I didn’t sleep as well as I needed to. In fact, I don’t remember sleeping at all. I’m lying awake when my alarm goes off, staring into space. I’ve pushed Kylar away, I know that. He was in my room, kissing me, holding me. Sharing the closeness that I had been craving all day. I was the one who sent him away, put up the barriers and made the distance. It’s hard to roll out of bed but my feet hit the ground and I’m in the shower. I can hear movement in the other rooms throughout the house and wish I knew which room Kylar took last night. I want to apologise, to explain the reason for my temporary insanity. His suggestion that we Mate, that we Bond terrified me. It would excuse my behaviour, but at least it would explain it. I shower quickly and dress. Pulling my hair back into a simple ponytail. I’m wearing khaki pants, a dark vest and dark green and black plaid shirt to protect my arms from the forest. I slide my feet into a pair of combat boots, wiggling my toes around. Hoping tha
We all know that the twins have been missing for a few weeks and that the golden opportunity for finding them has long passed. I’ve been out of wolf society for a long time, but I’ve watched enough true crime to know what we’re all afraid of. There was a delay whilst we settled in last night, but now we’re off and there’s a sense of hopeless urgency that follows us, now that we’re on the way. We’re trailing after Sasha and Kylar. Luca, Kyle and myself have dirt bikes so that we can at least try and keep the wolves in sight, and carry all of the gear that might be needed for our human selves; and the boys if we can find them. The first day feels painful, slow and irritating as Sasha weaves back and forth through the pack territory, mostly in the village with the scent of the children.It’s impressive, because even though there is something weirdly familiar in the way that they smell. As though their scent is close to my own boys, Kayce and Rowan, I can barely detect it here. It’s fa
I feel sick, and there’s a quiet that settles over the camp. We finish eating and I curl up to sleep. Kylar and Luca turn back to Wolves and I envy them. It would be more comfortable to spend the night in my wolf form, but I’m better prepared for my role as my human self. There isn’t much talking for the rest of the night and I pull my sleeping back up, almost covering my face. Staring out at the trees, I blink, confused when I see the large black and gray wolf laying down in sight. Kylar. Why does he want to be near me? I close my eyes. It’s probably just a good vantage point to keep watch. I hate camping. I’m not a girly girl, but I do like some comforts. A bed being one of them. Unfortunately, it’s the first night of camping in seven as we follow the trail of the twins, deep into the wilderness. They’re long days where we’re constantly on the move, followed by short nights.I miss my own children, desperately, and the cell signal is awful in the middle of the wild. We’re bank
We fly back to the village. With the boys secured, Kylar calls in an airlift. We carry them on our backs across the stream to the meadow, waiting for the chopper as I examine them both. As I check all their vital signs and health, I tell them about my own sons and they’re excited, chatting away. They’re so like Kayce and Rowan that my heart aches. My arms long to wrap around my boys again and I take the chance to embrace my Sister’s twins. Holding them tightly as the chopper descends. But with the wide eyed enthusiasm of five year old boys, they’re fascinated by the flying machine and filled with questions for Kylar. Luca takes over, securing the boys in the seats and Kylar pulls me aside. He doesn’t need to ask for what he needs. I give him the report as to the boys’ health. They’re a little dehydrated, a little sunburnt and hungry, but otherwise they’re in good health. Like the twins that reappeared a few weeks ago, they don’t seem to be suffering from their kidnapping and suppos
I summon all my courage to maintain eye contact with the man who wanted to make me his mate. He’s so gorgeous, I keep expecting to see his picture in glossy magazines. I can’t help but imagine an impossible future with him, I’m swooning after Kylar. Swooning hard. It’s not something I can give him, a future. ‘Ava,’ he demands and I my lower lip quivers. ‘Kylar, I can’t -’ I’m struggling for the words. To find a way to express myself. It’s also hard to concentrate with him standing so close to me. His legs brushing against my own. I perch on the dresser, trying to create some space. It doesn’t work. It just makes him taller and that does things to my insides. He’s going to smell my arousal through my panties and I can’t stand it. I’m blushing desperately and look away. Staring at the tiny blue flowers on my bedroom curtains. ‘We should have put some more thought into…dating or whatever it was we started up,’ I say slowly. It hurts to speak like this. To acknowledge that the dream
KylarI wake late in the morning, with Ava in my arms. The window is slightly open, trying to tempt in a breeze from the stifling night. I can hear voices outside and Sabre sniffs. We know without looking that it’s Josh and Ryan, the Alpha and Beta of Silver Stream. I can also pick out Luca speaking to the pair of them. So I roll over, pressing my nose against Ava’s back. Taking a deep inhale of her scent. It feels so good to hold her again. It’s hard to explain the emptiness that I’ve felt over the last ten days with her being so close and out of reach.I instantly regretted the stupid boundaries I set before we came away on the mission. I was an idiot trying to take control over something that was making me uncomfortable. I acted out and I put distance between us. I stepped away from Ava, and I think, deep down that being here is where she might have needed me the most. Yet I’m stubborn and I wouldn’t back down. I couldn’t find the time to apologise before we flew out, because she
