“You should have told me. I knew you were in the city, but I had no idea you couldn’t fight as your wolf. I would have done things differently, I would have protected you”“No,” I say sharply, cutting him off this time. “No, I can take care of myself, and you did the right thing. You defended both our packs, even when I couldn’t.” The admission stings like the slice of a blade, but it’s true. I’m not sure what would have happened without him there tonight.“Stop that,” he says, leaning forward. “You saved so many lives by calling us out when you did. You were able to see through the blood lust that would have clouded any other wolf’s judgment.” He pulls in a long breath, pausing for a moment as he scrubs a hand down his face and over his five-o’clock shadow. “There’s just more at play right now, with you being a new Alpha, there might be talk about you not shifting.”My hand itches to slide my fingers over that stubble to reassure him I’m still here. But I push it down as his admissio
His lips curve into a smile, the movement noticeable against the shell of my ear, and I can’t help but mirror it at his observation because that is exactly what it feels like to me too. She comes to the surface, just below my skin, sitting there with me, a partnership, two halves of my soul. And I finally feel right in my own body for the first time in who knows how long. How had I never noticed I was living as half of myself without my wolf with me? She huffs a breath of amusement at me, and my chest shakes with laughter. It really should have been obvious. Perhaps this too is what I’ve needed all this time, to truly heal all of my wounds.“Now it’s time to shift,” he says, taking a step back and letting his arms drop from my waist. I bristle at the lack of contact, not sure I’m ready to look too closely at how comfortable I’d gotten wrapped in his arms. But I know he’s right. Only so much can be done in my human form. To truly fix this connection, I’d need to continue the process an
“Thank goodness,” she sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief. I giggle at the wave of ease that washes over me, knowing now that she won’t be as stiff with me as others are. I need this sense of normalcy right now. “I’m so sorry, Scarlet,” she adds, her face falling as she glances around the office, clearly remembering the sobering circumstances for my return.“Thanks, Semine, but that’s not why I came to speak with you today,” I admit, reaching across the table to clasp her hand in a comforting touch. Although I appreciate her condolences, I can’t focus on that right now, I can’t keep dwelling on the losses and emotional blows. I will never forget, and I will continue to search for his killer and bring the same fate raining down upon them, but I need to live too.“I came to ask you to be one of my betas.” My lips lift up in an excited smile. Despite the hard time we have ahead of us, having someone like Semine on my side puts my mind at ease. I know she’ll tell me like it is, and ev
You did too.” He laughs again, leaning over to pull his phone from his pocket. “See right here you said ‘If you don’t get back here this instant, I’ll shove your head up your ass.’” “Thank you for reminding me. It seems like I owe you a beat down since it took you a full hour to get back after I sent that.” “How quickly your story changes at the promise of violence.” His chest shakes with silent laughter, and I narrow my eyes on him but don’t bother arguing with him anymore, knowing exactly what he’ll say next. “For someone so concerned with me leaving to watch after our mate, you do seem to be wasting a lot of time.” And there it is. I swear these assholes like to get on my very last nerve, just to see how far they can push me. You’re lucky I consider you my brother, otherwise I’d be following through on my promise.” He chokes on his laugh, not expecting me to give up that easily it seems. Well he’s lucky I’m in a good mood right now. He’ll have another opportunity to see her, an
“Ugh, asshole,” I groan, placing my palm on my forehead again to express my annoyance. I swear with all these men and the way they like to test me, I’ll be fighting off headaches on the daily.“Nope, that’s mine and I refuse to give it up, you’ll have to choose a new one,” Nick teases, and his hand slides down to clasp my hand as he helps me up. “I should get you home.”My lips purse but I don’t bother arguing, knowing it will be pointless anyway. Besides, I already accomplished what I needed to. And since there isn’t even any paperwork to look over, the only reason to stay would be nostalgia.But I can’t let myself dwell on the past, not when my future is looking so promising. So I let Nick guide me from the VIP section, his hand still lightly holding mine. We keep the connection low to avoid detection, the move simply looking like he’s leading me through the crowded bar to any onlookers.“I’ll be right back,” I call to him, the volume of the music back at full force now as I release
Asshole,” I say between gritted teeth, but that only draws a laugh from those plump lips, his shoulder shaking beneath me.“You’re going to make me lose my concentration if you keep talking dirty like that,” he teases, placing his hand on a scanner to allow us into the building.I let loose a small shriek while gripping on to his sides to steady myself. My eyes lock in on his firm ass as he walks, the tight muscles flexing as he wastes no time maneuvering the halls. Well two can play this game I guess. I really didn’t have the opportunity to ogle it last night with my back bleeding out, but tonight…A growl slips from his lips as I reach down to slap his firm ass and his arms clamp down on my legs to avoid me falling off. He picks up his pace towards his room, and I giggle at the loud crack echoing out through the empty hallway.I help to close the door behind him and he spins to lock it, neither of us wanting to be interrupted. He wastes no time carrying me to the bed, pulling me bac
