(Aiden POV) I’d hoped to have more time with Bria before Mother got involved, but I’m hoping she’ll understand that the bond I share with Briana is unique. What I experienced when we came together just minutes ago was life changing. She is the only mate I will ever want and I won’t give her up.From the very first moment I picked up her scent, I knew she was special. Nothing at all like the others. When those females haphazardly stumbled across my path, my mind became foggy, making me feel unsteady on my feet. Moments later the feeling would pass and there would be a sensation of a link, but it was muffled. Something I sensed with my head and not my heart.With Bria the tether between us was brighter than the sun and clearer than her glowing, amber eyes. The shock of recognition was immediate and my awareness of her presence unfaltering. I had no trouble tacking her down. My fury at anyone daring to attack her had been so great I may have acted rashly. Hunting each of her pursuers
(Briana POV) “She’s not worthy of you my darling. She’s unfit to be your Luna. Reject her.” An icy tremor snakes along my spine at the words.During our joining I felt so jubilant. Born anew. Given a second lease on life and love. There was no uncertainty in me that I would stay by Aiden’s side for the rest of my life. We couldn’t be parted. Our souls became one when he made fireworks explode inside me and held me like I was his lifeline as we trembled together during our climax.Now he’s standing here watching placidly while his mother, who’s creepy as fuck, prods and pokes at me like I’m livestock. The only thing stronger than my outrage at this moment is my terror. I couldn’t move while she inspected me. Not so much as a single finger.I have never encountered anyone with a darker aura. She chanted softly while initially circling us and I could feel the weight of black magic pressing in on me. Swirling through my mind, searching my memories and emotions.I hadn’t taken Tyra at her
(Briana POV) Tyra is already waiting when I get there, her expression anxious and eyes darting around constantly. “Thank you for coming. I’m sorry for dragging you into my problems, but I don’t know where to go,” I whisper softly. She shakes her head at me, a scowl on her lovely face. “Stop that. You’re my friend and this was my idea, remember? Now hush, we’ll have to be stealthy.”I follow her quietly, eyes darting around, ears cocked for even the slightest noise. Guilt assails me with every guard we take down. This was so nearly my pack. I should have been their Luna, but here I am, choking them out so they won’t raise the alarm and let the entire castle know I’m fleeing. It’s them or me and while I feel bad, there’s no real contest. I soothe my guilt with the knowledge that we haven’t killed anyone.I start to breathe easier once we’re outside the walls and headed into the woods. Tyra is leading me in a south-easterly direction. We’re setting a fierce pace and don’t slow down fo
(Briana POV) Aiden carries me back to my bedroom, laying me down on the bed with exquisite care. His voice is full of grief when he asks, “Why did you run from me? I know you feel our bond every bit as much as I do. When we made love, the world made complete sense to me for the first time. It felt like we were fused together by not only passion, but emotion.” The words should hurt, but I feel anesthetized.The mind-numbing terror has disappeared and my sight returned to me the moment we entered the castle. I stare into his emerald green eyes for long minutes and see a stranger. What a difference 12 hours can make. It’s not even a full day, yet it’s changed the course of my life. Again. It seems I’m destined to exist in a state of flux for the rest of my days.Without answering him I roll on to my side and stare at the wall. Everything is different now. He’s not the same person I gave myself to last night. He looks the same. He sounds the same. The bond is still there. The way I see h
(Briana POV)After a night of tossing and turning and repeated attempts to mind-link with Tyra, I give up and get out of bed.The key to a successful escape will be Aiden. He truly does seem to care about me, in his emotionally stunted way and I’m going to have to use that to my advantage. His mother rules him, without question, but I’m sure that with some careful handling I can manipulate him into giving me what I need.The numbness has worn off and I’m a mess of guilt and heartache this morning. I will never make the mistake of trusting anyone again. Raul and Aiden, two vastly different men, were both mated to me and both betrayed me for another woman. If I can’t even trust in the sanctity of the mating bond, it seems pointless to waste any more of my life on romantic entanglements. I will survive at all costs and get as far away from here as possible.Considering how upset he was last night, I assume that Aiden will be in his study. I enter without knocking and my steps falter whe
(Raul POV) “I still feel that in order to defeat Aidan, his mother is the key,” I declare. There are so many rumors about her floating about. Most of them seem crazy, but I’ve seen over the years how she doesn’t appear to age at all and that’s unnatural. There may be something to them after all. Aidan never had the ambition to be king. He was more than happy to follow Chris around like a loyal puppy.”“Of course you’re right, darling,” Valerie agrees, smiling at me softly. “And if we can locate that missing brother of his, all the better. He can be reinstated and there need be no war.” It’s a lovely sentiment, but highly improbable.“I think he’s most likely dead,” I say regretfully. “Aiden’s mother has a knack for removing all obstacles from her son’s path and I doubt she’d leave such a dangerous loose end dangling about.” I’ve spent the past weeks collecting every scrap of information I could find about our not so illustrious Alpha King and all signs keep pointing to Adrienne bein
