“So you are the one that my men reported to me about,” he mutters, looking up at Elise. Hayden raises his head to speak in her defense, but he raises a hand to stop him. “I know all about your secret in helping a female that got attacked; you helped and gave her refuge even though she is a stranger, but she is an alderman, an enemy to our pack. I need you to explain what that means to us right this instant.” A wicked smile sprawled on Holden's lips; he seemed to be enjoying this, enjoying seeing his brother being scrutinized by their father, knowing now he would be in the chief's good graces instead of Hayden. “I-i mean no harm, Chief Blackwood,” she says with a curt bow. He lets out a dismissive hum to his men, who bow and leave them. With Holden and Hayden behind her, their arms at attention, their faces stoic as they face their father, the chief of this pack. “I was saved by your son while I was on the verge of death, and I’m grateful for that. Yes, I might have been rais
“You cannot be serious about this, father,” Holden argues with Chief Blackwood the moment that Hayden follows Elise down the balcony steps. His eyes were dark and intense with jealousy and anger that a strange girl from somewhere could have his birthright. “She is Edgar’s daughter; the throne belongs to her; we all know that I’ve been keeping this seat warm for him; this is a promise I kept to Edgar Hale,” he mutters. “She could be lying about her mother, father! You cannot just give the seat to a stranger; for all we know, she was sent by Dexton to infiltrate our pack and destroy us from her father; you cannot allow this!” Holden argues. “There aren't any laws that stop her from claiming this seat,” Hayden's voice cuts in. He’d come back from his chambers, leaving Elise there. “We all know she is a true royal calhan wolf; her beast looks like ours; she is one of us; no, even more powerful than us." Hayden concludes. It drives Holden mad, his hands bound into a tight fist
Rygan’s POV “Rygan?” I hear my name roared out by Taz behind the door. The loud, unending pounding of the door pulls me out of sleep. I roll over, forgetting the spinning room around me. But I don’t answer; I’m barely living and barely there at the moment. Everything feels useless and unimportant since I found out that Elise is dead. And all the news from my troops that came back was no news at all. I don’t want to believe the trail ended on the deep, rocky cliff. There has to be something I’m missing; there has to be, but Kaide made it known to me that she was gone. There isn’t even a body I could salvage. I hate myself for that. I hate myself that my last words to her and my last encounter were filled with nothing but anger and blame. I can barely breathe when I think of her right now. I roll over, my fingers meeting the cold glass of a wine bottle in my bed. My only companion these days is the solace of being drunk. It’s the only way I can sleep without waking up to nig
A few months had passed in the black moon pack and things had turned out unexpectedly. As the tension grew around the pack to their alpha behavior. For a newlywed couple, the whole pack felt so quiet and distant, they all could feel the monstrous shift in their alpha’s demeanor. Gone was the alpha who gave out smiles and assurance to his people, they could tell something had changed, especially after the disappearance of Elise. Rygan became a cold-hearted tyrant. Never to be seen in daylight, now a predator of the night that lurked in the shadows, he preferred his wolf from now on, prowling in the darkness for his next kill on humans. Protection around the pack increased nonetheless, Kyren never made an appearance after Rygan had removed his left eye, making the alpha of the Dark Night pack blind in one eye now he scoured like a coward in his territories not risking another fight with the beast, Kyren had vowed he’d make Rygan pay for the loss of his eye, but there was
Seasons passed with time; Elise had chosen to stay with Hayden, and with Chief Blackmoon's blessing, they had their mating ceremony. She had asked for nothing festive; only Abby and Hayden’s best friends were there as witnesses. She could remember how tense she was as she repeated those vows and how the last time at the altar ended up so horribly. But with one of Hayden’s eyes, she reached his promise to be by her side, to protect her. There was still a nerve-wracking feeling after the ceremony. It made her nervous about how the pack would accept her as Luna and Hayden’s partner. Contrary to her beliefs, the people welcomed her the moment Hayden announced she was in; they were all grateful for her help, and the people warmed up to her. Even though there would be biased whispers and some filled with jealousy, that was nothing that could break her. Not until the very day her water broke and she was rushed to Abby’s, with Hayden waiting outside for the birth. It felt like an ag
Elise’s POV. It got harder day by day to hide the urge to touch Hayden and be close to him. I felt like a crush-stricken pup who had just realized the presence of an alpha who had been with me all this time. And now it was far too clear to ignore. I wondered if he had noticed too, if he had seen the times I looked away when our gazes met. It got harder each time our eyes locked from across the room or from where he stood with his friends, laughing at a joke Brady made. I watched as his eyes crinkled from the joke, and an unconscious smile spread on my face too. Jax called his attention back to the field as I stood with the ladies under the gazebo. I felt a soft tap on my shoulder from Jenna, Brady’s mate. We were under one of the tents, with the other serving beverages and drinks while we watched. According to their tradition, there was a day for young pups and males to participate. She-wolves were allowed to join, yes, but more of the mated females enjoyed the shade and let
