Instead of taking the flowers, I pull him into a hug, holding him tightly. “Thank you, Cathal.”His arms come around me and hold me as I feel tears running down my cheeks. It’s been a very long time since someone has shown me such a simple act of kindness.He puts his mouth to my ear. “I love you, A
DimitriThe difference between Ayda when she’s interacting with my son and interacting with me is glaringly apparent. With Cathal, she’s relaxed and easy-going, smiling easily at him. With me, it’s as if she’s always waiting for me to do something to hurt her. I hate her first mate, and I’m glad he’
“But, dad…”“NOW, Cathal!” I don’t want him to see her like this. I don’t want anyone to see her like this.“Yes, dad,” he mumbles and after glancing at Ayda he leaves the room, closing the door. The moment he’s gone, she falls to her knees.“Ayda,” I say, worried that she’ll cut herself, but also w
I lean in and press my lips to hers. When I pull back, she’s looking at me curiously again.“Cathal said you wanted to kiss me more.”“I do. I want to kiss you a lot. Do you like my kisses?”She nods, a very small smile on her face. It’s a win and I’ll take it.“You can kiss me back, you know. I’d l
AydaI’ve never felt so cared for, so loved. I don’t know if it will last, but I hope it does.I had been so sure that I was going to be punished. But instead, Dimitri held me, comforted me and then carried me like I was precious to him so he could clean the cut on my knee. And he clarified the rule
“She is my mate, my second chance mate.” There are a lot of gasps and hundreds of pairs of eyes turn to me. I feel both Cathal and Dimitri gently squeeze my hands.“What some of you may not know, is that during our last attack by Masuzyo,” I flinch, hearing my previous mate’s name. “I had taken Cath
DimitriWhen my mate said she likes my touch and my kisses, she wasn’t kidding. I’m practically giddy with excitement to have her alone. I know I can’t push her too much yet, but if she enjoys my touch, enjoys kissing, I can open up an entirely new world of pleasure to her.It’s obvious that her mat
“You said I couldn’t be naked in front of others, but it was okay in here when it’s just us. The clothes feel scratchy, but I can put them back on…”“No. No, you’re right. I did say that, and this is our room. I want you to always feel comfortable in this room. But, Ayda, you need to realize that se
“I couldn’t agree more," I say.Dimitri reminds our pups to be respectful and to listen to Valentina and then we head back to our house.My mate takes my hand as we walk through the quiet streets of our pack. I begin to purr with happiness, all the happiness that I feel from my mate and from my life
AydaI watch as my son and his friend identify each other as mates in front of the pack, then watch my son claim his mate, the only woman he’s ever loved, with a passionate kiss.“How did you know?” I ask my mate. He called it years ago. At first, I thought he was teasing me but he just kept telling
“What I know is that my son will be the most handsome man in the room tonight…well, besides his father,” my mother says, turning to smile at him, making Zev purr in response.“Good thing I look just like dad,” I say rolling my eyes. I was not unhappy for my parents to move out of the packhouse. I’d
Eight Years LaterCathal“Do I really have to call you Alpha now?” my sister Dimitra asks me, walking into the family living room in our parents’ new house. When I took over as Alpha a few weeks ago, my father moved the rest of the family off of the Alpha floor. Our pack has grown ever since my moth
Ayda leans back against me as I begin to rub circles on her stomach. I frown, feeling her stomach cramping.“Ayda? Why does it feel like you’re in pain?”“They’re just cramps, Dimitri. I get them all the time,” she says, settling against me.“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling another one. I tune in more
DimitriFour months later.It took Masuzyo three days to die. It was impressive, mostly because I didn’t know a person could withstand so much pain. But he was a broad man, and the pack made sure that everyone who wanted their pound of flesh, got it. Literally. By the time he died, the smell of burn
“Do you want me to tell them to kill him? If you want him to die more quickly, I tell them to do it.”I think about it, think about every horrible thing he’s done to me, to Asena, to our son, to Cathal, to Dimitri, to Kelsey and Harper, and what he attempted to do to my daughter. “No, let the pack h
AydaI come awake slowly, feeling groggy, unsure what happened or where I am. My stomach hurts. Did Masuzyo take me roughly again? I’m not throbbing between my thighs so I don’t think that’s it. My face is throbbing, though. Did he hit me? Yes, he slapped me. Why did he slap me?I think hard, trying
“Ramon,” I hear my mother say softly, her gentle fingers moving through our fur. “NO!” she snarls, pushing Ramon behind her and pulling herself to her feet. As she does, Ramon pulls the shift, making me scream in pain as our broken leg and dislocated hip try to find the right spot to fit. I turn, vo