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I had expected us to go to Greyson's house, but when he went in the other direction, I was even more grateful that he had brought me some dry clothes. A small camp had been erect in the forest, and from the already lit fire and the smell of Freya, I knew I owed her a thank you for setting this up. Greyson dropped my hand when he moved to the cooler and grabbed me a drink, and I noticed it was also full of food. I wasn't sure how long he expected us to stay out here, but I had to be back early in the morning, and I hoped he knew that. I eyed the green two-person tent and smiled when I thought about all the things we could get up to in there. "Is this another one of those dates?" I asked as I sat by the fire in one of the two camping chairs. Everything looked brand new, and I eyed him warily, hoping he hadn't bought all this just for tonight. We were wolves. There was nothing more natural than being outdoors and sleeping under the stars. "Yes." His firm and confident nod made me blus
Our food had been salvageable, but the s'mores we made together blew it out of the water. I had never known how good a s'more could be with a cookies and cream chocolate bar instead of a regular one.It was just to the point of almost being too sweet, but not quite there yet.Grey favored using a peanut butter cup, and the smile on his face when he ate it was so endearing that I couldn't stop staring at him for the rest of the night.I was filled with nerves and butterflies as we curled up beneath the sleeping bag. The anticipation for what was to come had me wide awake. We had taken a huge step last night, and I wanted him again, but I didn't want to ruin the evening if that wasn't where tonight was heading."You got something on your mind?" Greyson asked, but I could see the smirk on his face when I looked up at him. He had one arm around me, and the other had been thrown over his eyes as I lay against his side with my head on his chest."Of course I do. I'm always overthinking every
I enjoyed casual dresses. The way they swayed around my legs as I walked and how the light material let just enough air in for me to be comfortable without getting cold. Plus, it made it faster to get dressed or undressed when shifting. Summer dresses were the perfect clothing choice for me. Yet, when I went down for breakfast that morning after sneaking back in around five, I was wearing a nice pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Ethan clearly disapproved because he glared at the side of my head the whole meal, but I had worn it specifically with him in mind. After seeing him in my bedroom last night, I didn't know what to expect from him, but I figured showing as little skin as possible would be best. Tatum kept sending weird looks between him and me as if trying to silently ask me what the hell was up with him, but I had no answer for her. He seemed to think he would be the champion at the end of the games because he won the first challenge and already had a claim to me.
I closed the door as soon Ellie had collected herself enough to stop crying and walked down the hallway. Aiden and I turned to each other, talking over each other in shock, repeating what we just learned as if the other person hadn't just been listening to the same thing.We had known that Ellie had gone to visit another pack for a few weeks with my father for work, but I had never bothered to ask where she went. By the time she had returned, she was a completely different person, and I didn't care to ask.She had returned angry and bitter. Everything I said or did annoyed her, and when she wasn't snapping at me for existing, she was staring off at a wall or the floor with an empty expression.Ellie wasn't the same person as she was when she left, and while I didn't like who she had become, I had been a bad sister. I had been selfish, focusing on not liking how she made me feel.I had put myself above her and didn't even realize it.As soon as I got the chance, I needed to see her and
The grass folded beneath my paws, bending silently under my weight as I paced back and forth in front of the pond. I kept waiting for Sloane's head to pop up between the bushes even though the sun was still high in the sky. I had been here so long that I had already jumped into the pond multiple times to cool down. My damp fur had reached the stage where it was just barely wet enough that it was now uncomfortable, and I shook my body to encourage it to dry faster. I had never felt so antsy before, especially over a woman. Then again, this wasn't just any woman. Sloane was my woman, whether she knew it or not. I had been dreaming about her for years, and now that I had her, I refused to let go. Yet, I was trapped here in rogue territory, and she was back in her castle, being wooed by the suitors trying to take her from me. My nostrils flared as I took a deep breath, hoping to catch Ethan's scent. When she had shown up at my house and told me that her injuries were because of him,
Ethan Dunn, Night Walker: 12 Points Declan McCoy, Iron Hide: 10 Points Benjamin Reid, Nightshade: 10 Points Tatum Blair, Shadow Paw: 7 points The scores stared back at me as I stood next to the bonfire. It was the end of week one, and I had been trying and failing to escape the festivities to return to Greyson for the past several hours. I just needed to wait until everyone was drunk enough for me to go unnoticed, but either they weren't drinking fast enough or a strong enough liquor. Almost everything had been laced with moonflower extract to help with the buzz, but even then, we had to drink a lot to get drunk. Once we had flooded our system, the buzz could last a while. It just took a long time to get there. During the welcome party last week, it had been about three hours before everyone had been hammered. For now, I was stuck. Pack members and suitors surrounded me as they voiced their excitement over the games with cheering, placing bets, and celebrating the impending mati
