As I was lost in my thoughts, Calla’s hands found mine. “Coal?” She whispered to get my attention.
My eyes snapped to hers. I forced myself to refocus and tried to keep the gruffness out of my tone, but still, my voice lowered, “Calla, I need to know what you’re up for. Obviously, we already know the situation with my mate.” I could barely say the word without grimacing in pain. “You haven’t found your mate yet. I understand if you would rather cool things off between us because I need to start thinking long-term.”
She frowned, her face crinkling in confusion. “What does that mean...’thinking long-term’?”
“It means I’m going to be Alpha one day, and I need a suitable Luna.”
The hackles on her back rose. She stood. Her hands found her hips. Her voice rose in agitation, “And what makes you think I’m not a suitable candidate?”
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “You are not suitable because you still have a mate out there you haven’t found yet.”
Her eyebrows rose in understanding. She returned to her seat, a smile radiating from her face. “Coal, I love you! I’m never going to want anyone more than I want you, regardless of whether or not they are my mate.”
I held back a scoff. Calla had no idea what the mate bond felt like, the impossible pull it was to ignore. But it would be easier for her to deny her mate if I marked her first. We’d been together for two years. I could make this work. I told myself, repeatedly.
I sighed...
...maybe eventually I would believe it.
And once I marked Calla, I desperately prayed my addiction for Brinley would diminish. It should, the bond should wither and fade once I claimed another, but it wouldn’t entirely disappear until Brinley did as well.
The thought of that, her lips on another Wolf’s neck, biting into his flesh, made my Wolf roar savagely inside of me.
I growled, pushing him back harshly, reminding him we couldn’t beat the Alpha, so we had no other choice. It was either deny ourselves or forfeit her life. The decision was a simple as that, no gray area, only black and white.
He whimpered again, pacing and restless in my head.
I inhaled and released the air from my lungs slowly. I could make this work. Calla and I had been together for nearly two years. I just had to stop thinking. Being with her was like breathing.
Planting her hand against my chest, she bit her lip and looked up at me seductively through her lashes. It was a look I’d seen hundreds of times. And every time, my groin tightened, eliciting a throbbing awareness of exactly where I wanted to bury my cock.
Except for now.
Now there was only one shewolf I wanted to lose myself in. Only one shewolf I thirsted to sink my canines into.
Brinley.
Calla’s hand ran down my stomach until she reached my pants. She palmed my less-than-hard manhood and looked up at me in confusion. “Don’t you want me, baby?”
I wanted to scream no from the rooftops. I didn’t want her. But I was going to take her. I was going to fuck her senseless if that’s what it took to get my mind off of Brinley and back in the game.
A part of me felt guilty. With each new word that came from Calla’s mouth, I saw more and more how shallow she was, but even she didn’t deserve a wolf fantasizing about another female while fucking her.
But it couldn’t be helped, not right now. I was afraid my fantasies were the only thing that would get me through until we completed the mate bond. After that, I should be able to make love to Calla like I’d done so many times before.
A part of me wondered if she was using me too. We’d never discussed her being my Luna before because we both understood we had other mates in the future. I was surprised she’d so quickly tossed him away. Was she more interested in becoming a Luna than finding the man the Moon had destined for her?
I couldn’t contemplate it further, because she slid to the floor on her knees, and pushed my legs apart so she could wriggle between them. She undid my belt and pants, revealing me.
I watched as her lips slowly wrapped around me. My head fell back. My eyes fluttered shut.
But now, in my mind, I could only see another mouth wrapped around me -Brinley. Her succulent lips, soft and wet and moist. I shuddered hard at the image.
Calla drew in a sharp breath, thinking my reaction was to her. And in part it was. She knew everything I liked, and she was checking all the boxes.
My hands tangled in her hair. I held her head still and took over the motion, thrusting my hips, pushing myself even deeper.
I kept my eyes closed. I didn’t want to break the illusion-Brinley, kneeling, moss green eyes looking up at me while she eagerly accepted everything I had to give her.