AvaI’m so stunned that I can’t move. I can’t think, let alone form a sentence. I stare at Josh, realising that his hands are warm around mine. What? But I’m staring into Josh’s dark eyes, and he’s the boy I knew my whole life. He’s the Alpha of the pack that was my home, the pack that banished me. He wants me to be his Luna? I’m shocked, sat perfectly still. Blinking at him before Ryan moves forward and drops down into the seat beside the Alpha. Jolting us both. I pull my hand back, letting it fall into my lap. Maybe I need some more coffee, maybe I haven't woken up yet. This is a dream. Or a nightmare. ‘It’s not a hard decision,’ Ryan leans forward, taking up an apple from the centre of the table. He tosses it into the air but it’s Kylar that stretches out a hand and catches it. I turn, staring at the man who shared my bed the night before. Home. We were going home. I was so close to going home that I was working out what I was going to cook for dinner tonight. I’d decided on ta
Ava‘Are you ready?’ He stands in the corridor taking up too much space. ‘Ready?’ I want to delay this conversation, I don’t want it to happen.‘To come home,’ he insists. He reaches down, checking the laces on one of his combat boots. He looks incredible, the black shirt pulled across the defined muscles of his chest. The combat jacket left open as he straightens up. It’s always so hard to take my eyes off him. I don’t even want to look, I’m burning to touch him. ‘Kylar…’ I bite my lip. Then I remind myself that I’m not so young anymore. That the girl who was banished from her Pack, grew up. I’m a Doctor, I’m a single Mom. I’m not going to cower and hide from this. I touch my tongue to the top of my teeth. ‘Kylar, I’m not coming back straight away.’‘Right,’ he looks at me for a long hard minute before shrugging. ‘Well, can you message Marie, and let her know when you’re going to be returning? We’ll need to make arrangements for the children.’‘I already spoke to Lou,’ I admit soft
It was a rare moon that tied with the Winter Equinox and the Human celebration of Christmas. A tradition that I have always embraced for my children. Afterall, they spent their first years immersed in human culture. Yet Christmas Eve, with snow falling thick and fast through leafless trees, was when Kylar and I married. My residency was completed and felt as though it was part of a life I’d nearly forgotten. Between our children and the medical practice, I’ve been busy enough and can’t imagine fitting in any additional responsibilities. The sky was white with snow clouds but the trees were covered in fairy lights that twinkled in a gentle golden glow. I’m excited, butterflies filling my insides, as though I didn’t see him yesterday.I’m stood at the back of the pack house, in a beautiful satin dress that clings to all of my slender curves. I’ve styled my hair down in loose curls, just how he likes it. I should be nervous, but I’m not. The dress has a mermaid train that kicks out
The second morning of the trial turned out to be the last. Much to the relief of everyone within Midnight Forest, and I imagine Silver Stream as well. The sky was clear, but cloudy. A storm brewing on the horizon, black clouds swirling around the distant forest. A storm we sat within the centre of. The air heated and uneasy as we waited in a calm filled with fraught anticipation.I sat beside Kylar, trying not to pay too much attention to just how incredible he looked in a slate grey tailored suit and black shirt. I still can’t believe that he is mine, that he is my Mate. But despite how awful events have been, I am so incredibly happy to be beside him. With Kylar, I feel at home. With my children, I feel complete.We waited, sitting back among the rows of hundreds of Wolves. Kylar was sitting upright, scanning the tree line for any more trouble. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse or a sense of a Midnight Forest patrol. I knew that there were a lot of Pack members, because I
AvaI’m grateful, and very relieved when about an hour after he passes out, Kylar stirs. He sits up, blinking at me. Frowning, the top of his chest dotted with beads of sweat as his body fought off the nasty infection from the fangs of a werewolf. He stretches out and I sink onto the sofa beside him passing him a glass of fresh water to sip.‘How are you doing?’ I look him over, but it’s clear that the effect of the silver in his bloodstream has worn off. It really does affect us badly. I can understand why he tried so desperately to free Elsbeth from the magically imbued cage, but it wasn’t worth the toll on his body. But that’s my Mate, as wonderful and intelligent as he is. He often thinks with his heart instead of his head. I smooth his hair back as he drinks as though he’s dying of thirst. Technically he is, his body will be working on overdrive to restore the blood that was lost.‘Thirsty,’ he replies, voice gruff. ‘The Queen was here?’ He peers at me, heavy brows drawn toge
