ARIANNA’S POV I broke away from him trying to catch my breath. I didn’t want it to end but I did not feel like having sex on the sweaty gym floor. There was also the fact that he hadn’t said anything about being my mate all day. “I never thought of sending you away, Arianna. I did go to Becky and ask if it would be dangerous having you here. It wasn’t because I wanted you gone.”“Then why did you go to her?”“I didn’t know it at the time, but it was to figure out the best way to protect you.”“Protect me from what? The only people who know anything are me, you and Becky. Oh, and Dave. So who exactly did you think I needed protection from?” “From yourself. You are a good person Arianna, if whatever is inside of you corrupted that, you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.” I scoffed at that reply. He was fishing for excuses. No way did he think that. “I’m not lying.” I looked at him as he said that“I did not say you were lying.”“You didn’t have to say anything. It’s all over
LUCIANO’S POV“When do we leave?” Arianna asked Dave. “At eight. Do you have plans?” “Uhm, no, I’m just not sure how much help I’ll be. I’ve never really been on a stake out before.” I chose that point to chime in.“You’ve never fought witches before but, if I remember correctly, you were very helpful.” She rolled her eyes. Their witchy juju didn’t affect her and that was helpful. I had a feeling we couldn’t always bank on it though. An experienced witch like Victoria would toss her without blinking. “Take a seat Arianna.” “What’s the plan? We can’t just go and fight them can we? We’ll be outnumbered.” She asked no one in particular. “That’s where I come in.” I answered.“I’m confused. I thought it was just me and Dave?” “Okay, I may have made our stake out sound a lot more than it is. We are going there a few minutes early to make sure they show up. Once their little defiance asses garther, I’ll call Luciano who will swoop in with Carter to…”I watched as blood drained from Ar
LUCIANO’S POVWe got to the road and Dave loaded our wolves onto the back sit of one of the cars. Ray helped Carter get his wolves into the Cargo hold of the truck and handed him the keys. I knew Arianna was in the back seat of my car, watching. I said a little prayer hoping she remained in the car. “Luciano, it was nice seeing you but I have to go now.” “Sure, Carter. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon.” We shook hands and I watched him drive off. “That is one wolf waiting to go rabid.” Dave said from behind.“He’ll be fine. Once this whole mess is over, I’ll call him and we’ll get his park out of whatever mess they are in. Come on, let’s go.” Dave drove off with our strays and I signalled to Ray that I was ready to leave.I got into the back seat and Ray drove off. “Are you okay?” I asked Arianna.“I’m okay. It was just a shock seeing him again. And standing so close. Good thing your windows are blacked out.” She smiled.“These were done for privacy not for hiding.” I repli
ARIANNA’S POVI woke up feeling like the mokn was pressing down on me. I reached out for my phone under my pillow and it was six in tth morning. Why the hell was I up this early. What was this feeling. I walked to the window to look out for the moon but it was gone. Why could I feel it so strongly. I shook myself. Trying to get the feeling off. It was probably the full moon making itself known hours earlier. No point going back to bed now. I changed out of my night clothes and into some running clothes. I was up early, I might as well use the time I had. I opened the door to my room ro find a huge bouquet of flowers sitting at my doorstep. Whoever left them had taken the time to put it in a vase for me. How thoughtful. I picked it up. It was heavier than I expected. Must be an expensive vase. I put it on my drrsser and just admired it. I had never gotten flowers before. This was a wonderful gift to wake up to. On closer inspection, I noticed it was a bunch with different types a
ARIANNA’S POVI looked out my window and saw people running around in groups. There were howls and laughter all around. Every emotion was heightened, which also meant, it wouldn’t take much to start a fight. There was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Luciano standing there. “It’s time. We have to go now.” The entire time I had been here. I never ran with the park. I always stayed with the older wolves who preferred to roam the compound. It was a big compound with lots of space and their old bones didn’t need much exertion.I had run with Dave once but it was just me and him. We avoided the rest of the park. I didn’t want anyone seeing me and my flimsy pace. Today however, I was running with everyone. And Luciano was at my door. It was finally starting to feel like this was my home. We went outside to join the rest of the park. The moon was out now, and some people had begun to shift. I waved at Dave who was rough housing with some zetas. Whoa, Dave liked to play rough it
LUCIQNO’S POVI had been watching her sleep for a while now. She looked so peaceful. A far cry from the girl who was scared to know who she was or face her former Alpha. She would have a million questions when she woke up. I planned to answer as much as I could. Becky may be of better help though. Maybe we would have breakfast at Becky’s. I hadn’t seen her in a while. She would be happy to know we caught the people who broke into her home. We still had no idea why they took one particular item. I’ll get my answers eventually. “Good morning.” I heard Arianna say as she stirred. “Good morning Arianna. How was your night?” She blushed a deep shade of red and tried to bury her face in the pillows. “Don't hide. Not anymore.” I told her as I brushed her hair out of her face. “What time is it? Why didn’t you wake me?” “I was enjoying watching you. You looked peaceful. Plus, it’s the morning after a full moon. We usually start the day late.”“Well, no one told me that before.” she soun
