One month laterAva let herself into her apartment, humming to herself as she closed and locked the door.After removing the scarf from around her neck, she hung it up on the coat stand she’d acquired when she first moved into her apartment.The money she had hidden over the years in the one part of the forest had helped her to set up. For many years of being in the pack, she had learned to hide her money in a secret stash until the time came that she’d finally get her wish and be able to leave.Never had freedom been so good.The money wasn’t much, but it had been enough to get her by. The apartment she rented was a small place. One bedroom and bathroom. A tiny kitchen. A small sitting room, but it was all hers.She’d also gotten a job at a small law firm, working to help crime victims. The pay was okay, but her newfound freedom was everything to her.So many years wasted and now she could finally be free. She had never slept so well or breathed so easily.Her life was finally her ow
Caspian had been watching Ava from afar. The two men who had followed her had kept a close eye on her. They had rented the apartment across from her, giving him plenty of time to deal with business so he could focus on his woman.At first, he’d wanted to drag her away from the life she’d known to have her all to himself, and then he soon realized, how selfish that was.He’d stayed back, giving Ava the month, watching her smile and flourish within a short time. She had planned for the full moon, and he’d go with her to the mountains. The cabin she’d rented was in fact his own, and he was looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time with her.His men and women were already aware of his plans and knew what to do for themselves. Living in the city was not a hardship. His people didn’t need to be close to him at all times to keep that connection to their alpha.He accepted them as they were.Watching Ava from afar had been interesting. He loved to watch her. Caspian had come to find
Ava quickly changed into sweatpants, checking how she looked in her cracked mirror before heading to her kitchen. Caspian wasn’t wrong. Her lasagna smelled amazing, and there was plenty for them to share.She often took her leftovers to work, but when it came to lasagna, she loved it piping hot with a salad.Entering the kitchen, she was surprised by how at home Caspian looked. She folded her arms across her chest, nibbling on her lip as she stared down the length of him.His body was covered, which was such a shame. A flash of him rushed through her mind as she pictured him back at the town square, looking every part the rogue alpha she thought he was.“You like what you see, little wolf?” he asked.“It’s rude to break into people’s homes.” She moved from the entrance and went to her fridge. She opened it to see the meager offerings. There were no beers, just a couple of spare bottles of water.Something itched beneath her skin. Rubbing at the flesh of her neck, she grabbed a bottle
“You’re in a mood,” Sean said, looking up from his game.Caspian glared at him. “I’m not in a mood.”“You’re pretty much vibrating. I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re dealing with anger management.”He wanted to slap his friend, but the bastard was right. Living in a human world, allowing anger to take control was never a good sign. He’d kill people in this condition, or raise alarm.Cops were not needed in this situation.“It is nothing.”“It is the woman again,” Sean said, going back to his game. “I can smell her on you. Perhaps next time, use the front door, or find a way to court her the way human women like.”“You mean meeting them in a bar?” Caspian asked, snorting.Drinking was useless to wolves. The smells were always … vile. He’d tried to drink away his pain many years ago, and all it had done was make him sick as a dog.He couldn’t help but chuckle. Nah, sick as a wolf.“You look like a crazy person again,” Sean said.“You’re not even looking at me. You’re too bu
The full moon was fast approaching.It was the only reason Ava could give for these feelings. The way her body seemed flushed.Work was … challenging.She was surrounded by men. The law firm she worked at had so many men, young and old. All of them fighting to help the victims.Thomas was one of those men. He was a good man, but when he pressed his body up against her at the copier, she knew she needed to leave.Men were affected by her. She didn’t understand it.No one stopped her as she left the office.Passing people in the street, she tried to keep her head down, but random strangers were bumping into her. Men were leaning in close, trying to sniff and touch her.She had no idea what was going on, but by the time she got back to her apartment, fear had clawed its way inside her.“Are you ready to admit the truth now?” Caspian asked.She gasped, looking up to find the pain in her ass sitting in a single chair a few feet in front of her. One leg was crossed over the other, and she h
Caspian hated being the voice of fucking reason.He was considered the alpha of the pack, but he had fought it every single step of the way because he hadn’t wanted the title. All he’d wanted to do was party and live life to the fullest.He was a fucking wolf.Powerless to no one.He controlled his own life.Then he started to find the unwanted. After Sean, it was like a catalyst for people. So many unwanted wolves.Rumors about him began to flood the wolf community. He heard the tales from wolves he picked up along the way.He couldn’t seem to help but want the dumped. That was what it felt like, anyway.Staring at Ava right now, he saw her hair was wild, her face flushed. The smells coming from her body were intoxicating.He wanted to go and rub his nose all over her body, but he was a good boy. He held himself back.At the apartment, he’d been ready to be fucked. He had no problems with a woman taking control, and if Ava wanted to use him, then his body was for her. His whole life
“You don’t have to stay with me,” Ava said.She was so tired. The moment they arrived at the cabin, she’d not had the energy to look around and had ended up back in bed. Now, the following morning, she sat with a blanket wrapped around her, feeling the cold.She’d never felt the cold before.Across from where she sat, Caspian was in the kitchen, cooking them up a breakfast. The scents coming from him were making her mouth water.Ava recalled waking up in the middle of the night a few times, only to have Caspian there, his arms wrapped around her. She didn’t want to rely so heavily on him.“Why wouldn’t I stay with you?” he asked.“Don’t you have other important things to do?”He shrugged. “Nothing is more important than spending time with my mate.”There he went saying that dreaded M-word again.Mate.Ava rubbed at her chest as she felt a sharp pain flooding her body.She didn’t feel … anything.Arousal, yes.The mating hormone? Her body was in complete overdrive, but the mating bond?
