From bad to good. They still have a long way to go, but they've made their first breakthrough.
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 begin running my fingers up and down her back.“I liked the field of flowers. That was really pretty. I know Asena will love it when she’s back. She always jokes that I have a thing for flowers,” she says, smiling. I think it’s the most words she’s ever said to me at one time.“What does Asena thi
Dimitri“I’m going to touch you, and I want you to tell me if you don’t like it, okay?” I ask her.She nods and I begin stroking my fingers up and down the tops of her thighs. The scent of her arousal increases as does her heart rate. But I sense no fear in her, only arousal, so I continue.“Do you
“Is this what you want?” I ask.She nods. “Yes.” Then she takes my hand and puts it back on her breast.“Mmm, you like that?”“Yes, very much,” she says.“Tell me, do you like this more, less, or the same?” I ask, before leaning down and sucking her nipple into my mouth.She cries out, her hand fist
AydaI’ve never felt the type of pleasure that Dimitri is giving me. The way he’s touching me has my body humming, warm heat flowing through me. And he seems to enjoy making me feel this good. When I felt like my body exploded, I was shocked, having no idea what just happened, until he told me I’d h
“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