As soon as she had reached the cave, I knew. I was acutely aware of her presence, and even with my home being on the other side of the town, I could feel her getting closer. I raced to the window of my room, watching her appear in the gaps between the houses before disappearing again behind them. It felt odd to be staring at her, but I needed to make sure she was safe. It took everything in me not to race outside and walk her back to my house myself, but I also didn't want her to feel like I was smothering her or for her to assume I thought she was incapable of defending herself. I had checked the town thoroughly before returning home for the night, making sure everything was as it should be. We had no visitors in a few days for me to worry about. As I had requested, a group of the townspeople had gone through town and cleaned it up in exchange for the generous paycheck I had cut each of them, and all the street lamps were lit to illuminate her path to me. Sloane was as safe as s
I woke up the next morning warm, comfortable and humiliated.Flashes of last night surfaced of me begging him to let me touch and play with him. I remembered wanting to go down on him to see what he tasted like, but I couldn't remember what happened after. Was it good for him? Did he cum?I wiggled my jaw, unsure what I was expecting as my fast healing would have fixed any strain by now, but I didn't feel anything. Did I block out my first blow job? Was I that bad at it that my mind didn't want me to remember it?"Good Morning," Grey's groggy voice made me freeze, and I pressed my lips together to keep my morning breath away from him."Morning," I mumbled, and he laughed when I jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.The toothbrush he had given me for camping was sitting in the holder next to his, and it made me feel giddy to see it there, even though I knew it shouldn't.Everything about what we were doing was toxic because it was temporary and physical. Yet, the more time I spe
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey! I have loved writing Sloane and Greyson's story and seeing all your comments, votes, and reviews. I read every comment and appreciate all of you for the feedback and engagement. As most of you know, I normally love to write other character's stories to continue the series like I did in The Alpha's Girl Series and The Beast and The Blessed Series. Sadly, this book did not perform as well as I had hoped, and I must move on with new characters and a new world, so this will be a stand-alone novel.I love and appreciate you all so much! Thank you! I'll see you soon with my next book release over the next month!
Four months later: I couldn't help but giggle as Freya, and I slumped back onto the couch. The giddy excitement caused me to sound pretty unstable, but I couldn't calm down if I wanted to. I was too excited for Greyson to get home. He had been out all day, running patrol and helping the pack fix Earl's house. The poor, grumpy old man had broken his good leg trying to cliff dive with the pack after having a few drinks and could no longer justify refusing the changes that needed to be made in his home to make it more accessible. Due to his age, his healing was slower than most wolves, but he was determined to refuse help…not that anyone listened to him. The pack had rallied together and gathered all of the necessary tools to make his two-story home more usable. He reluctantly gave in under the condition that we rip it all back out once his leg healed in a few weeks. Jessi was busy with the diner, so she hadn't had the time she would have needed to help Earl around his house, even th
I hugged Aiden one last time, not ready to let go as I stood under the midday sun by the pond with Greyson. My little brother had insisted on walking me back, but this was the farthest he wanted to go. I wouldn't admit it to him, but I was secretly happy he had come with me. I wasn't ready to say goodbye, even if it was only temporarily.I hadn't been exiled, but I was moving away, about to start a new life and my own family.Aiden, Ellie, and I would still be close, but not as close as before. There was no way for us to continue as we once were. Our relationship, as it was now, spending every day together would be brought down to texts, phone calls, and the occasional visit.Although, I was hoping to have Aiden come stay with Greyson and me whenever he wanted.I had the feeling Ellie wouldn't be staying at my parent's place long. She was eighteen and old enough to receive a mark if Declan chose to gift her with one.I anticipated that would be soon so Ellie could avoid going through t
