ArloMoonlight pools into the room, painting Hilda’s skin in silver and shadow, and for a moment, I can do nothing but look at her.She’s sprawled across the bed, dark hair fanned out over the crisp white sheets, her lips parted just slightly, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that makes something tighten low in my gut.Her eyes, warm and full of promise, track my every movement. We’ve been making love for hours, but I can’t seem to get enough of her.My mate. My wife. Mine.The thought sends a surge of heat through me, a primal satisfaction that I know is echoed in the way she shivers beneath my gaze. I take my drinking her in. Her bare shoulders, the dip of her waist, the slow, lazy way she stretches, displaying herself to my gaze.“Arlo,” she murmurs, voice thick with longing, my name a whisper that wraps around me like silk. I slide over her, caging her in with my hands on either side of her. “Yes, love?”She breathes out a soft laugh, but there’s no teasing in her eyes, on
DamonThe night air is cold, wrapping around me as I linger in the shadows beyond the cabin. The open window taunts me, offering a perfect view into the room where Hilda and Arlo are tangled together in the sheets, lost in each other.Disgust rolls through me as I watch them, their bodies moving in a slow, unhurried rhythm, their whispered words of love making my stomach churn. Pathetic.Arlo is supposed to be an Alpha, a leader, a man with power. And yet, he lets a woman, his mate, have this much control over him?Hilda cries out for what seems like the hundredth time tonight, her back arching, her nails raking over his skin as if she owns him. As if she’s the one ruling this moment. It’s sickening. No man should let a woman behave like that, moaning like a common whore, demanding, taking. A female should be subdued, conquered, claimed. Not…this.But Hilda’s never known how to act with decorum and it’s a blight on Arlo’s judgment that he’s taken someone so unworthy as his mate.I cle
CereliaI could have sworn I sensed Damon close by last night. Lurking in the darkness and watching as Soren and I made love. The thought makes me shiver uneasily. It’s obvious that Soren didn’t pick up on anything, he would have spoken up. Maybe I’m being paranoid. I just feel like we may have made a mistake by not killing Damon. Me. I made the mistake. I could have easily ended his life during the duel, but I held back. Both because he’s my brother and I hate the thought of killing anyone.The problem is that his obsession with me means he probably won’t come after me directly. He’ll try and isolate me by taking out everyone I care about. He doesn’t have the numbers to take on our pack, and certainly not King Arlo’s, but Damon is vengeful. He’ll look for a different way. Honor means nothing to him, he only cares about winning.I need to speak to Hilda before she and Arlo leave on their honeymoon. He’s taking her to a place deep in the mountains, next to a lake, he wouldn’t say an
HildaThe cabin is everything Arlo promised and more. Secluded, breathtakingly beautiful, and best of all, completely isolated. It sits perched on the edge of a pristine lake, nestled between towering pines and framed by the jagged peaks of the mountains. The air up here is crisp and cold. So much so that I can smell snow in the distance. I know it won’t be long before the windows are fogged up from our activities. I honestly don’t understand the overwhelming desire I’m feeling, but I’m not complaining. I’ve been incredibly drawn to Arlo sexually from the moment we met, but this is a craving that just refuses to go away no matter how often we make love. Fortunately for me, the cabin is quiet, peaceful, and for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s nothing clamoring for our attention. Just us. Able to do whatever we want for a blissful week. Arlo barely waits for the front door to close behind us before he’s shedding his clothes. His shirt hits the floor first, followe
Cerelia The wind is chilly as we cross into our territory. Winter is nearly upon us. It should be a relief to be home, back with our pack where we belong, but unease lingers in my chest.I tell myself Hilda is safe. She and Arlo are far away in the mountains, wrapped in the peace they deserve and undoubtedly entangled in each other, but I can’t shake the feeling that Damon isn’t finished.He’s a thorn that just won’t stop stabbing right into my heart. If he hurts Hilda, or her baby, I don’t know how I would live with the guilt.Soren’s fingers brush against mine as we walk through the gates, and I steal a glance at him. My worries fading for a moment as I appreciate my handsome mate.He looks every bit the Alpha. Broad-shouldered, composed, his presence commanding respect from every warrior who bows their head as we pass. But when his gaze meets mine, there’s something softer there, something just for me.Pack members rush over to offer to help with our packs, but we gratefully wave
ArloI wake early, watching through the window as the mountains stretch endlessly beyond us, bathed in golden light as the sun begins its slow ascent. I breathe it all in gratefully. The quiet, the peace and the warmth of Hilda beside me.She’s still deeply asleep, curled on her side with one hand resting on my chest, her breath steady and soft. I’m not surprised after the frantic way we made love all day yesterday. My own muscles feel gloriously overworked.I let my fingers trace idle patterns over her back, marvelling at the way she fits against me. In spite of the difference in size between us, her curves slot perfectly into every bend and dip of my body.I never thought I’d have this. True love first of all, and once I found that it seemed impossible that we’d get to have moments like these, where the world isn’t demanding something from us.No battles to fight, no pack to lead for a few days, no threats lurking just beyond the borders. Just Hilda and me, lost in a sliver of time