LUCIANO’S POV “The witches said they needed some stuff. Things a healer would typically keep around. They needed it to make the bomb you found on the road. Made a lot more than that, but we never got around to spelling all of it.” Nick seemed like he was done talking. I was relieved that was all they made. We just had to go find it before someone else did. “Where did you stash these unspelled bombs?” Dave asked, like he had read my mind. Phill answered this time “We put them in a box and buried it by a tree. I can describe the tree to you.” It looked like no one would lose a limb today. Lucky them.Back at my office. Dave had sent some zeta wolves to find the box and he was once again occupying my couch while I worked. “I just sent the invitation to the mystic moon. If Carter has any sense he should be packing up for a visit already.” I said aloud to Dave who had his eyes closed. “He may be stupid but self preservation always wins. We just have to wait for his response now.” Da
ARIANNA’S POVI woke up in Luciano’s bed again. I had not slept in my bed for a week now. It had been a wonderful week. The Defiance was gone. The wolves, Nick and Phill were subject to every heavy lifting and manual labor around the compound in addition to being chained up for the next two full moons. We had not heard back from Carter and I was starting to believe he wouldn’t write back. I grabbed my top off the floor and pulled it over my head. I could hear Luciano in the shower. I needed to go get dressed myself. We were leaving for the airport today. Andrew was done with negotiations and Luciano had to sign off on the buy. He had asked me to come with him. I had been in Greenville since Luciano bought me. I had never been to Seattle before, I was excited to see the city and it meant this little bubble Luciano and I were in would continue for another few days. I made it to my room without bumping into anybody on the way. I never bumped into anybody. Luciano had said no one ever
ARIANNA’S POVAlex walked in and the sea of people standing around parted for her. She looked gracious and I couldn’t wait to tell her that her dress captured the light of the moon like she wanted. The crowd of people parted and converged around her. It was like a maze that opened up in front and shut behind you as you walked. They were leading her to the center. To her minotaur. But this time, it was no scary monster, it was the love of her life. She finally got to the center of the crowd and stood opposite Dave. Luciano stood with them to perform the ceremony. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His robe, fortunately for me, left a lot of his chest bare. There was a lot left to the imagination but just enough was open that I couldn’t help but stare. I stepped up when I was called. It was time for best friend duties. I handed over the stone. It was white but a little see through. It was supposed to represent the moon. Luciano took it and placed it in Dave’s hand, he then covered it
LUCIANO’S POV“And what’s wrong with that?” She asked me. Fuck! That question tugged at the beast in me that just wanted to take her, with zero regard. I took a deep slow breath to calm myself. We both needed this, but she needed it more. Her body needed to remember that there was a lot more than the pain she had endured. “Shhh” I whispered back to her.I traced kisses all over her body, slowly, and holding on to her hips. Those hips. I would let them move, in time. I made my way down her body till I got between her legs. I buried my face in there and took a deep breath. The smell of her arousal drove me nuts and I could feel my erection grow in my pants. My tongue immediately went to work. Licking and sucking at her mound. I could feel her shaking beneath me and it made me happy. I slipped one finger into her opening and heard her let out a loud moan, I slipped in the second finger and let go of her hips. She was thrusting against my fingers now, my thumb once again found her c
ARIANNA’S POV “Alex, you did it! It’s beautiful.” I told her as we stood in the clearing. “You should see it at night, with the lights lit.” She said. “Two days away now. How are you freeling?” The smile that covered her face was infectious. I didn’t realize I was smiling too. “It feels like a lucid dream. A good one.” She explained.“Well, it’s not a dream.” I told her. “There you two are. Your parents have arrived.” Dave announced as he walked into the clearing. I watched Alex subconsciously gravitate into his arms. There was no thought behind it. Her body just moved. I loved that they had found each other. In the midst of all the crazy, something beautiful came out of it. “Where are they?” Alex asked Dave.“Luciano is keeping them busy in the big house. They came with the mystic moon’s new Alpha, Dylan.” Dave explained. “That still feels weird to hear. Alpha Dylan and the mystic moon. Thank the goddess for that.” I shuddered. Alex squeezed my hand for a brief second befor