That is how i met with Nate,I comb my fingers back through his black hair, comforting him while I wait for him to continue. That was a lot, both to dredge up and to go through as a child. I desperately need to know more, what happened in those foster homes, what happened to his mother? But I won’t push. He needs to work through this in his own time, and I’ll be here to listen and support him or knock some sense into him if need be, just as he has done for me.“That was until Nate and I ended up enrolled in the local school here in Enders. The family we were fostered with were racoon shifters but couldn’t sense us yet since we hadn’t shifted. But as soon as we met Marcus he knew, his alpha wolf senses were more in tune with ours, perhaps even more so because of our shared mate connection,” he says, giving me a weak smile, one which I feebly try to return.My mind races with thoughts of what it must have been like for them growing up, unable to imagine what I would have done in the same
Would that really be so bad though?” she asks, her voice soft and caring.I dart my gaze over to her as we approach the wrought iron gates of the Drave manor. “No,” I whisper, the word slipping from my lips before I give myself the chance to overthink it. No it wouldn’t be so bad honestly, and the more I allow myself to imagine it, the more I want it to be real. I want to be able to claim my mates to the world as excitedly as Nick had said he would. I want to know what a future would be like with them at my side, as more than mates but as equal partners in our packs, or perhaps singular pack at some point.To my relief, Semine doesn’t comment as she pulls through the gates and up to the manor. The thick stone facade and climbing ivy make this place seem like more of a prison than a home, my responsibilities and the thoughts of my pack holding me back from what I truly want, and the people that are starting to feel more like home than this place had ever been.My moment of clarity is s
Tires squeal in the distance and my eyes pop open, the noise jolting me from the easy peace that had settled over me. I ready myself for another attack, my hand reaching for the gun still holstered on my leg. I pull it from the strap, but before I can bring it up, Nick’s voice breaks through. “That’s our pack, they’re going to load up the injured and bring them back to be treated.”Some of the tension eases from my chest and I give him a grateful smile, my look encompassing Marcus and Nate too, knowing that they had as much to do with that. I don’t even let myself think about how much they helped my pack tonight, unsure what would have happened if I didn’t have the two alphas here on the ground.“Go with them please, Sava.” I scan those crowded around us, knowing that he will be near.“Of course,” Sava nods solemnly from the side of an injured woman close to us. He clasps a shirt to her side, the white fabric turning red from the blood seeping through it.“I’ll help gather the injured
As you know, this engagement came about fast, and there is a reason for that,” I pause, before launching into the story, first telling them about the agreement with the Weavers pack that had been set up by my father, then how Monte stepped up and gave me an option which I took. “Then when we met the Weavers pack, I found that they’re my mates, their three leaders including Marcus Weavers are my mates.”Gasps echo around me, some faces pulling down into looks of disapproval, and other’s foreheads creasing in confusion. Doing my best to remain unperturbed, I don’t allow my gaze to linger on them for too long, knowing I may lose my nerve if I do.“We agreed to keep the information to ourselves, but as I began working with them to keep both our packs safe, I’ve come to appreciate them and their pack. Which is why it would be unfair to continue on pretending that the platonic relationship between me and beta Ryan is anything more,” I declare. Glancing back at him, I don’t let his crestfall
I glide across the floor, shivers running up my spine as arousal mixes with the warm buzz of alcohol in my veins, heightening my desire so much that I can barely think about anything other than Nick and his cock pounding into me. I weave my way through the group of patrons, most hurriedly moving out of my way as they spot me, leaving the path to my mate clear.His lips part as I approach him, but I don’t wait to hear what he has to say. I know what I want, and he can’t give that to me in a room full of strangers. His brows furrow in confusion as I pass him, but I don’t leave him to stew for very long. Making my way to the hallway, I turn my head to look back at him over my shoulder, crooking my finger in what I hope is a sexy gesture, beckoning him to follow me.Not bothering to wait, I continue on to the office at the end of the hall, leaving the door cracked open behind me. I shrug off my leather jacket, followed by the tight sweater dress, and my shoulder harness and gun. A chill r
