***“Ryan and Deloris, you’re up,” Philip said out loud for Deloris’ sake. Warlocks didn’t have the ability to communicate with werewolves telepathically.“On it, Alpha,” Deloris muttered as she reached for Ryan’s hand.The two didn’t even have to open their mouths. The dark clouds instantly cleared. What happened next was both funny and strange. The witches stopped chanting and looked at one another as though they didn’t know where they were or what they were doing there. The look on their faces soon turned from confusion to apprehension. Some started crying, saying they didn’t feel the same, whilst others stated angrily that their powers had been stolen.“You’re no longer witches, ladies,” Deloris announced with a smug smile. “You’ve been stripped of your…gift…” She shrugged.“How dare you…” One former witch began to speak angrily but the high priested waved her wand again, instantly sealing the lady’s lips.“You should be grateful, ladies.” Deloris’ eyes narrowed. “We could have ki
***“Del-the-fucking-Spell.” Mary muttered as she stared at Deloris with recognition. Almost every upper-level warlock knew about the warlock whose expertise, when it came to spells, was legendary. Over a century ago, she’d fallen in love with a wolf and caused a massive uproar between her clan and the werewolves. There had been a fierce battle that had resulted in the death of the wolf that Del-the-Spell was in love with. Del had disappeared, never to be heard of again. “I see you’re still running with fleabags.”“Sorry, I didn’t get that.” Deloris shrugged. “I don’t speak bullshit. Your arse must be pretty jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth. You’re trespassing, woman.”“I thought you said the warlock was pregnant.” Mary addressed Sally.“The warlock who came to take the boy was pregnant.” Sally insisted. “If Mario wasn’t a…toad, he would have…”“About that…” Mary sighed. She waved a hand in the direction of the high priestess, instantly sweeping the elderly woman o
***“This is your mate?” Mary’s eyes ran over Ryan. “Clearly a man but also clearly pregnant. What is freakier than that?” She drawled. “A pack full of freaks.” Mary began to laugh.“If I stay here for long, I might become a donkey or something.“Mary?” Sally gasped just as everyone began to chuckle. A donkey stood where Mary stood a second earlier.“What?” The donkey rolled its eyes at Sally. “Even they think it’s funny. “That sounds like a title of a book actually.” The donkey laughed as Ryan turned to look at the high priestess and Deloris with questioning eyes. “Like that book…A Quiver Full of Arrows. This one will be, A Pack Full of Freaks… get it?” The donkey grinned at a horrified-looking Sally.The amused chuckles soon turned into laughter as both the high priestess and Deloris shook their heads at Ryan, indicating that neither of them had turned Mary into the talking donkey.“Oh, my god…” Ryan gasped when it dawned on him who the culprit was. He gave a laughing Jeremy an icy
***Gloria gulped for air and started to choke. A number of people started to run towards Gloria but a ring of blue flames suddenly flared up to surround her, stopping everyone. Mary stood up and allowed a smile to widen her bleeding lips. Her fist was clenched.“Anyone who crosses that, dies,” Mary announced. “I’m sure your warlock here knows the kind of flame this is.” She gave Deloris a triumphant smile.“You won’t leave here alive if anything happens to her so you better stop this.” Deloris looked terrified for the first time since the face-off began. “She spared your life when she could have killed you moments ago. I suggest to show her the same respect.”“Show her the same respect, huh?” Mary’s short laughter was without humour. “At least her death is not going to be instant.” She shrugged. “It’s just going to be slow and painful as you can tell.”“Deloris?” Ryan breathed, totally confused as to what was going on.“This is bad, Ryan.” Deloris groaned. “She’s linked them in some
***“You.” Mary whirled around to look at Paige with blind fury.“Yes, me.” Paige sneered. “The double-crossing prick. Ripped his throat right out.”Mary let out a bloodcurdling scream and opened both hands to fire a couple of fireballs at Paige, dropping the hair which was her link to Gloria in the process. Even as the fireballs flew out of her palms and bounced off Paige, the wind blew the hair into the flame, burning it instantly and severing the link. Unfortunately for an oblivious Mary, abruptly severing the link that fed the flame had its consequences. The energy of the blue flame had to go back to its conjurer in the same abrupt manner. And that was exactly what happened. To the shock of everyone, the blue flames…which seemed to have suddenly come alive, shifted to where Mary stood screaming frenziedly at Paige and engulfed her.“Oh god…” Gloria gasped as she covered Troy’s head so that he wouldn’t see Mary being burnt alive by the flames.But though he couldn’t see the woman w
***“If you’re too tired, we can decide not to go.”“I’m going,” Troy growled low in his throat, his head on Philip’s shoulder. “It’s like asking me to miss my best friend’s wedding.”“Got it.” Philip chuckled as he pressed a kiss against Troy’s hair. “Eat your food.”“You know it’s too much.” Troy groaned as he picked up a slice of cake.Philip had surprised his mate with breakfast in bed that morning. After what Troy had gone through the day before, the alpha thought some pampering was in order. But the gesture had overwhelmed Troy so much that he’d virtually not touched any of the assorted goodies on the rather wide bed tray.