Calvin’s POVI allowed the unwelcome news to sink in as I considered all the unexplained accidents recently, culminating in this, the ultimate tragedy.Lucy was such a looker, too.“Travis will be gutted,” I said. “They were due to do that scene next Saturday.” I winced, realising how that sounded. “Sorry, Oscar, ignore me. Have her family been informed?”“I assumed you would want to do it, Alpha.”“Yes, of course.”Tori went ashen-faced when I told her. “That could have been me. Oh no, you’ll think me selfish now. But I didn’t know her well, and … ” She tailed off, peering up at me through her fingers. “Why are you grinning?”“Because I just said a similar thing to Oscar, implying Travis would be disappointed not to do a scene with her at the weekend.”“Goddess, what are we like?”“Must be our human roots,” I said.“Speak for yourself. I’m a pure breed.”“Me, too,” I whispered. “That does it. I was thinking of inviting you back to work from ‘Remus’. Not now.”“You said ‘from’ ‘Remus’
Tori’s POVI was starting to rebuild my life. It wasn’t perfect, but it was all I had. Then Alpha Calvin had to go and spoil it by insisting I join his pack. He took a different approach with Ellie and she was wondering why, in front of him, and I couldn’t stand it so I just blurted it out.“Alpha Joseph tried to molest me at ‘Jackman’s’.”“Never.”“He did, Els. If Alpha Thomas hadn’t rushed back from the VIP night his dick would have been inside my mouth.”I rubbed the spot on my neck where the leader of Waning Moon had bit me. Fortunately, there was no mark.“I can’t leave, Tor. What about Mom? Val would give me hell.”“So what’s new?” I said.“Please, don’t make me switch over, Alpha Calvin.”“Think about it. That’s all I ask. Otherwise you may end up on your own in that flat.”“That’s unfair,” I snapped.“Let’s examine that concept more closely,” the Alpha said. “What justification do you have for teasing my Delta in public?”I gasped, glancing across at Ellie, who was no help at
Tori’s POVI’d never been undressed so lovingly or so slowly. Lying on my back beneath him, I felt worshipped, cared for and wholly alive.“If you’re sure?” I whispered.The tenderness which followed had me emotional all over again.“Vanilla’s my new favourite,” he told me afterwards.“Thanks for not … reminding me.”“We need to banish those bad memories but I won’t rush you.”“I still owe you that favour.”“More than one. I found Carrie, didn’t I? Let’s see, what should I ask of you?”I tensed.“Please don’t assign me to Mel.”“That will never happen,” he assured me. “I know. Tell me what you think of me.”“You’re my employer.”“And?”“Good looking.”“Better than Archer? Come on, we have to talk about him sometime, or you’ll bear the scars forever.”“He didn’t mark me in any way. Yet he was cruel.”“And handsome?”“I kept wondering why the Moon Goddess had granted him a face like that. I don’t want to think about the rest of him.”“You’re doing great, Tori. And Rhodes?”“The one who
Calvin’s POVI wanted to laugh out loud as the mirrored room showed me how flustered Tori was by that statement.“Tell me more, Ursula,” I said.“Ignore him. He’s being a dick.”“Hey, may I remind you I’m the Alpha here?” The other she-wolf stiffened. “Don’t worry, I won’t punish her in front of you,” I added. Though it was tempting I had no desire to hurt either of them.“Some leader I was,” Tori commented.“It was very brave,” Ursula told her.“I totally agree. But you’re not here to compliment my employee or even to perform with her in front of me.” That was one reason I’d specified casual dress. For both of them. “I’m not that kind of Alpha.”“With respect, Alpha Calvin, in my experience everyone’s that kind of Alpha given half a chance.”“What happened to you?” Tori asked. “I thought the women were taken to safety.”“The Mistress acted quickly, directing some of us to the hidey-hole. It’s where VIPs go so as not to be discovered.”“So raids are frequent then?”“Three times a yea
Tori’s POVThe Alpha was being a dick. But I wasn’t scared. I knew we would end up staying the night here, where we began. It wasn’t quite the same at the packhouse where I felt like some sort of concubine.Ellie had tried to tell me I was exclusive and that I shouldn’t feel that way. But the mating ball was looming and I knew my hold on him would be limited after that.I didn’t even know if I was invited. Yet, having tentatively agreed to join North Shore, the handover terms of which were still to be negotiated with Alpha Joseph, I supposed I must attend. It would look bad otherwise.Maybe Alex would turn up. In which case I should definitely make myself scarce that day. And I couldn’t bear to see Calvin claim another. Yet what if there was a chance I would find my fated mate, too? I was really torn.Now who’s being a dick?Bethany was convinced she and Thaddeus were meant to be together. I suspected the Alpha’s wolf was just using her. Like me.I picked up the panties and went into
Calvin’s POVI came very close to admitting the truth. The past few days there was an ache which not even controlling my sub could alleviate. I knew pain in its purest form and it didn’t sit well.My frustration needed an outlet.The Moon Goddess must have heard me. Because when Glenn mind linked me two days later, at first I couldn’t believe it.“Rhodes is long gone,” I insisted.“You asked me to alert you if he showed up and he has.”“Where’s Tori?”“Alpha, you’re not going to like this. She agreed to see him.”“Fuck,” I said. “Keep an eye on them, will you?”“Easier said than done. She asked for privacy.”“I take it you’re monitoring the room?”“Naturally.”“Thanks, Glenn. I’ll be there soonest.”When I drove the short journey to Still Water, her stepbrother had gone, leaving Tori a shaking mess. My Delta was consoling her in the courtyard and, from where I was standing, he wanted them to be more than just friends.A growl emerged but it didn’t come from me. Mel launched herself at