Would that really be so bad though?” she asks, her voice soft and caring.I dart my gaze over to her as we approach the wrought iron gates of the Drave manor. “No,” I whisper, the word slipping from my lips before I give myself the chance to overthink it. No it wouldn’t be so bad honestly, and the more I allow myself to imagine it, the more I want it to be real. I want to be able to claim my mates to the world as excitedly as Nick had said he would. I want to know what a future would be like with them at my side, as more than mates but as equal partners in our packs, or perhaps singular pack at some point.To my relief, Semine doesn’t comment as she pulls through the gates and up to the manor. The thick stone facade and climbing ivy make this place seem like more of a prison than a home, my responsibilities and the thoughts of my pack holding me back from what I truly want, and the people that are starting to feel more like home than this place had ever been.My moment of clarity is s
That is how i met with Nate,I comb my fingers back through his black hair, comforting him while I wait for him to continue. That was a lot, both to dredge up and to go through as a child. I desperately need to know more, what happened in those foster homes, what happened to his mother? But I won’t push. He needs to work through this in his own time, and I’ll be here to listen and support him or knock some sense into him if need be, just as he has done for me.“That was until Nate and I ended up enrolled in the local school here in Enders. The family we were fostered with were racoon shifters but couldn’t sense us yet since we hadn’t shifted. But as soon as we met Marcus he knew, his alpha wolf senses were more in tune with ours, perhaps even more so because of our shared mate connection,” he says, giving me a weak smile, one which I feebly try to return.My mind races with thoughts of what it must have been like for them growing up, unable to imagine what I would have done in the same
Asshole,” I say between gritted teeth, but that only draws a laugh from those plump lips, his shoulder shaking beneath me.“You’re going to make me lose my concentration if you keep talking dirty like that,” he teases, placing his hand on a scanner to allow us into the building.I let loose a small shriek while gripping on to his sides to steady myself. My eyes lock in on his firm ass as he walks, the tight muscles flexing as he wastes no time maneuvering the halls. Well two can play this game I guess. I really didn’t have the opportunity to ogle it last night with my back bleeding out, but tonight…A growl slips from his lips as I reach down to slap his firm ass and his arms clamp down on my legs to avoid me falling off. He picks up his pace towards his room, and I giggle at the loud crack echoing out through the empty hallway.I help to close the door behind him and he spins to lock it, neither of us wanting to be interrupted. He wastes no time carrying me to the bed, pulling me bac
“Ugh, asshole,” I groan, placing my palm on my forehead again to express my annoyance. I swear with all these men and the way they like to test me, I’ll be fighting off headaches on the daily.“Nope, that’s mine and I refuse to give it up, you’ll have to choose a new one,” Nick teases, and his hand slides down to clasp my hand as he helps me up. “I should get you home.”My lips purse but I don’t bother arguing, knowing it will be pointless anyway. Besides, I already accomplished what I needed to. And since there isn’t even any paperwork to look over, the only reason to stay would be nostalgia.But I can’t let myself dwell on the past, not when my future is looking so promising. So I let Nick guide me from the VIP section, his hand still lightly holding mine. We keep the connection low to avoid detection, the move simply looking like he’s leading me through the crowded bar to any onlookers.“I’ll be right back,” I call to him, the volume of the music back at full force now as I release
You did too.” He laughs again, leaning over to pull his phone from his pocket. “See right here you said ‘If you don’t get back here this instant, I’ll shove your head up your ass.’” “Thank you for reminding me. It seems like I owe you a beat down since it took you a full hour to get back after I sent that.” “How quickly your story changes at the promise of violence.” His chest shakes with silent laughter, and I narrow my eyes on him but don’t bother arguing with him anymore, knowing exactly what he’ll say next. “For someone so concerned with me leaving to watch after our mate, you do seem to be wasting a lot of time.” And there it is. I swear these assholes like to get on my very last nerve, just to see how far they can push me. You’re lucky I consider you my brother, otherwise I’d be following through on my promise.” He chokes on his laugh, not expecting me to give up that easily it seems. Well he’s lucky I’m in a good mood right now. He’ll have another opportunity to see her, an
“Thank goodness,” she sighs, her shoulders slumping in relief. I giggle at the wave of ease that washes over me, knowing now that she won’t be as stiff with me as others are. I need this sense of normalcy right now. “I’m so sorry, Scarlet,” she adds, her face falling as she glances around the office, clearly remembering the sobering circumstances for my return.“Thanks, Semine, but that’s not why I came to speak with you today,” I admit, reaching across the table to clasp her hand in a comforting touch. Although I appreciate her condolences, I can’t focus on that right now, I can’t keep dwelling on the losses and emotional blows. I will never forget, and I will continue to search for his killer and bring the same fate raining down upon them, but I need to live too.“I came to ask you to be one of my betas.” My lips lift up in an excited smile. Despite the hard time we have ahead of us, having someone like Semine on my side puts my mind at ease. I know she’ll tell me like it is, and ev