J U L I A N"She’s one of a kind," my mother remarked, observing Summer from the kitchen. "She will provide the strength you’ve been seeking. Embracing the role of a leader was always meant to be your path." My path. At some point, someone would need to clarify that idea for me. I had thought my path was to manage a billion-dollar enterprise, but I wasn’t about to contest her words.I turned my gaze toward the woman in question, unsure of how to respond. "She’s struggling with this, as you can imagine. The doctor in her is skeptical about every detail."Mother gently redirected my attention back to her. "And rightly so. Did you not anticipate this, my son? Can you fathom what she’s experiencing? She’s grappling with the betrayal of something she has trusted her entire life. You must allow her the time she needs to come to terms with it and be there for her when she does."How could anyone come to terms with the reality that at least one of her biological parents was a creature of the
S U M M E R“We’re doing what?” I asked, stumbling as my best friend Melissa yanked me onto the sidewalk. Great, just what I needed—another birthday where I might end up face-first on the ground. That would make it two years in a row spent mostly in the hospital. “Come on! It’s going to be awesome. An experience! You need to let loose a bit.” “Let loose? I’ve been dragged all over the place today, all thanks to you.” I pulled my wrist free from her tight grip, wincing a little. Her nails were sharp and perfectly manicured, a bold red that matched her vibrant personality. Meanwhile, my nails were a mess, with uneven lengths and rough cuticles, according to the girl who did our manicures. A birthday gift, I guess. I wasn’t really into girls’ day outs, but Melissa had practically kidnapped me. “You think getting my palm read is fun?” I huffed, smoothing down my dress. The outfit was new, just like my overly fluffy hairstyle, both of which were Melissa’s doing. She was a wild sp
J U L I A NCalix hopped off his Harith, his frustration bubbling over. “Can you believe this crap?” he exclaimed. I totally got why my younger brother was so worked up, but his dramatic flair was starting to wear on me. “It’s a directive from the Council of Wolves. Honestly, I’m surprised you even showed up,” River replied, arms crossed over his broad chest. His deep voice carried the same irritation I was feeling. While Calix looked like he was ready for a magazine cover, all polished and perfect, River had that rugged vibe that screamed danger. He was decked out in worn jeans with ripped knees, a dark tee splattered with red paint, and a flannel shirt that had definitely seen better days. His tough boots and scruffy beard from his recent getaway just added to that raw masculinity we both inherited. There were already a few dozen wolves milling around, all Alphas in their own right. More were expected to show up. The Wolfen rules were no joke—punishments could be severe, inclu
S U M M E R“I don’t fit in here.” I had to shout over the thumping drums. “Cut it out,” Melissa scolded. “You look amazing, babe.” “Amazing? I feel like I’m stuck in some ridiculous plastic wrap.” The bright red dress clung to me so tightly I could hardly breathe. “Seriously, stop it,” Carmilla piped up, her voice way higher than usual. I was surprised she even decided to join us tonight. She absolutely loathed dance clubs. Total accountant vibes, for sure. Yeah, I know, I’m stereotyping. “More drinks, bartender!” Susan was in her zone, acting like nothing could bother her. I just hoped the cute guy behind the bar was quick, or she’d go off on him. She really wasn’t a fan of men. Sighing, I fiddled with my dress for the tenth time, but it still felt just as uncomfortable. The three of them were swaying to the beat. I was hiding behind my second glass of wine, wishing it was time to head home. Maybe I really was a wallflower. “We should head out soon. I’ve g
J U L I A NIt had been a rough week, and things took a turn for the worse with a call from one of my brothers.And then there was the stunning woman who had dismissed me like I was nothing.Sure, I might have come on a bit too strong, but her response felt unnecessarily cruel.Oh, the drama of it all."What’s so important that you had to track me down after sending a 9-1-1 text?"I stormed out of the club and into the parking lot. Thankfully, anyone who knew me well enough wouldn’t dare approach me at night unless it was a real emergency.And it had been ages since there was one.At least it was my younger brother on the line; otherwise, I might have let my frustration loose."I was told to find you, Julian. Believe me, I didn’t want to interrupt my basketball game to play messenger for Mom."Our mother, the queen bee of the family. She never missed a chance to remind everyone of her status.After the earlier meeting, I had expected her call. She had bolted from the park, leaving the
S U M M E R It was impossible to truly understand a man like Julian Wolf.Charming.Exceptionally educated.Irresistibly alluring.A notorious playboy.And arrogant? Without a doubt, but he was far less insufferable than I had initially thought.I was clueless about his motives or how he had managed to scare off two attackers and car thieves with just a glance. Yes, that piqued my curiosity, but I was a cautious person and intended to stay that way.Sitting in his car, the most stunning sports car I had ever experienced, left me feeling uneasy.He was overwhelming, a mystery I couldn't quite decipher, and that unsettled me.I had never visited the small, charming bar he brought me to, as he navigated the cozy space with the confidence of an owner. The bartender recognized him with a brief nod and promptly sent a waitress to our table.After placing our orders, an awkward silence enveloped us.What was I supposed to say to him?My daily routine took over, and I found myself bombarding