(Briana POV) Seeing Raul standing there, as solid and composed as ever, hits me hard. His icy blue eyes give nothing away when he sees me. His expression remains completely inscrutable, but he’s trying desperately to mind-link with me. Bria, what are you doing here? Are you well? I’ve been worried, it’s good to know you’re safe.I ignore his attempts, pretending not to hear him. He has no right to pretend to be concerned about my welfare after everything he’s done. I don’t know why Aiden is forcing me to be here while he talks to Raul. This isn’t what I asked for.“I wanted to tell you myself that Briana and I are mated,” Aiden says, “And I will be making her my Luna very soon. I suppose she’ll be everyone’s Luna once I do. I want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings about what that will mean. She will be your queen, but she will never again be anything else to you. Are we understood?”Raul smiles easily, seeming utterly unperturbed. “Of course we are King Aiden. I’m ver
(Aiden POV) What the hell was I thinking? It’s only been a few weeks since Bria’s entire life was upended. She loved this idiot in front of me, although I can’t tell why for the life of me. I didn’t mean to hurt her. This isn’t how today should have gone at all.My intention was to give her closure. The opportunity to rub her previous mate’s nose in the fact that she found someone better and she’s happy. He didn’t win. She overcame every obstacle he dropped in her way. And of course I want him to know that she’s mine and to never come sniffing around for her.I’m a selfish prick. I’ve never loved anyone romantically before and I’ve only had Bria in my life for a very short time. If she was to suddenly tell me she’s not my mate anymore and that she’s married to a different Alpha, then threw me out into the cold and turned her back on me, it would take me years to recover. If I ever manage to get over it. Yet I drag her into my pissing contest with her ex and force her to listen to how
(Bria POV) “Stand down,” I shriek, dropping my bow and sliding down the tree so I can reach the ground faster. I don’t feel the bark biting into my skin, or the cuts opening along my arms and cheek.Aiden. I have to get to Aiden. If I thought there was any possibility of her turning on him, I never would have allowed him to set foot in there. He’s my heart. My life. He’s her fuckin son, how can she do this?“Don’t hurt him! Please, Adrienne, I’m begging you. Take me, put me in your tree, just don’t hurt him.” Aiden roars at my words, the wicked knife slicing deeper into his throat. “No! Run Bria. Run away right now. I won’t live without you!”Adrienne laughs cruelly, but her face is distorted in anger. “You turned my son against me,” she hisses. “You won’t be leaving here alive. Don’t worry darling,” she jeers when Aiden struggles against her grip, “You won’t miss her. Most of you will be erased and replaced with what I’ve always wanted you to be. I kept clinging to the hope that you
(Bria POV)She’s gone! Adrienne has her. I’m on my way there. I’m going to tear her apart! Raul bellows into my head. He’s in a blind panic, something I’ve never witnessed before.Did Tyra take her? I ask. There’s a beat of silence and then a roar so full of misery and pain follows that I sink to my knees as it overwhelms me. No. She was with me. I was there and I failed to protect her. It’s all my fault, Raul keens.There’s no time to find out details right now. I need to get to Adrienne’s garden and stop her before she does anything irreversible. She’ll have a full complement of 12 again now. I’m going there right away, I tell Raul, who hesitates only a moment before agreeing.The knowledge that he’s fully let go of me is bittersweet for only an instant, before it melts into pure, creamy milk chocolate from a master Swiss chocolatier. No guilt or uncertainty holds either of us back anymore. The memories will always be beautiful, but not as enticing as the future.I’m going to do eve
(Aiden POV)Mother seems less than thrilled to see me. It appears I’ve interrupted something. She’s doing her best to hide her irritation, but pretending to be patient has never been a strength of hers.“Now that you’ve come to see the garden for the first time it seems like you can’t keep away,” she comments with barely masked annoyance.She keeps glancing at where I know that horrific tree stump is and that worries me. Has she found a new victim? If so, the girl’s absence hasn’t been noted yet. I’m keeping a very close eye on missing persons in the kingdom.I’m back to not being able to see the tree, but I can feel her in my mind, willing me to see what’s not actually there. She’ll never be able to root around in my brain without my knowledge again. Bria’s love, and our mating bond, is making me stronger than I would have believed I could ever be.For the sake of Bria’s safety I keep every trace of mistrust and hatred from showing on my face and I bury my emotions deep. Projecting o
(Adrienne POV)“I have the woman here my lady,” Niall tells me in his annoying, nasally voice. He was my first little experiment with mind control and things had gone very awry. I squashed his faculties like an overripe grape in my eagerness. I’ve learned to exert self-control since those days.At the time I’d been furious at my failure, but it turned out to be very fortuitous indeed. Niall’s single-mindedly devoted to me and follows my every command without thought or complaint. The perfect weapon when I need a more physical approach to solving my problems.If Aiden doesn’t give up his ridiculous infatuation with Briana soon, Niall will be dispatched to take care of her. I’ve attempted to ride her mind, but while I could plant concepts of blindness and fear, I’m stymied when it comes to taking over her thoughts. I suspect the mating bond she shares with my son has something to do with that. The sooner I break it the better.One side of the wispy little blonde’s face is a bloody mess.
