyes, causing my heart to quicken. With him so close like this, it made it difficult to concentrate."Okay," I breathed, lacing my fingers through his light br
We spent the next few days getting everything ready. We had our work cut out for us, helping Dannan and Eve plan their wedding as well as planning our Pledging Ceremony.Come to find out, a Pledging Ceremony is just as much work as a wedding. The only difference is that the couple is bound to one another instead of married. In the shifter world, it's usually common as an engagement ceremony, during which time either party may choose not to marry the other without fault. But it's okay to use as a semi-marriage ceremony, too. Legally, I couldn't marry two men, so this was the next best thing. But in our eyes, we will be bound to one another, whether we're technically married in the eyes of the law or not."So, what kind of flowers would you like?" I asked Eve as we planned with Bailey at the Clinic. Since Sasha ended up being the one who betrayed our pack to Nightwatch, it left Eve with very few, if any, close friends. So, Bailey and I had offered to help her plan since we were planning
"So, I see that my brother and Elias finally put a ring on your finger." Dannan smiled as he took my hand to admire the engagement ring Elias and Xander gave to me. "So, when's the big day?"I shrugged as Xander took my hand and kissed it. "I'm not sure. We haven't set one yet.""Well, why don't you do it while Dannan's here?" Eve suggested, slipping her arm through his."Hey! That's a great idea!" Dannan looked between Xander and Elias. "Why not? I could help you get everything in order while I'm here."Elias smiled, taking my hand as he looked between Xander and me. "Well, what do you think?"A broad smile spread across Xander's lips. "I'm game if you two are."I nodded, smiling. "Let's do it! What day?"Xander shrugged. "A week from today?""That won't give us much time to prepare." Elias suddenly looked lost in thought. and then glanced over at me, arching an eyebrow. "Will that be okay with you?"I nodded. "We can do it if we keep it small. It doesn't have to be an elaborate affai
"Well, hello, brother."When we walked in, I nearly fell over, for standing a short distance away was Dannan Reed, Xander's brother."It's good to see you, Dannan." Xander gave him a manly handshake, pulling him in for a hug, and then released him. "So, what brings you here?"He shrugged, arching an eyebrow. "So, I need a reason to come see my brother?""Usually." Xander burst out laughing, giving him a friendly slap on the back. "Come. Join us. We just held a Celebration of Making and was just about to celebrate with a feast.""So, has the she-wolf Eve been claimed yet?" Dannan asked, looking around. I smiled, biting my lower lip, knowing that was the real reason why he had come. "Why? Has the love bug bitten you?"Dannan scoffed. "Please." He shrugged. "Just wanted to check on her while I was here." His expression turned serious as his eyes met Xander's. "So, has she been claimed?"Xander chuckled, shaking his head. "No. Not yet. She and Kalyssa got into a bit of trouble--"Dannan g
The next day, I woke in the arms of my Alphas, sure, for the first time since we had been together, that I belonged."Good morning," Xander rolled over on me and brushed back the hair from my face and kissed my neck. Then he kissed my cheeks as he slowly pushed into me, moving his lips down as he kissed my breast, his pulls soft and slow, arching his back as he went deep. Then he moved slowly in and out, holding me as he pushed into me.I pulled him to me and kissed his broad shoulders, enjoying the feel of this powerful man in my arms and my bed. Then I pulled his lips to mine and deepened the kiss. When I pulled back, I pushed the hair away from his face to look into his eyes, matching him thrust for thrust.Soon, want and desire overtook us as his pulls became harder, more forceful. He held himself up with one hand and caressed my pleasure spot with the other, while never breaking his stride. His kiss was filled with want and desire as he looked deeply into my eyes. Then he slid my
"That's enough, everyone," Xander said, holding everyone back so I could walk through the garage.When Bailey and I got back, everyone wanted a ride, but Elias and Xander had something else planned for this evening, and I didn't want to disappoint them. Surely, the last thing they wanted was to have me spend the rest of the evening giving members of the pack rides in my new sports car.Bailey pulled me in for a hug. "Thanks for taking me." She arched an eyebrow when she pulled back. "See you at the Clinic Monday?"I nodded, knowing it would give me a few days to rest since this was Friday. "I'll be there."She crossed the room to stand by Cruz, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and nodded toward me, giving me his usual mischievous grin. "You know, you're going to let me give it a whirl. Right?"I scoffed. "Yeah, right," I teased as everyone laughed. Even though I was kidding around, I would probably let him drive it at least once anyway.Elias placed his hand on the small of