“I’ve got to meet the council this morning,” Philip muttered as he brought a glass of apple juice to Troy’s lips.“For what?” Troy gave his mate a curious look when the glass came away from his lips.“Well, my mate doesn’t want to go through the mating ceremony so…”“I didn’t say I don’t want to go through the ceremony.” Troy groaned. “I just don’t want to hav
***“Oh, wow!” Stan gasped as he watched Philip stand and move to his mate’s side. “He’s gonna do it…” All three men watched with amused excitement as Philip lifted his mate’s chin and kissed him with so much passion.“Do you have any idea how I felt when you shifted and charged at Mary?” Philip whispered against Troy’s mouth when the kiss ended. “You were ready to kill her for me, baby. That was just…” The alpha looked lost for words.“I’ll kill for you without a thought,” Troy murmured. “You’re mine.“Aw, how sweet.” Stan drawled as he stretched out beside Jeremy on the bed. “But you might want to leave the rescuing and fighting to your mate next time. He’s supposed to protect you, not the other way round.”“That’s bullshit.” Ryan snorted. “I vote you whoop this asshole’s arse one of these days, Troy.”“That would be great actually.” Stan grinned. “How about picking me for your combat during the ceremony?”“He’s not picking your bullying arse, Stanislav,” Philip growled. As part of
***“Are you alright?” Jeremy asked his brother for the third time. And just as the first two times, Troy’s answer was the same.“Fine,” Troy muttered.They were seated in the area reserved for alphas and their mates, in the huge arena of Agyemang’s pack-house. The arena was filled with the adults from Agyemang’s pack and invited guests. The ceremony was supposed to be a celebration therefore drinks and scrumptious finger food were in abundance. The after-party was usually even bigger. The atmosphere was charged with excited anticipation. The crowd obviously couldn’t wait for their alpha to become officially mated. But unlike the excited crowd, the alpha of all alphas was clearly worried about his brother.“Troy…” Jeremy groaned.“Listen, that’s the second time I’ve heard your brother say a very false, fine.” Jake T, a seven-foot-tall alpha who was known for his crazy nature drawled. “First of all, young man,” the alpha addressed Troy, “It’s very clear that you’re not fine so can you
***Philip was lost in a sea of pleasure. The sensations that rolled through his body literally left him weak. Somehow, Troy had completely taken over. Throughout that passionate lip-lock, Troy’s hip never stopped moving. He bounced, squeezed, gyrated, and rocked mindlessly against Philip whilst whispering sweet nothings on their mind link. Troy told his man about how much he loved having him inside him, how much he loved the way his sweet shaft was massaging his pleasure button, and how much he wanted him to keep fucking him and never stop.Philip’s entire body began to quake. Troy’s words in his mind, his lips on his, and that sweet tight warmth on his cock felt so staggeringly good it was driving him insane. Philip was completely at the mercy of his sexy mate, near mindless with the need to climax. When he felt that familiar incredibly delicious slither along his spine, his hips surged up, thrusting deep…hitting Troy’s pleasure button with brutal force. Each man tore his mouth away
***Philip pulled down Troy’s pants together with his boxers. Then he crouched down to pull off Troy’s boots and socks, sucking on the head of Troy’s weeping hard cock as he took care of the boots. Troy couldn’t help his cries of pleasure. But immediately after he was free of his boots and pants, Philip was back on his feet.“Kneel on that chair, spread ’em, and arch that arse.” Philip rasped, pointing to a chair that faced the floor-to-ceiling window through which Troy had been admiring the outside view. They were on the top floor so couldn’t possibly be seen by anyone.The alpha grabbed a remote and pressed play, instantly filling the suite with Rihanna’s ‘Love On The Brain’.“Love that song,” Troy mumbled as he did as his mate had instructed, holding onto the back of the chair.“I know.” Philip pressed repeat and threw the remote onto the couch. Then he was on his knees behind Troy, flicking his wet tongue across Troy’s twitching hole.“Oh my god…” Troy gasped, his grip tightening
***“I can’t get over how beautiful this place is.” Troy breathed as he glanced around their sinfully sumptuous suite with its jaw-dropping decor.Their suite, which was supposed to be the most luxurious and expensive in the hotel spanned two full floors. It had its own private fitness room, sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi, a formal dining room, and its own private elevator. They even had a specially assigned chef and butler. When Troy accidentally pressed a button on the wall and caused the drapes to part, he couldn’t stifle the gasp that tore out of him.“Oh my god, the view from here is incredible.”“It sure is.” Philip breathed from behind his mate, his gaze locked on his sexy adorable mate.