Breakfast had been going so well until Ava decided to freak out the pack.Caspian saw them all out, and they stepped further away from the cabin, going toward the much larger one that was designed to house multiple people. This was where the guys were living. Melissa and Raine had another smaller cabin just opposite.“Holy fucking shit,” Liam said. “Did you guys see that?”“I saw,” Raine said, arms folded. “She considers herself a freak? Does she realize how strong she is?”“You’ve seen this before?” Books asked.“It’s rare, but it happens,” Raine said. “I’ve only known of one other, and that was in my old pack, but they were revered. It was an elder.” “An elder?” Melissa asked.“Yes. No one knew their exact age. Their ability to heal slows down their aging process.”“Wait,” Sean said. “You’re saying that she could be a lot older than she is?”“She looks about twenty years old,” Raine said. “But … this could have been going on for a lot longer.”“How old was your elder?” Caspian asked
Three months laterLilly stared up at the sun as Scott caressed her face with a daisy. The last three months had been a whirlwind of activity. The biggest change for her was the tattoo she now held on her back with a wolf and Scott’s name underneath. The love she felt for her mate had grown, and every day that passed without the vampire’s enthrallment had brought her closer to Scott. There were no lies, and they were inseparable.Alexander and Charles remained in town, but everyone else had left to go and deal with their own covens or packs. The fear of the Disaster of the Otherworld still stayed with all of them. Lilly wouldn’t forget the mark of the cult that was determined to ruin all of their lives.“How are you feeling?” he asked. “Loved.”He chuckled. Scott moved the daisy down to her exposed breast. They’d made love in the fields next to the lake. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight, a
Scott held Lilly’s hand as he made his way through the forests. He felt the happiness of his pack as they saw her. Alexander and Charles were standing at the head waiting for him. Crazy Lizzy danced toward him.“This is the right thing to do. You’re saving yourself and her,” Lizzy said, smiling. She wrapped her arms around Lilly. “Soon, we’ll be good friends and Layla will too. I can’t wait for Layla to join our friendship. She’s going to be a hoot. You just need to drop that pesky thrall.”Lizzy danced away. He watched as she wove her way around his pack. Alaric stood without his shirt with his bears. Gripping her hand tightly, Scott made his way toward the head. Several murmurs erupted when they saw the state of his back. Lilly had marked him deeply. Her scent covered him. The smell of strawberry and vanilla permeated the air.When he got to the head of the pack, Scott took the time to show Lilly to his vis
Scott watched her head toward the door. Her depth of emotion startled him. And she’d been right in everything she said.You can’t let her get away. She’s our mate.We need her.Fix her and keep her.Charging to the door he placed a hand on the hard wood against her head.He closed the door. Her shoulders slumped as her head rested against the door. “What are you doing?” she asked, quietly.“I’m sorry.” With his free hand he brushed the hair off her neck. “You’re my mate, Lilly. I’m an idiot. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I’m a wolf, and I’m the alpha, and for the first time I was scared.” He cupped her neck, stroking the pulse that pounded under his touch.“You’re doing this on purpose,” she said. Her voice sounded breathy. Arousal gripped him as he pressed against her. Every time he was arou
Scott made his way up to the house with his men behind him. The first of the meetings were scheduled for tonight, and he needed to get there before the sun went down. He’d spent most of his time at the diner watching Lilly. She served him without really seeing him. He’d never anticipated her anger like he did. Alaric had been right, and he’d get punished for keeping Lilly secret. They all had rules, and lying about his mate broke the rules.Lewis refused to talk to him, and he sensed Darcy and Nathan’s disapproval.Crazy Lizzy sat on the steps outside the house. She stared up at the sky. “You’re early,” she said.“I’ve got nowhere else to be.”“Everyone is waiting for you.” Lizzy stood then walked into the house.He turned to his men. “I know you think I did the wrong thing, but you’ve got to understand I was doing what I thought was right to protect her.”“You’ve put her in more danger by refusing her claim by your side. I sense her leaving us,” Lewis said.“I won’t let Lilly leave.