S U M M E R"How can you tell? Is it my accent?" I had been informed that I carried a hint of a Virginia twang, a comment I only encountered after moving to Chicago for university.He chuckled, and the sound sent a rush of excitement through me, like fireworks. "Not really. It's easy to spot someone from a big city compared to the locals.""True enough. I’m from Richmond, Virginia. That’s where I grew up.""Why Cambridge? Not that I don’t appreciate the stunning scenery, but it’s quite a distance from home.""Simply put, I got a job offer."That was a bit of a stretch.Well, not entirely."I applied to around sixty forensic positions across the country. Most of the time, I was ignored, laughed at for my lack of experience, or told to come back when I was older. Seriously." As I turned to face him, I couldn’t help but gaze at him like a smitten girl.He took my words at face value, removing his jacket and rolling up his long white sleeves. His forearms were just as muscular as the rest
J U L I A N A hunter had ensnared his target. That thought consumed me as I kissed her for the second time. Yet, she wasn’t mine, and I had no right to be here. It wasn’t merely that I was a stranger to her; it was the unsettling sense that I somehow knew her. The reasons for this connection eluded me. Still, I craved her taste, her soft lips, and the gentle touch of her fingers as she fought to manage her overwhelming desires. Summer embodied sweetness and innocence, a woman deserving of reverence rather than the reckless abandon of a rogue like me. As our intimacy intensified, she didn’t seem to mind my dominance over her tongue or the time we shared. I could feel her awakening, her desires eclipsing the fear she had of the man who had likely saved her life. The reality was stark: two attackers had intended to end her life simply for the sake of their greed for the SUV. Her body pressed against mine, the intoxicating scent of her longing filling my senses. As I str
J U L I A N"She’s one of a kind," my mother remarked, observing Summer from the kitchen. "She will provide the strength you’ve been seeking. Embracing the role of a leader was always meant to be your path." My path. At some point, someone would need to clarify that idea for me. I had thought my path was to manage a billion-dollar enterprise, but I wasn’t about to contest her words.I turned my gaze toward the woman in question, unsure of how to respond. "She’s struggling with this, as you can imagine. The doctor in her is skeptical about every detail."Mother gently redirected my attention back to her. "And rightly so. Did you not anticipate this, my son? Can you fathom what she’s experiencing? She’s grappling with the betrayal of something she has trusted her entire life. You must allow her the time she needs to come to terms with it and be there for her when she does."How could anyone come to terms with the reality that at least one of her biological parents was a creature of the
J U L I A NMore Alpha wolves laughed and I had to admit her theory was difficult to believe. “Is that possible, Marla?”She scoffed. “I don’t know. Has it occurred in other species? Yes, but if Doctor Willis is correct and the DNA cells are changing often, it could be like chasing our tail. We’d need to get ahead of the mutated cells. Not impossible but very difficult.”“What about infecting the Wolfen? Is that a possibility?” Calix smartly asked.Marla sighed. “I don’t know that answer either. I’m being honest. While I’ve been studying our cells in both an attempt to ward off human diseases and lengthen our lives, I’ve also handled the research in reverse. However, I’m nowhere near being able to make any assumptions.”“There is new research that could help,” Summer suggested. “I’m somewhat familiar with it. It uses the results from testing both humans and animals of varying species. It’s still considered new with no conclusions, but you may be able to make some advances.”“Science-f
J U L I A NSummer disregarded the rules and the fear of rejection. She advanced with her iPad in hand, her fingers racing across the screen. "Look for yourself. Explain what I'm seeing. Convince me that what I witnessed isn't real. And tell me again that werewolves don't exist." She passed the device to me, letting me hand it to Eliza first. I wasn't sure if Eliza was convinced, but he was definitely focused. He glanced at me, his lingering animosity evident. “If it's not werewolves, then we have another mystery on our hands," I informed them. “We need to compare DNA with ours." “Who will do that?" another Alpha inquired. “Doctor Willis will," I replied, and all eyes turned to Summer. I felt a surge of pride as she stood her ground, matching their stares. The iPad circulated among the group, many men and most women visibly unsettled. I could sense their tension deep within me, but I doubted it would suffice. Eliza suddenly erupted in laughter. "This is ridiculous. Just a film