No one expected this attack, especially as the sound of explosions and gunfire echoed through the city gates. Elise and Hayden could only watch in horror as the pack and their men by the gated wall were under attack from the weapons. “I need to go now,” he muttered, his tone racing in haste as he rushed to the door, with Elise right behind him, her eyes filled with adrenaline. “I’m coming with you,” she muttered as Hayden stopped her, his gaze filled with a plea for her to stay safe. Elise frowned. “I can fight; you know I can,” she told Hayden, his eyes filled with rage and hardened from the ongoing attack. He couldn't help but feel his wolf wanting to protect her. “I need you to be safe; you need to go check on Ethan too, just please,” he told Elise. They ran out the door, and she saw a quick shift of his wolf as he raced into the darkness and departed by the gates. Elise ran to Abby’s home while Hayden shifted to his wolf and raced to the gates. They were trying to use bo
The entire pack was immediately gathered, shocked to see that humans had reached the side of their islands; they still had no idea how the veil they had used for decades had crumbled down, leaving them exposed to the outside world. Elise and Hayden's utmost concern right now was their people, the wounded being ushered back into the hospital, and helping with minor wounds. As Elise passed by, the crowd of people thanked her for saving them, but she felt her heartstrings pull when she saw a small boy alone. The father she had saved was halfway through shock and had lost a lot of blood, rendering him unconscious. Her heart grew heavier with the loss of the whole pack. She didn’t want Ethan to see her like this, bloodied from the battle, but her son had already witnessed it all, and her heart sank at how brave he was. Yet this was an eye-opener to what she had forgotten the outside world to be. She took Ethan back to the place where she bathed him, and he immediately fell asleep
(EPILOGUE)..The lonely, dark halls of the Black Mountains cell were Alvira's only companions throughout the passing days; she could barely keep track of the time, day, or month.It was hell on earth, a punishment for crimes that made her feel insane, and she deserved every bit of it, especially after what she did to Alana. Some days she felt like the dark halls were haunted by her sister and Kaide’s ghost, her only companions pushing her to the edge of insanity."Just look at her," one of the guards spoke, spooked as they watched Alvira sitting quietly, composed in a way that was eerie at times, making the hair on their skin stand up. Her dark brunette hair was matted and scattered in knots, hiding her face.Her nails were tattered from incessant biting, a habit she had developed; she didn't bother responding to the guards' whispers.In the first months she'd been there, she raised hell until her throat bled, screaming to be freed, but she knew there wouldn’t be a chance. "Who woul
It all felt so natural, so right, falling into each other's arms like they’d known one another for a lifetime, and with each kiss, Jax felt more completed by his omega. “You have no idea how much I love you, how much you drive me wild, Lorraine,” he muttered with a kiss to her bare shoulder. He quickly unzipped the gown, pushing it off her. The beta watched wide-eyed with desire at how confident his omega had gotten in that moment. He watched as she traced a hand from his hard pecs and abs, dipping her hands further into the water, trailing down the space between his crotch till she held his hardening cock. Jax hissed in pleasure at her touch. He watched her pupils dilate in reaction to his, and her meek honey-filled voice whispered, “Do you like this?” ”Fuck, I love everything you do, and even you—yes, just like that,” he hummed when he felt another hard squeeze to his cock; moons now she was just torturing him. “You have no idea what I want to do to you,” he whispered. ”
JAX'S POV After seeing Lorraine in that state, I never wanted to see her cry again. I knew there was no going back with my wolf already obsessed with her every call; I was hers before she even completely knew it. It isn’t long till I reach the station where I'm needed. Immediately seeing the hunched frame of my two friends, they both peer up at me with smug, knowing looks on their faces. And mischievous smirks I could spot even from a mile away. ”Damn..we know she’s yours, dude. Chill out,” Michael mutters first. “We can practically scent her on your skin,” he calls with arms up in surrender. ”Good,” I say, surprising them both; they must have expected me to try and deny it. But I wanted everyone to know she was mine, and I couldn’t keep myself from her anymore, not when my wolf was already so drawn to her. “I’ve lost to her, moons; I'm so in love with her; she is everything I could ever dream of, fuck,” I mutter, still in disbelief at how I’ve been truly enamo