(Raul POV)I’m going out of my mind with worry about Valerie. I cannot lose her. It seems there’s nothing quite like a bit of mortal danger to clear the mind and straighten out the heart. Bria will always be dear to me, but Valerie is my mate.I have to get to her before Adrienne tries anything. I know the pain of losing a mate, I never want to suffer that way again.Guilt churns in my chest, relentless and heavy. I know my long history with Bria makes it difficult to just put aside the feelings I held for her for so many years. She’s dazzling and exciting and a fantastic woman. I’m glad she didn’t die. I’m sorry we didn’t have time to say goodbye to each other properly. I don’t regret having my new mate.Valerie’s love is the warmth that fuels me now, she’s the place where my soul finds peace. I can’t be too late. I owe Bria for this. Anything she asks will be hers, as long as Valerie is safe.“Where the hell are you running to?” Vesper asks, sprinting after me. I have no time to sto
(Bria POV)To my chagrin I yelp and jump in fright. I’m immediately furious with myself for not hearing Adrienne’s approach. The amused smile on her face mocks me relentlessly. “What would my poor Aiden think if he saw you spying on his mother?”“I wouldn’t call it spying, Adrienne. I was out for a walk with my guards and decided to come in for a quick soak. Then I heard a voice speaking and wanted to make sure it was safe before I entered the chamber. You really shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions.”“Oh, Briana. You think yourself witty and sharp as a whip, don’t you? I know you have my son pussy whipped right now, but it won’t last. I’m his mother. And your pathetic excuse holds no water. You were mind linked to someone when I came upon you and I’m willing to stake your life on it that it was your dearest Raul you were talking to. It won’t be long before Aiden sees through all your deceptions.”“Oh you’re one to talk! What did you do to Christopher? It must have killed you
(Bria POV) I wake up to hungry kisses in my neck and Aiden’s hands roaming all over me. My body is exhausted from the night before, but more than willing to push past its limits. “Good morning love,” Aiden says gruffly, taking my nipple into his mouth and grinning devilishly at my helpless moan.“Good morning baby,” I respond tenderly, pulling his head toward mine for a deep kiss. There is no more duality or uncertainty. I love Aiden and nobody else can ever make me happier. My love for Raul was very real and nothing will ever detract from that. It’s in the past though and I’m happy to be living my future.He must see something in my eyes, because he cradles my face between his hands and tells me emphatically, “I love you, Bria, with all my heart.” My eyes glisten with tears as I nod and choke out, “I love you too,” before burying my face in his neck.His joy is palpable, wrapping around us like a cocoon. He makes love to me slowly and thoroughly, before fetching us coffee and breakf
(Aiden POV)Bria’s golden gaze spears me to the bed as her tongue curls around my balls and her lips gently brush over my inflamed skin. She doesn’t look away from me when she sucks them into her mouth one by one, rubbing her tongue across the throbbing globe and suckling softly.I am on the verge of losing control. My fangs have started to come in and my nails have grown sharp as the beast roars inside of me, demanding to be let out to mate freely.I’m fighting to remember that this is the punishment I agreed to. Losing control would negate exactly what I’m trying to prove to Bria. But I’m a werewolf. An Alpha. A dominant male with extremely strong desires and she embodies all of them to me. The drive to claim, breed and protect her is stronger than anything else. Except my love and respect for her.Fuck. She’s moving that delectable mouth in a northerly direction now. Her tongue lapping firmly at the underside of my swollen cock. Long, slow licks running from base to tip repeatedly,
(Bria POV)I’m doing my best not to let Aiden see how shy it’s making me feel to masturbate in front of him. I’ve never done anything like this in my life. Embarrassment is quickly making space for an electrifying thrill as I watch his body and eyes reacting to me.I am Aphrodite in his mind. Goddess of love and sex. Ripe and delicious and out of his reach. He can look, but he can’t touch. One hand slips down to my vulva, my middle finger rubbing over my slick, swollen flesh. My hips arch into the touch spontaneously and a sigh bursts from me when my finger presses against my clit.“I’m so wet and needy, Aiden. Do you see?” I dip two fingers into my well of moisture and slowly drag them down the length of his cock, between his expanding testicles and down to his perineum. Aiden chokes on an awestruck gasp and his penis seems to be vibrating. It’s rock hard and fully erect, pressed against the soft skin of his abdomen.Soon I’ll indulge my desire to lick that gorgeous, velvety sheath.