Tori’s POVI had my sister back and it was all thanks to her becoming involved in the club. Naomi needed her own assistant these days, for the very new side of things, and they got on really well.I didn’t quite grasp why until later.The Sigma was now dividing her time between here and the brothel and we had some uproarious supervision sessions. That girl had no filter. She plied a good needle, too, but soon knew better than to mention that wretched Luna gown.Then she went where Ellie had feared to tread.“Tell him how you feel.”“He’d want to keep me forever as his mistress and I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”“I’d be happy to play second fiddle for a guy like that,” Ursula said. “He’s hot.”The Alpha entered the office without knocking. Well, it did belong to him.“Am I interrupting something?”“Supervision. We couldn’t hold it downstairs because Naomi’s doing the same thing with one of her girls.”“Did you mention you’d be here, Tori?”“Sorry, Alpha Calvin. I forgot.”“Well, you
Calvin’s POVThe night before the mating ball I prayed as I had never prayed before, apologising to Goddess Selene for not paying her enough attention in the past. The Moon deity remained as silent and mysterious as ever.In contrast to my well hidden depression, Thaddeus was buoyant, and I used him as a front. It wouldn’t be the first time.Maybe I could reject her, my fated mate, causing controversy and making my late father angry enough to rise up from his resting spot and howl. If I chose another it couldn’t be Tori. My plan to make the pack accept her by accommodating her within it on the pretext of her still being in danger had backfired since many believed she had caused Mel’s death. So what if she was a psychopathic murderer.They were an unforgiving lot at North Shore yet I had to listen to them if I were to remain Alpha. I did think about handing over the reins to Glenn and stepping down early in order to run my rapidly expanding club. But my conscience wouldn’t allow it.In
Tori’s POVIt turned out I’d fallen asleep in the middle of making my statement to the WA investigator. That was a relief. I didn’t really want to share our special moment with anyone, not even my bestie and her mate-to-be.Calvin told him we’d continue this another time but I was determined to see it through and answered all his questions. I’d even impressed myself.Then we were on our way home, to the flat at ‘Remus’. I could hear the distant sounds of clubbers having their special kind of fun down below as we made our way upstairs via his private entrance.“I’ll tell them to close up early, shall I?” he asked, not even bothering to glance at his watch.“Don’t do that. I’m tired enough to sleep through anything.”“I noticed.”I told him about my weird dream and he seemed amused. Then he received a phonecall which put a dampener on everything. Isabel hadn’t made it through the night. I couldn’t believe it. What must he be feeling?“I’m coming with you to the hospital,” I said.“She’s
Tori’s POVI kept reassuring Ellie she had a decent figure. We even giggled about the nipple pasties and barely-there thong she shouldn’t have to reveal if she took it slowly as we rehearsed.“Travis is going to get the shock of his life,” she said.That answered that one. Not that I’d ever wondered about the contents of her lingerie drawer. As for her sometimes hard-to-believe superstitions, I rarely paid attention to them. My own thoughts were that the Moon Goddess either favoured you or didn’t, yet I couldn’t believe Selene would have a down on someone all their life.I felt my luck was about to change and was in a buoyant mood as I joked around with her backstage.Alpha Tobias had nodded to me but chosen not to approach. Perhaps that was something to do with my frosty glare. A little guilt courtesy of yours truly couldn’t harm before I told him I forgave him for his part in my near downfall. And Calvin’s.The mesh dress didn’t make me self-conscious in any way given that I was goi
Calvin’s POVI still couldn’t believe Rhodes had achieved bail. Then I realised in all the confusion nobody had actually accused him of being behind the destruction of Black Gold. My bad. I’d been more concerned with Tori’s welfare and Issy’s condition.Rose had done a disappearing act after giving her statement. I was still hopeful of finding her or that she would make her way to us. I knew Tori was fretting about it.To say I was glad she wouldn’t be stripping – a one night only trial venture we’d persuaded Toby to stage in an attempt to lure him out of hiding – was an understatement. From now on I wanted my Luna under wraps and all to myself.I thought she was going to have to step in last minute when our proposed lookalike caught a bug. As we were having a heated debate the night before, Ellie came up to us.“Can I have a word, please, Alpha?”I froze, my thoughts going instantly to my sister.“Please tell me she hasn’t deteriorated.”“Isabel’s improving day by day.”“Then what is