Irrepressible need, to finish what she’d started, wound through my belly. I thrust harder and heard Calla gag slightly, but I couldn’t stop. The fantasy in my head had taken over. I shoved myself deeper down her throat. Again and again.
Even in her discomfort, Calla purred, sending shooting vibrations along my shaft.
Suddenly, I was there.
Contract and release, pleasure washing over me. I held still for a moment as Calla swallowed, and then pulled out.
Calla smiled up at me and licked my remaining release from her lips. Her expression was naughty. “What do you want to do to me now?”
It was at that exact moment that I remembered the time and shot to my feet in a panic. Calla stared up at me in confusion. I reached a hand down and pulled her up to her feet, muttering, “I want to, but we need to go. I told Ryder we’d be there in ten minutes.”
Her lips turned down into a frown.
I looked at my watch. Fuck. It was even later than I realized. My anxiety level rose. Brinley arrived to clean the suites around mine at 10:00 am. I always made it a point to be gone before 9:00 am, making sure I never crossed her path.
It was already 9:30 am.
I zipped my pants, grabbed Calla’s hand and tugged her out the door.
Only to come face to face with Brinley!
My stomach hit the floor.
She was early. She wasn’t supposed to be there until 10:00 am.
I was so surprised to see her, I forgot to breathe through my mouth, and her seductive and alluring scent slammed into me full force, almost knocking me off of my feet.
What the hell was I supposed to do?
Sweet floral lilacs and moonlight incandescence washed over me, drowning me in her essence. I mumbled, "Brinley? What are you doing here?"She looked equally stunned, mossy green eyes wide, flecks of gold swirling in their troubled depths. "I was working early today...I have...to go into town," she trailed off, her gaze now firmly on the floor. Her lip quivered. My Wolf paced in my head. His urge to comfort her was almost overwhelming."Oh," I muttered through clenched teeth, careful not to inhale through my nose again. I stared at her, mesmerized, frozen. I had no desire to move from the place I stood. I would have been happy just to sit and watch her succulent lips and the way her auburn hair fell over her shoulders.I hadn't seen her in two weeks.I'd assumed all I needed was time to get over her.I realized the depravity of that lie now.I was a fool.No amount of distance or length of time would lessen my captivation with her. It was preposterous to think I could overcome the Moo
It took every ounce of my strength and determination to keep him at bay. There was no doubt he could end the conflict, exacting the punishment he deemed deserved. But his actions would start a war, a war we couldn't win, a war that would end in Brinley's demise. Tension ran through my entire frame, causing me to shake. Brinley wrenched free, bucking Calla off. She spun around and lunged forward, her canines finding purchase in Calla's shoulder. How quickly the tables turned. Now, Brinley held the position of power. She stood over Calla, who writhed and fought beneath her. Brinley shook her head viciously, her teeth sinking deeper into Calla's flesh. Calla stopped fighting, whining out her submission. My Wolf puffed out his chest as we watched, pride in his mate flowing through us. Brinley was shockingly fast and strong. She lacked training. Her strength and speed were a gift from nature. He moaned out his pleasure at seeing her dominating the other she-wolf. Heat burned inside of
BRINLEY’S POV I was numb. I'd gone into town, as required, and returned with the list of supplies Lena had given me. It was dark. I trudged up to the two bedroom rundown house. Lena stood in the little kitchen and barked, "Once you put away the supplies, strip and be on your way. Your clothing will remain here. Each morning, you will report to me, get dressed and go to work. When finished, you will return, get undressed and get out of my sight." "Yes, ma'am," I mumbled. I kept my head down. I didn't have to look at her to know she was smirking. She was thrilled not to have to deal with me anymore and even more excited at my suffering. She took special satisfaction in my pain. Silently, I put the supplies away and walked into the small bedroom I used to call mine. Tears washed down my cheeks as I realized there wasn't anything in there that I cared about losing or leaving behind. Except one... I reached under the bed and pulled out a small teddy bear. It was a gift from my mothe