With Crazy Lizzy’s words ringing in his ears Scott went in search of Lilly. The sun was coming up, and several of the pack greeted him as he passed. He ignored their comments and went in search of his woman. He recalled the conversation he had with Lizzy last night, and he was still confused. Why would someone know about Lilly? How did they know about her when he only sensed it after her birthday?Crazy Lizzy had spoken of the prophecies in detail last night, especially when Scott pressed her for more details. Centuries ago Crazy Lizzy’s birth mother wrote everything down she saw into the future. Her mother didn’t see the near future but the far future. These prophecies were bound and hidden so no one would try to destroy them. Amongst those bound prophecies was the foretelling of Scott’s human mate. He’d be the first wolf to mate with a human female.Not only was Lilly supposed to be human, but she was destined to be the greatest were-human-queen that lived. She would birth many sons
Scott watched Lewis take her away. His heart ached, and he felt her crumbling inside. Her mind was screaming in pain, but he wrapped his arm around Lori and turned toward the two vampires that had interrupted his mating.“You don’t mind your mate fucking a human?” Charles asked.“He has needs. I’m not always available to satisfy them,” Lori said. She ran her hand down his ass. He gripped the hand firmly stopping her. He’d sent Lilly away to protect her. Scott had no intention of cheating on her. Lilly owned his body.“I’m the alpha of this pack. I don’t answer to anyone,” Scott said, drawing their attention back to him. His pack was behind him. He sensed their unease with Lori by his side. They’d be able to sense his true mate and her distraught emotions. He could, and it was kicking him in the gut. Lewis better be doing everything he could to help her.“I find the whole meeting
Scott sensed Lilly’s nerves. She was wound tighter than a piece of string. If he didn’t get her to settle down he’d not be able to claim her. He was going to fuck her tonight, but there was no way he’d do it if she was going to hurt herself by not relaxing. He was pleased no other man had touched her, but in that moment he wished she’d gotten a little experience. His passions were anything but gentle. Staring down at her, he watched as she fought to keep his gaze. “No rushing,” he said. He stroked her nipple watching as her eyes dilated. Lilly was turned on by his touch. She nodded her head. Caressing her body with his fingers Scott felt the heat building in him. His cock was thick. After being around Lori and her scent surrounding him, Scott needed to be with Lilly. Lori repulsed him. Every woman who wasn’t his mate repulsed him. Bending down he took her lips under his. Inhaling her vanilla scent he ran his hands all over her body. She moaned, writhe
Scott waited out in the chilly night for Lilly to finish. He’d spent most of the night inside the diner eating and watching her work. When she bent over he got so many sinful thoughts that he’d spent most of the night rock-hard. Lewis stood waiting with him. Darcy and Nathan had left several hours ago. Their disapproval filled the air around them. The pack were slowly finding out about Lori taking Lilly’s place by his side for this visit. He’d need to have a meeting to explain his decision.The scent of disapproval came off Lewis.“Go on, spill,” Scott said, folding his arms.“I’m not saying a fucking word. I’ve said everything that needs to be said. You know my position, and I’m not backing down from it.” Lewis was waiting for Layla to finish.The other man helped her home safely. With the creatures of the Otherworld present the humans were not safe. In the next twenty-four hours the vamps
Scott joined Lori, and together they moved in the direction of the house in the far forest. Over the last few days several witches and warlocks had turned up, along with two other wolf alphas and the leader of the bears next to his.Nathan, Darcy, and Lewis stood outside the house as yelling came from inside.He was thankful the woman at his side remained quiet on the walk up. “What’s going on?” he asked.All three men turned to him. They glared at Lori before turning back to him.“They’re getting pissed with being trapped in the house. We’re waiting for several more bear leaders along with vamps to turn up. Crazy Lizzy almost burnt the place down to the ground earlier,” Nathan said.“What? Why?” Scott headed towards the front door.“She was setting fire to towels. The flame caught the curtain, and instead of putting it out, she watched the pretty colours. Her words not mine,”