Serena slowly drifted back from the hazy edges of unconsciousness. Her body was still quivering with the aftershocks of her shattering release. She felt utterly boneless and wrung out, like a rag that had been twisted and rung dry. Serena became aware of the thick heat still sheathed inside her, of the sticky evidence of his own climax coating her inner walls and trickling down her thighs. Slowly blinking her eyes open, she found him looming over her smaller frame with a look of dark, primal hunger etched across his chiseled features. His amber eyes seemed to glow with banked embers in the low light, the crimson and gold swirling in a mesmerizing vortex. His dick was still achingly hard, pulsing heavily within her convulsing walls as if he hadn't just erupted his release mere moments ago. A cold shudder of apprehension slithered its way down Serena's spine, causing the fine hairs on her nape to bristle in response. The intensity of Knox's stare felt almost tangible
Killian and Seven's frame went stiff almost comically at the sight of the two imposing figures that had just materialized out of thin air before them:They were those of Enzo and Meredith. Killian and Seven both placed one hand on their left chest and bowed their heads. Enzo's youthful face split into an amused and almost mocking grin as he raked his gaze over Killian's utterly disheveled appearance. In stark contrast to her husband's look of amusement, Meredith's expression was one of utter revulsion and disdain as her hawkish stare fell upon Killian's indecent state of undress. Her delicately arched brows knitted together as her lips pursed into a tight, bloodless line, seeming to disappear entirely into the harsh creases etched into the corners of her mouth. An audible sniff of distaste escaped the regal witch as her nose wrinkled, as though assaulted by a foul stench.“Must you be so crassly indecent?" Meredith's voice dripped with condescension as she eyed him with na
Silence enveloped the room as everyone struggled to process this tragic revelation. Meredith's gaze drifted back towards the swirling dark mist like storm surrounding Knox with her expression growing even more somber. "I'm afraid that is not the only grave concern we now face.” Her voice took on a grim edge. She extended one long to indicate the churning black vortex. "This hostile energy had been in deep slumber within my grandson. It is an ancient and incredibly dark force that has taken root within him since his mother sent out his life force to find its new host. And it was unfortunately awakened during manipulating the stream of time." Her lips pressed into a tight line as her eyes narrowed. "And from what I can discern, this sinister entity requires nothing less than the very essence, the life force, of a living being in order to sate its ravenous hunger. I am certain it won’t stop with just one."Another heavy silence descended over the group as they all exchanged worrie
"Yeah, seriously - what exactly is he?" Killian chimed in. "I know my inner beast sees him as his Alpha. I mean...he most definitely gives off supreme Alpha vibes, which makes total sense given how I come from one of the most powerful Alpha bloodlines around." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "But we all know you haven't exactly been a hundred percent honest with us about the boss man's deal, grandpa. I don't get how he's so insanely powerful when he's never once shifted into a wolf form, drank blood, or showed any typical signs that he's either a werewolf or vampire."Killian's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the couple’s expression. "Yet, his very aura somehow commanded mine and Seven's absolute loyalty and obedience at our very first encounter. Whether we want it to or not. It's like we're cosmically bound to follow his lead." He ran a hand through his tousled locks again. "Plus, every other supernatural creature I know gets riled up and horny as hell during the full moon
Enzo stared at the anxious, questioning faces before him and released a heavy, world-weary sigh. He rose from his seat with a slow and almost lethargic movement.All eyes tracked the regal Don’s every move as he crossed the room with an air of somber melancholy and sorrow cloaking him like a shroud. Enzo made his way to the lone, high-backed chair positioned in the corner, next to where Knox's frighteningly still and motionless body lay on the huge bed. Not a single muscle twitched beneath the young man’s ashen skin. His handsome features hidden behind his face mask remained one of an eery tranquility that seemed almost...unnatural given the roiling darkness still undulating around him.Enzo settled into the chair with a slight groan. His amber eyes swept over each person present, as if silently bracing them for the revelations and burdens soon to be imparted. "Knox is...not an ordinary being. I'm sure you've all realized by now." He paused, letting that weighted statement l
"So you're telling me," Meredith began slowly, carefully enunciating each word as if still struggling to wrap her mind around the concept, "That you actually had to go back through the stream of time itself and basically...cock-block yourself from being with your true mate? All just to save her life?"Despite the gravity of the situation, Enzo's full lips twitched ever so slightly in amusement at her rather crass yet succinct phrasing. "Well, when you put it like that..." He flashed her a wry smirk. "It does sound fairly ridiculous, I'll grant you that. But essentially...yes, that's precisely what I had to do." His expression sobered once more, his ageless gaze boring into her with an intensity that seemed to strip away the layers of centuries between them."I had to stop myself from completing the sacred mating bond and marking her as mine for all eternity," Enzo continued in a low, gravelly tone thick with lingering emotion. "It was the only way to prevent her from suffering tha
Enzo's mouth quirked in a wry smirk at the wolf’s blunt retelling of the tale. "A rather...colorful yet relatively accurate summary, I'll give you that." His features hardened once more as he continued recounting the legend."It's said that when he first arrived on this mortal plane after his fall from the celestial realm, the Fallen had lost all memories of his previous life and existence. He was discovered by a small human village. He was a man with incredible powers and abilities yet a gentle, benevolent heart. So they took him in without fear, and he lived amongst them peacefully for years without ever bringing harm to a single soul."Enzo paused. "Eventually, the Fallen fell in love with a young woman from the village - the daughter of the family who had first offered him shelter and kindness all those years ago when he had arrived as a complete outsider, a stranger in their midst. He foolishly thought he could hide the truth of his powers, his immortality, from her even after
Enzo snapped his fingers and, in an instant, the scorching desert wasteland melted away into shimmering distortions. Their surroundings rematerialized back into the illustriously decorated infirmary with dizzying abruptness, as if the desolation had been nothing more than a fleeting mirage conjured by some powerful sorcery.Every plush furnishing, every antique medical implement lining the shelves, even Knox's bed with his frighteningly still form lying atop it - all was precisely as it had appeared before Enzo's shocking metamorphosis ripped them from reality. The only discernible difference was the tattered remains of Enzo's shirt. The fabric had shredded when his massive, flaming wings had unfurled with that resonant boom that seemed to reverberate through their very souls.Enzo moved to retake his previous seat on the luxurious brown chair seeming to almost creak in deference to his presence. Seven, on the other hand, found the disjointed puzzle pieces finally slotting toge