Another long week passed. My new schedule was becoming routine. Alpha had decided I would no longer clean the packhouse, thus eliminating me from Coal's presence altogether. Instead, I was sent into town on a daily basis to gather supplies, clean homes or run errands for pack members who lived there. It was a ten-mile trek each way, but I didn't mind the walk, and I was thrilled to be away from the pack.I was weak, but thankfully, my Wolf had been successful in hunting a few rabbits. We didn't eat every day, but it was enough to keep us alive.Today, the last house on my list, belonged to a member of a neighboring pack, Onyx Moon. Frankly, I'd been surprised to get the assignment, because relations between Ravenswood and Onyx Moon were not always the best, aggravated by a fierce rivalry for land. And their alpha, Alpha Wilder, was known to be a ferocious man. Of course, I couldn't imagine a man worse than Alpha.I pulled the address out of my pocket, checking it again and turned righ
BRINLEY’S POVMy head hurt. My world was a haze. I struggled to bring myself to consciousness, but couldn't quite grasp it. I was lying on my stomach, but my body was limp, I had no control. Abruptly, hands from behind lifted my hips. I startled in the strange male's grip, but my effort was pitiful as the drug-induced haze pulled on me. With shocking horror, I realized I was naked with a gag in my mouth. My heart pounded in my chest. No, no, no!! Rough fingers invaded my body, entering where no one had ever been before. Pain shot through me. My back arched of its own accord. A scream ripped from my chest, but no sound came out, muffled by the gag. His fingers withdrew, and claws dug into my sides as he pulled my hips back, thrusting himself into me at the same time. Red hot searing pain tore through me. My insides felt ripped apart. Torture so intense, I couldn't even scream. I desperately willed my body to work, trying to scramble away from the monster behind me. But it was n
CoalI had to stay away from her. I told myself that a hundred times a day. And a hundred times a day, it was just as hard as the last time to keep from seeking her out. My muscles ached from the constant tension in my body.I turned up a beer, letting the cold liquid slide down my throat. It did nothing to quench my thirst for the one thing I couldn't have- Brinley.Daylight was waning. Vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows followed the sun over the horizon, fading away into the dusk of night.Another day without her.My Wolf whimpered in my head.She should be returning from work right about now. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to see her from a distance......I just wanted to smell her sweet scent. That was all. I told myself. And then I would leave.I pushed up from my chair and stealthily made my way toward Lena's, careful to stay in the line of trees, covered in shadows. I didn't want to catch that old bitty's attention.When Brinley came into sight, I sucked in a deep breath, my gaze trans
Her tears finally ended. Still, we didn't move. She lay completely relaxed beneath us. After several minutes, he began to lift. She whined and rolled onto her back to face him, her fingers twining into his fur to keep him close to her.He froze, entranced by both of them as her Wolf surged to the surface, mossy green eyes darkening into deep pine.She slid her fingers through his thick fur.He'd never been touched by a female in skin.He shuddered, deeply affected by her tender ministrations. He tolerated other females when we were in my skin, but he had no use for them when he was in control. But not so with Brinley. With her, he craved her skin side to touch every part of him.She continued to stroke his face gently, gazing up at him. The transparent love in both her and her Wolf's eyes tore through me.Because she loved him......not me.I would never get to see her gaze at me with the same softness. She would never show me the vulnerability she gave to him, laying beneath him nake
CoalI walked away from Brinley in the woods. There wasn't anything else I could say. Shoulders hunched forward and footsteps heavy, I trudged back to the house.My thoughts tumbled over and over with the story of her assault. I'd demanded details, and she'd given them to me, not holding back. It was what I'd asked for, but now the images of what that bastard did to her, rolled through my mind on repeat.I entered my room and slammed the door shut, the hinges shuddering with force. I needed to take a shower, and then I wasn't sure what I was going to do. My Wolf was equally on edge, pacing back and forth in my mind, growling his desire to hunt. We both wanted to taste the coward's blood.Making my way into the bathroom, I stepped into the shower and let the liquid rain down on my flesh. The water was cold. There was no other option. I scowled.My horndog of a wolf just hadn't been able to contain himself, licking the heat between her legs. Between the scent of her arousal and tasting