I never imagined I would be sitting in Charles McKenna's office. It was even more unbelievable than Sloane and I being fated mates, destined for one another by the Goddess. I had always known we were meant to be together, regardless of the Goddess choosing her for me. She would have been mine with or without divine intervention. “Son,” Charles said, and my lip curled up in disgust. “Don't call me that,” I snapped, feeling my anger instantly fade as Sloane laced her fingers with mine. Taking a deep breath, I tried again. “I am here out of respect for your daughter, nothing more.” “I understand that,” Charles said, staring at my hand in his daughters. “However, now that you are mated, we will want to discuss a treaty.” I felt my beast bristle at the idea of being connected to this man and his pack by more than just Sloane. He didn’t have anything to offer me that I couldn’t find elsewhere, but as we were a new pack, we needed support and fast. I was resistant to having an alliance
I was on cloud nine. I could feel everything through our bond. Grey's happiness, excitement, fear, and anger.Most importantly, I could feel his love for me. There was so much of it. More than I ever thought possible.My hand moved up to my neck, and a rush of pleasure went through me at the contact. From the way Grey stiffened behind me and his grip tightened on my hips, he felt it, too. The connection we had was incredible. I could feel him so clearly that I suspected if I tried hard enough, I could hear his thoughts."Soulmates," I repeated the word. Regardless of what my father said now, he wouldn't be able to force me into mating with Ben. I was already claimed, and even if Grey were to die today, my soul would always belong to him."He is a rogue!" Ethan yelled, and I leaned further back into Grey's chest. Even with everyone around me, the thought of him being close to me sent alarm bells blaring through my mind.He was unstable and evil."Ethan Dunn," Charles yelled, turning to
Aiden eyed the tree line I was hiding in from his place next to his father. The sun had risen over the trees only an hour ago, but Charles seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of his daughter. We had barely made it back in time for the ceremony, and I expected Charles to have something to say to his son about that, but he kept his gaze on the castle doors where my woman was about to emerge. I had to keep reminding myself that she had chosen me. She wanted to be with me, and nothing would prevent me from stopping this ceremony and claiming her for myself. Since her father was outside, I assumed he was either being true to his cruel nature or Sloane was feeling better and would be down shortly. I needed it to be the latter so I could see for myself that she was okay. Ben stood in a suit at the end of the aisle. I shook with anger, knowing that he had won and was there to mate with my woman. He should be proud and excited, yet he looked broken. His eyes were downcast, and his hands wer
Benjamin Reid, Nightshade: 51 PointsTatum Blair, Shadow Paw: 46 PointsDeclan McCoy, Iron Hide: 34 PointsEthan Dunn, Night Walker: 29 Points***My eyes hurt as I forced them open, feeling Ellie's hand shaking me awake for what must have been the tenth time. The room was spinning, and my muscles felt frozen. She tried to get me to speak, move, or make a noise each time she woke me.Yet, each time, I would lay there trapped inside my own body, terrified and angry.Ethan hadn't been here long. The silver restraints he used had only been on me for a few minutes as he dragged me to the bed before injecting me with something. Still, they had done significant damage in the little time I had them on me.I could feel the effects of the silver chains in my bones still, but that also could have been whatever Ethan had injected me with."Sloane, you need to wake up. Mom will be here any minute to get you ready for the ceremony. I've called that pack doctor back, too." Ellie looked so worried as
My fingers tapped on the counter as I glared down at the human. She shook, and the stench of stress, fear, and onions oozed from her every pore. I wanted to get as far away from her as possible.Her oily skin, frizzy hair, and smell attested to her poor diet. It had always amazed me how many chemicals humans put in their foods to replace fresh ingredients. It was no wonder they were always sick or dying."This is your specialty, is it not?" I growled, and she shrank back as she heard the displeasure in my tone."I just handle the sales. Like I said earlier, our tech team should be back from lunch shortly," She gestured over her shoulder with her thumb to the back room.My claws extended, and my nails clicked loudly against the hard surface as I took several deep breaths. She had been saying that for two hours, practically begging me to come back another time. I had the feeling this would be her last day of work at this establishment, and if I did come back, someone else would be forced
It was difficult trying to figure out how to pack just enough that it wouldn't weigh me down when I made my escape while also bringing enough that I wouldn't break the bank having to buy clothes or personal items.The bag on my bed was only half full when I heard the knock on my door. My back tensed, and I quickly grabbed it and rushed to the closet, pulling the door closed behind me.A light layer of sweat was on my forehead, and my heart raced with excitement to escape and see Greyson again. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and tell him I loved him a million times or until I lost my voice.I never should have gone back with Ethan and Ben during the challenge.Grey and I should have run, even if it meant the other packs would hunt us down. At least then, we would be together, and there wouldn't be this uncertainty between us with him not answering my calls.I recognized how careless that thought was as soon as I had it. A war over a few missed calls…Still, my running away would