Without any more time to think, I’m thrown clear of the Star Bitten Brother. I skid over the dirt and I’m on my paws again. I let Sabre take control. The Brother might be huge and even a decent fighter, but he hasn’t made it his career to be a hunter and a killer.I’m on him again, aware that the second has been brought down by a pair of black wolves with silver streaks. I can hear the human, shrieking voice of Elsbeth, an irritation in the back of my mind as I snap at my foe. He twists, sinking his teeth into my leg but I’m on him. He’s hurt me more than anyone has managed in years, but I won’t make the same mistake twice. I lunge, catching hold of his neck again and snap. He drops, soundless beneath me. Dead to the ground and I land on top of him. I kick away at his body, putting distance between us before I morph back.Luca’ is wrestling with Elsbeth at the edge of the nearest Prison block set with silver. She’s in human form again and he’s changed back, trying to catch her ha
The King opens proceedings with a short speech before he and his wife take their seats on one side of the platform. My Father remains in the middle, waiting for hush to fall again before he asks for the first of the Rogue’s to be brought forward. There are nine elected elders from different Packs, representing different areas of the North America’s what will conduct the interviews of the Rogues, for everyone gathered to witness. Part of me hopes that this will be over in a day, but I know it’s more likely to take at least a week.Werewolf justice is often swift and brutal, but calling together a full conclave with royalty in attendance, always slows proceedings down. In reality, I find it hard to concentrate. I can see Ava watching my Father intently, and then as the gathered Elders take up their own seats on either side of our rulers. What she is either trying to ignore, or hasn’t noticed. Is that the Queen and the Goddess's representative among us, has not looked away from her,
Kylar There are more Wolves and Alpha’s in the Midnight Forest than I ever thought was possible. Our Village has always served as the main hub for the region and it has a decent number of guest houses in case of an event. Yet they’re all full, and so are the guest accommodations in each of the subsidiary villages. I haven’t had as much time as I, or Sabre would like to spend with our Mate over the past few days, or the twins. I feel like I’ve spent all my days driving or running through the territory to meet the Sub’s that head up the different villages. They’re Wolves that might be considered Beta’s. I know most of them as friends, something I’m grateful for.If something ever happened to Luca, I’d still have backup. Even better, is the organisation of our military strength. It’s why I always have such a good pick of skills to fill out my missions. I try to bring along someone from each Sub once a year. To make sure we’re all staying in contact.What it means, is that our command
I knew that the Village was going to get busy with the imminent trials of the Rogue’s. So, although I had a month of shifts to fit in at the Western Hospital, I rearranged my shifts to drag them out. It’s going to take me the better part of Autumn to finish my residency, but it’s worth it.This way, I’m also never away from my boys for more than one night at a time, something I’ve struggled with. Even knowing that Kylar is staying in our little house. I’m still caught with a thread of fear whenever I step out the door and leave them behind, with their Father. I introduced them to Kylar, properly as my boyfriend. They were over dramatic, playful, grossed out and found the idea that I had a special friend hilarious. Then Rowan wrapped his arms around me, possessive and wouldn’t let go. Until his brother started picking up his toys and he didn't want to share his latest tyrannosaurus rex.Yet once I had explained that Kylar really was their Father, the boys stared at him. I shared a
I feel complete in a way I find hard to explain. I stretch out on the bed, marvelling at the man before me. As though I could luxuriate in the view of him all night. I smile to myself, rueful. That really isn’t an option. Not with the twins due home after their movie night. I bit my bottom lip as he moves over me.I reach up, wrapping my arms around his neck. I can hear his thoughts in my mind. They’re down right dirty enough to make me blush again. I’m giggling, because I’m happy. Strangely, deliriously happy to have been claimed by Kylar.You don’t think we have time to make love again? He teases me with his thoughts as he bends to kiss me again. Grazing his lips over mine in a gentle caress. Maybe my body temperature is still spiking from the hot water, but he makes me feel so effortlessly dizzy. I reach out with my own thoughts, closing my eyes. Enjoying the touch of his kiss against the side of my neck. Hyper aware of the sensitive patch of skin on my neck, where his mark will c
Kylar’s movements are deft and confident as he unfastens the buckle of his belt, letting it fall away. His pants are down the strong muscles in his legs, pooling on the floor as he steps out of them. Someday, I have to tell him how much I love seeing him barefoot. I didn’t think I had a weird obsession with it, but I love how he’s already lost his socks. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me and my heart gives rapid little pumps of excitement. I stand beneath the waterfall, body hot, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My mouth is dry, but my hair is slicked back from my face. I can see myself in the mirror behind his shoulder and I gulp.My eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen him as he advances, his erection jutting out from his body. He’s hard and ready as he steps behind the shower screen. He hasn’t said a word and I look up at him, breathless, tongue tied. He advances and I backway, pushed by the force of his Alpha presence. Like the weight of a waterfall bearing down on me