ARIANNA’S POVLuciano took my hand in his and we walked off into the field. I had no idea where we were but I wondered who owned this place. No way, It was just a wild field. Someone definitely took care of it. There were wild flowers around, two trees apart from each other. But the grass was not wild. From the beginning to the end of the field the grass was cut to the same length. It had this feel of a wild place but at the same time, I could see the intentionality behind it. I watched Luciano spread a blanket on the grass and place the basket to the side. He stretched out his hand for me. I took it and he led me to sit on the blanket. I had never seen this blanket before, so I wondered where he got it. “So, what did the Chef pack us?” I asked. “Chef didn’t pack it.” He answered a little annoyed. “I was just teasing.” I told him. “I know. And I told Estell what to pack. So it was partly me.” He said, sulking. I giggled at his face. He reminded me of a toddler who wasn’t gett
LUCIANO’S POV“Good for Dylan.” I muttered. “Good for the mystic moon. Good for us.” Dave replied. I nodded at him. “Would you mind inviting him to the ceremony? Some of the pack is going to be here anyway.” I asked.“Of course. I was only trying to keep Carter out. Dylan is good. I think he and Alex used to be friends before he left the pack.” “Sounds good. Anything from the other Alphas?” “Just the usual. Nothing about us or Arianna though…” he looked like he had something else to say but could not decide. “What is it?” “Collin was trying to stir some of the others but they shut him down.” Dave explained.“Can someone do the rest of us a favour and challenge him already? By the moon! It’s always something with him.” I said, frustrated.“He’ll be out soon. Without an external factor to distract his pack, they will start to realise what a terrible Alpha he is.” “That may be true, but I doubt it’ll be that easy. He lets them get away with a lot of truancy. This year alone, more
ARIANNA’S POV“Did you know that Ciara was changing the natural state of your forest?” I asked Luciano.We were sitting by the kitchen Island, eating a bowl of microwaved lasagna. I was eating anyway, Luciano was just keeping me company. He had a confused look on his face that told me he had no idea that Alex was planting flowers in his forest. I giggled before explaining to him. “She says its too green and needs other colors to pop.” I explained. “Of course it needs other colors.” We both laughed at the way he said that. It was so playful and almost like saying why didn’t he think of it. “How was your fitting. Can I see your dress?” He asked. “Sure. It’s up in my room.” I said. I could see the very minute flicker in his eyes. If I had blinked I would have missed it. And if I had not noticed it a few times before I would have sworn I imagined it. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked him. “What do you mean?” “Just now. When I said you could see my dress. There was this … I can’t exp
CIARA’S POVHow would I explain to Dylan that I wasn’t welcome at the Ice claw pack? The last thing I wanted was him associating me with Carter’s tyranny. It was bad enough that everyone knew we were together. We were together. The thought took me by surprise. I knew we were done but I had not said it out loud. He was sick and dying. The last thing I wanted was to become his nurse and in extension, the punching bag for all his pain. I would make up an excuse to not go. He had his beta. From what he said, it would be no more than two days. Just a formality. There was actually no need for me to be there. The environment around the pack had been light and welcoming. Everyone who left with Dylan during the plague was back. Families were happy and no one even spoke of Carter. It was almost like he didn’t exist. But he did.I walked by his house for what seemed like the hundredth time in as many days. I knocked but there was no answer. He had locked his door days ago. His door was never
CIARA’S POVI knew Carter was weak but I at least expected a fight. Watching him writhing on the floor with drool running out of his mouth was just embarrassing.He could not even get through his change let alone fight. Everyone who gathered to watch didn’t seem to understand what was happening. “Is that part of it? “What the fuck is happening?”“Can he stand?” I heard these questions randomly from the crowd. This was beyond bad for Carter. If he couldn’t even turn, how did he plan to survive? It actually explained why he was absent during the full moon. Dylan walked up to Carter’s shivering body and placed one leg on top of him, signaling that the fight was done. If we could call it a fight. Dylan standing with Carter beneath his feet was the signal everyone needed to stop feeling sorry for Carter. The screams of joy were deafening. It was like years of pent up frustration could finally be let out. I ran inside Carter’s house to grab blankets. When I got back outside, old man M
CARTER’S POVI looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. I looked like I was hexed. Considering I had no idea what Luciano stabbed me with, I guess I could be hexed. Hexes were the worst, it was also George’s best guess. If he was right then there was no way out of this for me. I would walk a slow pain filled journey to my death. Curse Nadia. What did I ever do to her for her to do this to me? Not only did she tell other witches not to help me, if this was really a hex then it would not matter who wanted to help. Only the witch who places the hex can remove it. I had been in so much pain lately, I actually tried calling her. All my calls went straight to voicemail.In hindsight, leaving threats on her voicemail may not have been the best approach. I did leave an apology, but she still has not called back. I would find a way, I was not going to go down like this. “Max!” I called out. He ran in seconds later. “Any idea where Ciara has been since yesterday?” I asked him.