TaraI don’t belong here.The thought slips through my mind before I can catch it. Before I can shove it down and pretend it’s not there. I shake it off, pushing through the trees as I follow the edge of the training grounds.The sounds of wolves sparring, of warriors barking orders, of the pack moving like a well-oiled machine, none of it feels like it includes me.I’m an outsider who showed up and brought only bad news and suspicion with her. I’m glad I was able to help Cerelia but I know she never really trusted me and it hurt. I could understand her position after everything with Maelor, but it still hurt.Hilda refused to send me away, despite all the bad omens and terrible news I gave her. She’s been my one shining beacon of light in this pack and with her gone I feel like an outsider again. The one everyone stares at and whispers about.I know she’s coming back, but something in my gut won’t let me believe that things will return to the way they were. Every time I think about h
HildaThe water is blissfully warm, wrapping around me like silk as I sink deeper into the natural pool. Steam curls into the cool evening air, tendrils of mist rising around the jagged rocks that frame the hot spring.Arlo watches me from the other side of the spring, the muscles in his arms flexing as he grips the smooth stone edge. The molten hunger in his gaze makes my breath catch.He hasn’t looked away from me since we slipped into the water, as if he’s savoring the sight of me, burning it into his memory. The space between us feels charged and alive, like a tether pulling me toward him.You’re staring again,” I murmur, a slow smile curving my lips. He doesn’t deny it. Instead, he pushes off the rock and moves through the water with incredible grace, closing the distance between us in record time.My pulse quickens as he reaches me, his hands finding my waist beneath the water, the heat of his touch searing even through the steam. “How could I not?” he asks. His voice is low, ro
AshShe lights candles before she joins me in bed. Not because she needs the light. It’s for the atmosphere. For the drama. The way the flickering glow dances across her skin, softening edges and disguising shadows.Everything Isadora Redgrave does is calculated.She walks toward me slowly, her silk robe brushing the tops of her thighs, the edges parting just enough to promise what’s beneath. Her eyes track me like a cat watching a mouse. Lazy, confident, assured of her eventual reward.I offer a smile I’ve worn so many times now it practically feels real.She climbs into bed beside me, pressing close, sliding one silky leg over mine. Her fingers skim my chest, but I barely register the sensation. My body reacts out of habit and obligation. My mind is a thousand miles away.Tara. Is she sleeping? Crying? Wondering why I said what I said earlier today? Does she believe it was real. That I meant it?Gods, I hope not. No. She’s too smart to believe that. She knows we have a job to do.I
TaraI haven’t felt anything from Ash in two nights. No phantom touches. No bursts of pleasure that aren’t mine. No echoing orgasms that leave me shaking and ashamed and aching in ways I can’t even name.I should be grateful, but it makes me uneasy. It’s not like Redgrave to keep her hands to herself. If she’s not pawing at him, it means something’s wrong. Maybe she’s punishing him. Maybe he said the wrong thing, or showed too much concern for me, or failed to play the role she expects.I pace my room like a caged animal, ears trained on every creak of the hallway. I’ve barely touched the tray of food they brought me. My stomach’s in knots.Maisey hasn’t been back since yesterday morning, and I don’t know if that’s because she’s been reassigned, or because someone figured out she was watching out for me.The door opens without warning and a tall, broad-shouldered guard steps inside. “You’re wanted,” he says. No ‘please.’ No ‘if you don’t mind.’ Just flat orders and cold eyes.I school
MalcolmThe knock at the compound door is too polite and I know who it is before I open it.Redgrave doesn’t wait to be invited in. She steps over the threshold like she owns the place. In her head, she probably does.Her coat is cream, long, and tailored to her measurements. Her boots click against the concrete like a war drum. Her guards don’t follow. Clearly she doesn’t think she needs protection from me. Stupid bitch.“Redgrave,” I say, voice smooth and friendly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” She doesn’t answer. Just walks into my command room like she’s been here a thousand times before. She stops in front of the war table. My maps. My layouts. My plans.And then, with all the casual disdain of royalty, she sits in my chair. “You’ve been busy,” she says, gesturing at the tactical layout.“I’ve been preparing,” I agree. “That’s wonderful to hear, because I’ll be joining you for the attack,” she informs me casually.I blink, then laugh. Not the smartest move, in retrospect. “You