Tori’s POVI couldn’t believe ex Alpha Joseph hadn’t grasped that fact already. What exactly had Calvin said to him down at ‘WAX’? Something about me switching packs and nothing more? I have to admit I was out of it at the time, surviving on instinct and adrenaline alone.Did he have selective memory, or was it simply because the one who held a weapon could reinvent the world his way?Maybe it was his final attempt to make a power play given all that he had lost. Security certainly didn’t have him on a blacklist as he wasn’t deemed to be a threat.For similar reasons I was still wary of Alpha Tobias, Jason less so.But neither of them were about to shame me in public.Not if I could help it!Yet the former leader of Waning Moon held all the aces.We must tighten security if nothing else. At least this may convince Ellie finally to switch packs. I’d said to her she ought not to be around Lance too often but that didn’t seem to work.What must she think of me now?I found out in the nex
Calvin’s POVI hadn’t seen fit to tell Tori we would be in sole charge of the club on this occasion. There was no way Naomi was in any state to open up and my security guys had never doubled as Doms. I’d considered remaining closed for the night and then I thought, what the hell. We needed to loosen up, not necessarily performing a scene, but just keeping a watchful eye on things.I’d told her we wouldn’t be going downstairs but was hoping she would consent.I doubted I would see Moore for a day or two. Oscar and Travis were excused though would have obeyed my order had I seen fit to issue one. So this would be a night for the members and occasional visitors. Plus, I wanted to see once and for all if my decision to surrender control was a wise one. Maybe my mate and I needed this, to let off some steam now and again.Of course we could always do that anyway. I wouldn’t be barred from my own club. I knew I needed to sound her out about this, too.First things first.We went in the back
Tori’s POVI was chewing my lip now, hard enough to draw blood. Calvin discouraged me with a comment before continuing, “Hit me with it.”“I need to be bait again. Before our mating ceremony. That should give your sister time to recover.”“I hope so,” Guy said. I’d forgotten he was there, he was so quiet. And those eyes were the closest to amber I’d ever seen.“Me too.” I felt shy suddenly, wondering if he was the kind to judge me for my past.His next words went some way to reassuring me. “You are so brave and unselfish, Victoria.”“Thanks,” I said. “But I’m a weakling really. I just punch above my weight occasionally.”“Don’t believe her,” Calvin told him. “She’s in denial about her own qualities but we’re working on it. Aren’t we, princess?”I wasn’t sure how to take that so I shoved him, playfully, hurting my wrist. I’d forgotten how rock solid he was. I made a joke of it.“Have you been working out?”“Some,” he admitted.“On your own, I hope?”“I’m the faithful kind. I haven’t be
Tori’s POV The smell of burning roused me. Then I saw Fran. She was beside herself with rage yet crying, too. “What are you doing here?” I murmured, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “Finishing what he started. Except I’m useless at it.” “Alex? You’re better than him.” “No, I’m not. Because I was contemplating doing what he arranged for someone else to do. You might say he saved me from myself. Mom knew I was bad. She always said … Oh, never mind. I’d better go. I’m not wanted here.” “Don’t be hasty,” I said. “Let’s talk.” “What is there to say?” “You have Naomi now. And me, for what it’s worth. I never stopped thinking about you all the time you were missing. I don’t blame you for any of it. Truly.” “Really? And what about this?” Her gesture took in the singed furniture and blackened carpet. It was strange how the sprinkler system had malfunctioned. Correction, it was belated. “I’ll say I did it,” I panted, climbing out of bed and trying not to think about how much I resemble
Calvin’s POVShe was back where she belonged, in my arms – in my bed. I treated her with reverence, taking note of how Guy was with Issy, and soon enough Bethany reached out to Thaddeus and my mate was ready to be – well, mated.At the ripe old age of twenty-eight it was about time I settled down. And it was all thanks to the efforts of Jason Moore who helped us when we needed it most. Without him, who knew where Tori would have ended up.I wanted to take her somewhere romantic after the ceremony, maybe to the forest where we’d go for that run after all. Yet I had to be practical. My sister’s condition remained serious and I was reluctant to be away from Still Water for long. Though ‘Remus’ could be run remotely and participation was not something I was interested in unless it was with my Luna, in private.We had a whole lifetime to spend together and needed to start on the right footing. Better late than not doing so at all!I still needed to ask her about if I’d pushed her too far s
Tori’s POVThere was no way I was ever going to stay with Alex, though I managed to convince him of that while pretending I had my time of the month. That wouldn’t have stopped him once, but his mind was full of triumph initially - until I told him about the ticking time bomb inside his head.I really doubted that Calvin and Moore had the remote but managed to convince him otherwise.Then it was a matter of counting the hours until the doctor arrived.Alex had gone for a lie down leaving George watching me. I knew I had to be wary of him. Yet after a while I couldn’t resist.“Why do you bother? Following him, I mean. You could do so much better.”“Convince me,” he said.“How?”“Make it worth my while and you and I will go on a little trip.”“Not when I’m bleeding.”“A glimpse of your tits and I’m all yours.”Lucky us.Play nice, Bethany. He may be our ticket out of here.Yet I was sick of being preyed upon by these lustful shifters. And the mate bond – I’d been marked, for love of the