Yes l fell into a deep pit of sleep next to Coal, but the moment i did everything changed, i didn’t know where my subconscious was heading to but I was no longer feeling closer to Coal. At first, it was black with blasts of light coming from every corner and then I sunk deeper into the dream and woke up in the middle of nowhere.I glanced back, over my shoulder and found the wind whistling behind me and picking up the whatever was coming in its way. The long, thick trees wavered and branches snapped left and right. I pushed my hair behind my ears, holding them from blocking my vision.A part of me knew this was a dream but the other part of me didn't have a clue.A forest was stretched ahead of me and it reminded me of the one I was in, the time l saw the creature. The sound of the whistles and the wind speeding around me confirmed my theory. I was standing where the dark creatures found me in the beginning, the same exact spot.Fear immediately flowed through my whole body as l recal
As soon as we were alone Kaden tossed me onto the couch near the bed. I fall back on it and clutched the sides while he began circling around me. My breaths came out quickly as I gathered the scene in front of me.The bed was covered in blood, mostly his blood but not all. There's some of mine on the sheets because of the sharp wood but his blood covers most of it. The wooden stake sat near to the pillow until he grabbed it and brought it to me."You can't stab me. I will die." I tell him.He chuckles at my protest and twirls the stake in his hand before coming behind me. My chest raises and drops as he lowers his head close to mine while the stake remains in his hand."I could stab you, then heal you. You'd feel most of the pain, wouldn't you?" It's not a question, it's a threat.I mask my fear and smile. "It wouldn't be the same since I did stab you in the heart. You can't get anywhere close to mine because then I'd die. Not even your blood would heal me."His face turns into a twis
'Keep running because if I catch you, I'll bite you.'His laughter rang in my ear, and filled me with fear and horror as I ran through the woods on my feet.I've unleashed the monster, and now there was no turning back. He'was chasing me, he found the thrill in it and I don't. The cold gripped me from everywhere. The woods are completely dark, there's no source of light or life, just him and me. Fear instilled inside me as I tried desperately to find a path out of the woods and into the town I've escaped from.I don't even know where it is, to begin with. Nothing is familiar.The woods close in around me, dark, looming trees and crisp, cold air. The darkness is suffocating but I have to find my way back, back into Kaden's house where he can trap me forever.I already know he isn't going to let this go so easily. Forcing me to run across the woods, in the cold night while he chases me and threatens to bite me is only the beginning of his anger. It's only the tip of the iceberg.I stabbe
"Well, you're really not one for morning-after cuddles, are you?" He asked, a frown smeared on his face.Instead of replying, I screamed again, unable to believe that he's here. Right now. Right here. I killed him. I fucking killed him.It doesn't turn to reality until I feel his hand over my mouth, stifling my screams. I struggle against his grip, but it's vain, pointless. He's a lot stronger than me and the fear coursing through me doesn't help either."You really thought a piece of wood could stop me? How amusing." His voice is teasing now, a smirk playing on his lips but I don't take it lightly. There's a dangerous fire flickering in his face.I draw his hand away from my mouth and rushed out of the car to catch my breath. Cold wrapped around me. My chest raised and dropped. I blinked at him as he stepped out. My one hand falls over my hip while the other one is over my mouth. How is he alive? I stabbed him.He was dead.Literally dead."Oh, now you're the one scared." His smirk t