AshRedgrave is sprawled across her settee, twirling a glass of whisky in one hand, watching me with that gleam in her eye. The one that says she thinks we’re sharing secrets, building a future, falling deeper into whatever twisted version of love she believes this is.I play my part. “There’s something you need to do,” I say, leaning forward. My voice is low, serious enough to catch her attention without sounding like I’m issuing orders. I’m not that careless. She likes to be consulted, not commanded.“Oh?” she purrs, raising a brow, clearly expecting me to suggest something erotic.“Malcolm will ask you to sign over the money to him soon. He’ll tell you he needs it in order to finalize the logistics. But what it really is, is the last step before he makes his move.”She frowns, sitting up straighter. “What move?” I meet her gaze. “He plans to kill you.” There’s a beat of silence, then she laughs. “Please. Malcolm doesn’t have the spine.”“He doesn’t need spine,” I say softly. “He has
HildaThe water in the creek is cold enough to make me gasp when I slip beneath the surface, but I don’t mind. It’s clean and fresh and I like the way it wakes my skin up. Besides, I’ve got a six-foot-five personal furnace about to follow me in.“You’re making that face,” Arlo says from the edge of the creek, voice low and amused. “What face?”“The smug one. The I know I look like a goddess in the moonlight face.” I swim backward a few strokes and lift my chin, hair slicked back, droplets sliding down my shoulders. “The only reason I believe that is because you keep telling me I do, so it’s all your fault.”He grins wolfishly, slow and appreciative, and steps into the water. It only takes him two strides to reach me. I get a full, brazen look at everything before the water hits his waist, and it’s a very enjoyable view.“You always get smug when you’re naked,” he murmurs, closing the space between us. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”“It’s not.” His hands find my hips beneath the
AshThe moment we’re back in Isadora’s bedroom I close the door behind us and she presses her body against mine.She’s still wearing that flimsy excuse for a nightgown. Blood-red silk barely clinging to her hips, one shoulder falling in a way that’s clearly meant to look accidental. She reaches for my chest, fingertips tracing the edge of a fading bruise, but I step back.“Darling,” she purrs, tilting her head. “Surely you’re not in a rush to leave this room? I thought we could—”“I think we’re running out of time,” I cut in, sharper than I intended. Her pout falters. “We’ve only just been reunited. You don’t want to celebrate?”I force a smile, trying not to let my frustration show. “Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to lie in bed and let you distract me. But something tells me the wolves aren’t going to sit around and wait for us to finish indulging our passions.”She sighs and stalks to the chaise lounge, throwing herself down with the flair of a silent film star. “You’re righ
AshTara won’t look at me. It must sicken her to see me in such a dishevelled state with Isadora. I tried to convince her we should bathe and get dressed first, but I suspect she wants Tara to know what we’ve been up to.I’ve never had any trouble sexually pleasing my partners. I’m an inventive, attentive and insatiable lover under normal circumstances. Last night was the first time since becoming human that I had to close my eyes and pretend.I imagined Tara was the one in bed with me. The one I kissed. The one who sucked my cock with such exuberance. The one I fucked until she was exhausted and passed out in my arms.I didn’t offer Isadora pleasure with my tongue this time. Exceptionally talented as I am at cunnilingus, I know she was hoping I would. I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting Tara, but I know she would burst on my tongue like some exotic fruit. Intoxicating my senses. I couldn’t suckle Isadora’s clit and keep lying to myself about who I was with.“Tell me how to break th
TaraI feel violated and ill when I wake up the following morning. Ash certainly doesn’t have human stamina, based on the information gleaned from the books I’ve read. Human males apparently require a period of recovery between one bout of mating and the next.“Thank you for the books,” I tell the serving girl when she brings my breakfast. She glances at the bedside table and her eyes briefly meet mine before darting to the floor again. “That one’s good, but the other one is better,” she says quietly.So these aren’t from Redgrave at all. “I’ll make sure to hide them when I have visitors,” I promise her quietly. She lowers her head, “I don’t think she’ll know. She doesn’t pay much attention to the house. You can just say you found them in a drawer.”“My name is Tara,” I tell her gently. She looks at me again with a faint smile, “I know. The mistress cursed your name repeatedly when you took Sir Ash from her before.” Right. I wonder how Redgrave believes I managed that. It’s all to t
TaraAsh seems to have accelerated healing abilities like we do. He told me he’s never been sick and he doesn’t think he ages, but he has no idea if that’s pure luck or if he’s not as human as he seems.The black eye took a bit longer to heal than the lacerations from the whipping, but it was still much faster than a human would have mended.I wish I could see him. Just for a minute. Just to be sure he’s in the same shape physically that I am. Logically I know he has to be, but I need to see with my own eyes that he’s fine. Or at least as fine as it’s possible to be while pretending to be enchanted by a completely delusional woman.If Isadora Redgrave hadn’t shown up when she did, I know exactly what would have happened to me next in that cage and I despise having to feel grateful to her, but I can’t deny that I am. I’d rather be beaten for hours on end than sexually violated by Malcolm.I know the only reason I’m being kept in this beautiful room and fed like royalty is because