“Alpha wants to see you now.” Langdon’s words came out curt and hard, his amber eyes flashing. His hands were clenched into tight fists and the muscles in his chest and arms flexed with strain.“Now?” I breathed. A wave of nausea washed over me. I automatically grasped onto a nearby low-hanging tree branch to steady myself. “I thought we had more time. Coal plans to challenge him soon after he returns. I was hoping he’d defeat him before I was forced to speak with Alpha again.”“So was I.” Langdon gritted. “But Daniel just mindlinked to pass on the Alpha’s orders.”I raised an eyebrow.Langdon understood my confusion and explained, “Daniel stuck close to the packhouse to monitor Alpha’s movements.”My hand flew to my neck, my fingers covering Coal’s mark. “But I can’t see him! He’ll know!”Langdon ran a hand through his dark hair, his gaze intent, swirling with concentration to come up with a solution. He blew out a breath. “We can hide your mark. Just select a shirt with a collar. Yo
BrinleyI made my way to the packhouse and up the familiar stairs, a pit of dread in my stomach, feeling like I was walking toward my execution. The wide hallway loomed ahead. Step by step, I forced myself forward until I was standing outside of Alpha’s office door. Inhaling deeply, I knocked.“Come in!”Even from behind the limited protection of the door, Alpha’s curt response washed over me in ice cold waves, causing goosebumps to flare on my arms. I took a second to briskly rub my exposed flesh to rid myself of the telltale bumps that revealed my anxiety. Taking another deep breath, I opened the door, stepped inside, and pushed it shut behind me.Alpha was seated behind a large mahogany desk, reclined casually in his executive leather chair, eyeing me with obvious disdain. I remaining standing by the door, not daring to move unless instructed to do so, and dropped my gaze to the floor.“Sit,” he snarled, contempt oozing, the order sounding more like it was fit for a pet he was disp
BrinleyI stared at Alpha in horror. He would do it. I could see it in the evil glint in his eyes. He would turn his own son rogue. I had to do something. I had to stop this. I blurted out, “The mark doesn’t belong to Coal!”His blackened gaze snapped to mine, a hiss releasing from his throat, “What the fuck did you just say?”“It’s not…Coal’s mark,” I desperately tried to keep the tremor from my voice. “It’s Langdon’s. He’s the Wolf that marked me. I…I love him. We…we’re going to be together.” I was thankful now that Langdon had thought to cover me in his scent, and understood why it hadn’t been enough just to rub his skin against mine. He’d needed to kiss me…because Alpha leaned in and sniffed at my mouth and lips, his nostrils flaring from the scent.I held my breath. Maybe, just maybe, Alpha would believe me and let me go…But in the next instant, Alpha crushed all of my remaining hope. His large hand wrapped around my throat. I could feel his course fingertips pressing my esophag
***Earlier in the day***RyderIt hadn’t been a surprise. The only way Aatos agreed to discuss our request was if we met in person and if I accompanied Coal. Coal didn’t like the terms. He didn’t want me anywhere near Aatos, but I’d agreed. Now was not the time for a power-play. Not when Brinley’s life was at stake. And at this point, I worried the vampires would be her only chance of survival if Coal failed to kill our father.It had taken us three hours to reach the vampire’s location. And now, here we were, back at the hotel. I shivered at the memory of what occurred earlier. We made our way silently up to room 311. We didn’t even have to knock before the door swung open. The female vamp’s blue eyes glittered mischievously. “We didn’t expect to see you back again so quickly.”Neither Coal nor I responded.“Savvy,” a deep male voice chastised her, a touch of annoyance in his tone, but also his signature smirk. “Get the hell out of the way and let them in.”Savannah swiveled her head
CoalKill him! Tear him apart!Limb from limb. Until there are no identifying pieces left! My Wolf raged in my head, his words ringing in my ears. I’d heard everything Aatos said. He wanted Ryder to go back to his kingdom with him—over my dead body!I salivated for his blood.The bastard vampire turned, finally realizing his end was near.I saw the telltale signs, his body shifted position, equally ready to fight.“Wait!” the female vampire yelled.I was shocked when she darted in between us. Maybe she had a death wish. Fine, I’d be happy to take care of her as well.She glared at the male vampire. “You’re not helping! We have a job to do here. You may report to my father and not to me, but let me remind you...he’ll be pissed off if you fuck this up!” Her eyes blazed furiously.Her father?Her father was this elusive king in question?What did that make her? A princess?Aatos kept his eyes trained on me, and replied through his teeth, “I suspect I don’t have a choice in the matter.
BrinleyI had no idea how long we drove. It felt like several hours, but it could have been more since my brain was hyperaware of every minute that passed by. Thirty minutes ago, we had gotten off of the paved roads and Alpha had driven over bumpy back roads. We had to be far into the dense forest by now…significantly away from help.…and away from anyone who could hear my screams.Finally, Alpha stopped, put the car in park and turned off the ignition. We hadn’t spoken a word the entire way. I was okay with that. Somehow I knew every word that came out of his mouth was going to be painful for me. I wanted to know more, but I was afraid of what the truth would do to me. After he got out of his side of the vehicle and walked around to open my door, I mumbled, “Can I take off the blindfold now?”“In a minute,” he replied briskly, jerking on my elbow so hard that I stumbled out of the vehicle and tumbled forward. My hands shot out instinctively to catch myself, and I landed hard on the r
His eyes glazed over. I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or just uttering his memories out loud. “Deep down, I knew she truly wanted it…because it killed her to watch me fuck other shewolves…which I frequently did in front of her, because she just never learned. On the outside, she was the perfect example of submission, but on the inside, I saw her obstinate refusal to face the truth right in front of her! So I forced her to face it, I wouldn’t let her turn away. I made her watch me fuck wolf after wolf, just to remind her what she could have had, but she choose to throw away! Her tears told me the truth. Her mouth was full of lies, but the tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched me pleasure other wolves and heard them scream my name…no, she couldn’t deny her true feelings!”I thought I’d heard every ugly and the vile story possible about him. I was wrong. So ridiculously wrong. He was far worse than even my worst nightmare. I swallowed thickly to keep the bile from coming
“Your scents haven’t combined yet. If I had to guess, I’d say you only had one coupling, not the several required to cement the bond permanently. I’ve never bonded with a Wolf, which means it will be even easier for me to destroy yours and put mine in its place. What better way to play the game with that bastard son of mine than to ruin his prize?”“No, no, no…” I chanted in utter revulsion.He nodded his head and licked his lips as if liking the idea more and more a further he contemplated it. “Yes. I couldn’t have your mother as my mate, but I can sure as fuck bind you to me irrevocably. We have plenty of time to complete every coupling…”A low growl escaped from his chest, and his eyes changed, his Wolf coming front and center as he purred, “My Wolf likes the idea. It’s been a long time since he’s taken a skin female. A few actually haven’t lived through the experience, but I’m sure you’ll be different.”I couldn’t tell if he was making some sick joke or not, and I sure as hell was
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