J U L I A NFear was something I might have felt as a kid, but by the time I grew up, I was scared of nothing. The intense feeling of terror in Summer was both shocking and enlightening. The Wolfen had gotten cocky, stuck in their ways of pretending to be something they weren't. We lost our edge when we fully embraced humanity. Money, influence, power—we thought we had it all figured out, expecting our needs to be met forever. If werewolves were trying to carve out a place in this world, we had definitely lost our direction. Complacency was creeping in, and that could lead us straight into fear. Maybe this was the punishment we deserved, long overdue. My mom always warned our pack to be diligent in training the young and to protect our own. Sadly, her advice was ignored, and many left to escape the Wolfen rules. I believe that was the start of our downfall. It was already evident, even though sharing that River and I had taken out four werewolves before they fully transformed wo
J U L I A NSummer inhaled deeply and held her breath. As she had done countless times before, she searched my eyes for the truth.But was it her truth? I couldn't be sure.Surprisingly, she didn't seem as shocked as I had anticipated."Part wolf," she echoed.I nodded, realizing there was little more to say at that moment. I sensed a part of her growing numb, while another part—her sharp intellect—was busy processing and formulating questions, crafting rationalizations that her mind could accept.After a brief pause, she turned her gaze to the fire. "That explains why my childhood wolf experience was real. You protect your own. The wolf was there to save one of its kind.""That's likely. Female wolves are rarer. But I wasn't present when you were rescued. What I can share is that we do save humans. Often, the potential victim remains unaware. Our packs include doctors and dentists, surgeons and scientists. There are individuals so strong they can lift a car to prevent a human from be
J U L I A NAs the engine fell silent, she hesitated for a moment before opening her door. Stepping outside, her anxiety was more palpable than before. "Julian, I really don’t like this. Being away from my daughter, worrying about my lab, and not knowing what’s happening. I feel like an outsider, no matter how you spin it. My background is different, wolf or not."I shut the door and made my way around to her side. "What do you mean by that?""You’re a billionaire, and I come from a struggling family. I juggled two jobs while in high school just to save for college. My first year was spent at community college to keep my finances afloat. I’m not in your world."I stepped closer, invading her personal space until she finally smiled and placed her hand on my chest. "You mean a lot to me.""Don’t say that. You’re a terrible person, and I’m not sure I like you at all.""That’s not what you said in the elevator. I remember it quite well—"Summer snapped her fingers in front of my lips. "Th
J U L I A NResearchers of all disciplines have been conditioned to believe that every anomaly has a cause—be it a medication, an illness, or a weather phenomenon. There’s always something behind the disruptions we encounter in life.However, the answer Summer was searching for proved elusive.Or one that she could accept through a scientific lens.“How many people are attending the meeting?” I inquired of River. I had reached out to both brothers to organize a gathering of Alpha members from the Cambridge pack, those I knew would help devise a strategy for moving forward. Every male had participated in the council meeting, most responding similarly to Calix.Yet, they were resilient and capable, men and women who refused to succumb entirely to the vulnerabilities of humanity. Our females were equally strong as our males, and they would be invaluable in various capacities.But only if they were willing to collaborate with me.Many members of our pack had dispersed to different cities,
S U M M E RI heard him inhale deeply, and his fingers lingered on my backside for a moment longer than I anticipated. As I shifted against him, the reason became clear—he was rock hard.Though I should have been angry at him for treating me like a child, I found myself sharing the same desire he felt. We were undeniably connected. Whether it was fate, chemistry, or some wild mate instinct, my breathing matched his labored rhythm.He struck the belt down several more times, thoroughly covering my sensitive spot with the thick strap. I was engulfed in a haze of longing and need, chastising myself for feeling anything other than anger, yet I couldn't help it.The man was utterly captivating.Damn him.With three more strikes, I was convinced I might lose my sight from the intensity of the pain."Just four more and we’re finished."I refused to whimper, but my backside was ablaze.Julian wasted no time, delivering the strap with fierce precision, one blow after another.Moments later, he
S U M M E R"Your... mate?" I echoed, still trying to process his words.He locked eyes with me, his expression serious. "Is that so hard to accept?""I'm not sure how to respond," I admitted, feeling a lump in my throat as the butterflies in my stomach morphed into something more menacing."What’s the difference between two people believing that their meeting and falling in love was meant to be?" Julian inquired, his tone casual as if we were discussing the weather.I shifted to the far end of the couch, craving space and desperately needing another glass of wine. I downed the remaining contents in just a few seconds, though I doubted it would ease my anxiety."I know we’re in the middle of a discussion, but could I get another glass of wine, please?""Absolutely."As he moved closer, I tensed up. The moment our fingers brushed while he reached for the glass, I gasped. I could feel an undeniable heat between us, a flame that shouldn’t exist but seemed impossible to extinguish."The t