Jax knew he had made an awful mistake by saying those words and not being straightforward. The beta felt like a wreck the moment he saw how Lorraine’s face had crumbled. He had misspoken, and now she must have thought he only saw her as nothing more than a fling. He tried to explain himself, but the damage had been done. He quickly obeyed her wish to be left alone. There would be enough time to talk to her, and he would make sure to tell her his true feelings. Right now, she needed space, which gave him enough time to think too. The beta rushed outside to clear his head and get them breakfast since there wasn’t anything left in his kitchen. He dropped by the baker's shop for a fresh set of their renowned pie, with the pack members greeting him good morning. Jax halted in his steps when his eyes caught a beautiful pastel blue sundress in a shop, and a certain blonde immediately filled his mind. He headed in, even though he had no idea what he was doing, and bought many dresses
The kiss was intoxicating; there was no end to Jax’s desperate need for more; he wanted her more than he could ever fathom. It felt like Every control he had snapped when he heard her soft voice pleading to be touched; he knew he couldn’t fight it any longer. His hand combed through her gold locks, a firm grip causing a moan from her lips. She shuddered in desire from his touch; she felt his hand trace down her naked thighs, and a whimper escaped her lips from his touch. His hands pushed firmly on her tiny back, trailing into her shirt, touching the small expanse of her back and finding that sensitive spot on her skin that had Lorraine arching until her back pressed against the bed, leaving her a whimpering mess. She pushed Jax closer, feeling his other hand trail to her aching sex. She watched him, unblinking from his gaze, their breaths mingled and gaze locked with one another. “I'm going to put a finger in, okay, sweetheart?” He muttered with a kiss pressed to her button no
The beta scolds himself with a curse, mortified that he said something so obscene. But when he peered at Lorraine, looking at how innocent her gaze was, she hadn't understood the complication of the words he said. He was thankful but still mortified. Jax then quickly settled himself on the island table as they both munched on their food; he quietly watched the female, satisfied as Lorraine ate with a full appetite. A deep primal part of him was happy that he cooked for her. But the reason she could eat so well was that Jax assured her that Nora would be fine with Abby and was in great care. That calmed her; she felt so happy and relieved in this moment that she finally let her scent waft across the room; it made the beta visibly stiffen. Her jasmine scent wafted across the room, making the beta wolf alert and thrash around, yearning to be closer. That’s when he realized why her scent was so sweet and alluring. “You... are an omega?” he called in surprise, and for a moment, he
The walk back to Jax's home was quiet and more awkward than he anticipated, but mostly since he was trying hard not to stare at Lorraine while they walked to his cabin. "Fuck this," he thought; his wolf was barely in control, his desire to touch her and know what she tasted like underneath all her clothes was more than tempting, but right now he could barely see her face under the cloak. "Um, I don’t think I thanked you for this." "You did," he cut in quickly, and for a short moment their gaze locked; he could see a blush on her cheek spread before she turned away. Why did she choose me? He couldn’t help wondering; he barely recalled opening the doors to his home with Lorraine trailing in after him. “And don’t worry too much about your sister; she is in great hands, and Abby will take care of her, but now you need to take care of yourself. You need rest,” he adds. “Thank you..” “Jax, my name is Jax Kullin.” He tells her he could see interest glistening in her gaze, with
(Side story) JAX'S POV. . . There was a time when anyone could try to tell me true love was real, and I'd fall for it; and all the more, having a fated mate was unheard of, a love was so strong like my parents who died in each other's arms during the war 20 years ago. I couldn’t fathom what kind of love would bring someone to their knees and, all the more, die for their partner. I and my best friends have always joked about never falling in love so desperately for anyone, yet my best friend Hayden was an exception none of us ever expected. He was a goner for Elise the moment he met her. I could see why he loved her, though it took time for her to trust us. I could see the ease in her eyes, and the walls crumbled when Hayden was there. But it was never as intense as what my friend felt. Hayden, who loved El with all his heart and died for that said love, broke me beyond words when I heard the news of his death from Holden; none of us could believe it, no
Rygan was more than aroused for his mate; his tongue dipped into her coated entrance for a taste of more; he sucked and lapped greedily on her sex, causing a moan to erupt from Elise's lips from his merciless intrusion into her sex; his tongue was like a drug driving her mad. "Fuck. My love, you taste amazing," he muttered, her sex clenched from the feel of his heated breath fanning her folds, she moans out in pleasure, grabbing tight to the sheets for her dear life. There was barely an intrusion other than his tongue yet; but Rygan's tongue alone had made her climax, and now the alpha lapped at her sex like a thirsty man. She let out a cry from the intrusion of his thick finger. The pleasure felt like a torturous drag in her walls, her back arching from stimulation when another thick finger was added to her wet heat. "Look at how tight you are for me; you taste like honey; my cock would feel good inside you," he growls with a bite to her inner thigh. She flinches from his