ISABELLA'S POV.I placed the pump back and headed into the store. I was finally free and out of the dark forest. The cashier smiled and waved at me as I entered. Rows of snacks, drinks, and road maps greeted my eyes. My stomach grumbled as I moved in the aisles. I really missed eating them. I didn't see anything in that monster werewolf world.Just staring at some cookies made my stomach to grumble again. I have never felt this hungry, this empty and so thirsty.Without hesitating, I grabbed whatever I could fit into my hands before returning to the cashier.The cashier smiled at me once more but this time I returned a fake smile. I damn hungry. "How has your night been?" The cashier asked while checking out the items in front of him.I sighed, not knowing what answer I should give me.He was trying to be nice to me but I wasn't interested at all. He didn't know what the hell was stressing me and what I passed through within one night.I killed my so called mate. What was worse, he di
My eyes flutter opened to find Kaden, asleep.The moment I saw a big black wolf , I lost conscious immediately. I couldn't help it but still I wasn’t saved because here I was now on his chest resting on it.How the hell did it happen?!I sat up startled then I looked around. It was still night, nearing morning.Currently he looked peaceful , his pink lips kinda open but still I didn’t like him.We are two different people. He is a werewolf and I am a normal person.Nothing of that is going to change. If he thought that sleeping with me will make me feel better , he was a fool.He's still cold, just like he's meant to be and I will never like him.Slowly I slided off the bed, my legs wobbling a little as my body adjusted to the after-effect of fighting with the bitch. I moved softly across the room, wincing as a small wave of pain shooted through my lower body. I clenched my teeth and pressed on.When I looked back, I found kaden still sleeping after all my movements. He's deep asleep
I sat alone on the bed, my legs hanging off the side and my feet barely touching the ground. The night was colder than the day and it was worse because I was alone in the room I didn't want to sleep in , surrounded by an eerie silence and my own thoughts. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't, not here, not again.There's something odd about this room. I don't want to be in here for another day, even another minute.My eyes travelled over the walls and then to the window at the top but there was no escape. After a while I sighed heavily then slipped my feet under the sheets and lay down, contemplating my own life, my situation. Would it have been any different if I didnt tell Alex that I was pregnant. I wouldn't be here by now.Here I was stuck, eyes opened while ,l listened to the forest outside. Everything was cool but my inner part wasn't. Things were strange here. Surprisingly I was no longer feeling the pain and yet I fought with that bitch."Urggh", Thinking about it all, l lost inte
The guards didn't grip my hands as they led me to my prison. I thought they were taking me to the whore house but shockingly this time they decended downstairs.This was the basement.As soon as we reached one of the guards open the cell. I blinked there was no chains in it. It was an empty stone walled room , cold and daunting. There was a chair in the middle, a table in front of it and another chair facing it together with a single lamp in the middle. It seemed like an interrogation room for some sort ."Sit", He simply ordered and l obeyed without uttering anything. I wasn't just thrown in a cell to rot but something else was coming. He stood at the door waiting. Suddenly the door opened and l knew who the hell it was. It was the son of a bitch Kaden , he didn't enter immediately though.I looked at the guard who simply stood at the door waiting then turned and looked at my feet. Stomach pangs were getting stronger. I didn't care about it , l was eagerly waiting for what was coming
Before l could do anything, and completely finish the bitch, I was out of the blue quickly catapulted into the nearest tree. My head slammed against the trunk instantly. My vision went black for a split second and then came back slowly. I gagged from the luck of oxygen and my heart pounded against my chest. Suddenly a huge brown wolf stood in front of me, blocking my way.It didn't allow me to catch my breath before it barred it's canines at me. Menacing , l choked and crawled back to the tree. " Don't do anything to me, I'm not going to kill her", Recalling the way they treated me the last time I escaped , l spoke quickly. " Where did you think you were going?", Before the brown wolf could do anything to me , l heard the voice behind me. It was Mark one of the guards."Am gonna go back", l said quickly. "You can't escape, these woods , the forests are filled up with wolves, they can smell you",He smirked and eyed my body for wounds. I kept quiet feeling stupid. "Did you think that yo