“Are you seeing this, Philip?” Troy gushed, totally oblivious to the heated look his mate was giving him. “Wow! This is…” His breath hitched in his throat when he felt Philip’s arms going around him from behind. The intensity of the alpha’s hunger hit Troy like a ton of bricks. Arousal surged th
***Philip waited until the laughter died down before speaking more solemnly:“Being someone’s first love may be great. But to be their last is beyond perfect. It’s priceless. I’ve met thousands of people. But none of them really touched me here…” He laid a hand on his heart and then turned to face Troy. Then for the very first time since meeting his mate, the alpha let down his mind-barrier, allowing Troy into his mind. “…Until I laid eyes on you. Then my heart kinda went…‘oh there he is…I’ve been looking for you.’” The crowd laughed softly. “My life changed…forever. You awakened my soul and planted a fire in my heart that brings peace to my mind. Thank you.You are the very air that I breathe, Troy. I’d give up my soul for you in an instant, even if it means I have to spend eternity in torment.” He rasped in a voice filled with so much emotion. “I promise to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home. I promise to speak when words are needed and to share the silenc
***When the announcer gave the signal, the two werewolves began to circle each other, both looking for an opening to pounce. The first clash was explosive, both clearly meant business. It was definitely not like any mating combat that had ever happened. Stan was bigger, taller, and had experience on his side but Troy had speed. The young in the crowd were impressed and inspired by the sheer power and skill that was being displayed whilst the grown-ups couldn’t help but appreciate and admire the beauty of the combat. Neither held back. It was definitely not an act. After about eight minutes of awesome display of strength and skill, Stan finally got the upper hand.A collective gasp went up when Stan pinned Troy and raised a hand to deliver his victory strike. What the crowd didn’t anticipate was the swift, brilliantly-executed move that Troy pulled. They did see the shock on the warrior’s face a split second before everything changed. One moment, a cocky Stan had his hand up ready to
***The energy in the brightly lit indoor arena of the Stanwood Pack was like never before. There were at least four thousand people in the arena which could easily accommodate ten thousand people. It was indeed a special day for the pack. Their alpha was finally having his mating ceremony. The pack had been looking forward to the ceremony for months. Every member of the pack, except for babies and toddlers who wouldn’t be comfortable with all the excited noise, was present. Before the revision of the ceremony, only wolves from age twenty-one going up were allowed to attend a mating ceremony.But since the x-rated parts had been taken out, every pack member could be part. Not only was every alpha present, there were invited guests from other packs and also, other supernatural beings. The dancing, drinking, and merry-making had begun in the morning when the group who had attended the Bachelor Soiree at Quain Islands got to the pack-house. Everyone was therefore already in the festive m
***“You know what I mean…” Troy snapped, thrusting up into Philip’s fist. “Just give me your cock already.”‘Shut up and feel.’ Philip whispered on their mind-link even as he increased his tempo. He loved to make his sexy mate come but he couldn’t deny how fun it was to tease the guy.“Oh shit, I’m gonna…what the fuck, Philip.” Troy gasped when Philip let go of not only his drooling cock but also his nipple. He broke out in a sweat. “Why?” Frustrated lust-glazed eyes stared up at Philip. “I really need to come, Philip.” He whispered shakily.“And you will...” Philip breathed. He thought the lust, frustration, irritation, and urgent appeal within his mate’s beautiful eyes made the man so hot. “…soon.” He murmured, getting to his feet. “I just want to give your other nipple some attention too.”“Bullshit, you’re just teasing me,” Troy growled. “That’s mean, Philip.” His eyes followed Philip as he moved to the opposite side of the dining table. “You want me…” He breathed, his eyes stuck
***“I owe your mate big.” Philip breathed. “But for him, I definitely wouldn’t be planning my mating ceremony right now. We’d have been in the middle of a war.”“Yeah, he did save the day didn’t he?” Jeremy chuckled.“And it’s clear that he actually likes Enzo,” Philip said. “I think you should make an effort to get to know him. Our ceremony is a fine opportunity to do that, Jer.” Philip said quietly. “He’s part of the family now, anyway. It’s about time we started treating him like one.”“Aright, alright invite him.” Jeremy groaned. “It’s your party.”“It sure is.”“Ryan will be happy.” Jeremy couldn’t hide his smile.“I know he will.” Philip beamed.***Troy threw his head back and drummed his fingers on the dining table. He was tired. He’d spent the day helping some of his mates complete their assessment courses which were due for submission. He therefore had a lot to cover before his paper the next day. He was sure the anxiety he felt was due to the fact that it was his first pap
***Everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Conversation flowed so easily it seemed as if they’d all known each other for years. Even when the door to the conference room opened later to reveal Jeremy, Ryan, and the three elders, the calm atmosphere remained. Ryan went to sit beside Enzo and picked up Sylver whose arms were stretched out towards him. The boy had clearly missed his dad. After a quick nod at Philip, Jeremy asked for everyone’s attention.“I apologize to all of you, especially our guests, for losing my temper out there.” He began in a quiet voice. “The thought of not seeing my child made me see red…literally. I’ve arranged for a chopper to take you to your…”“No need for that.” Piero cut in. “I’ve already called for another to pick us up.”Jeremy nodded. “I will replace or pay for the one that I destroyed.” He said. “Whichever you prefer.”“You don’t have to do that, Jeremy,” Enzo said. “What I said was wrong. Your reaction, although extreme, was only to be expected of an