MayaMy wolf didn’t just give over control. She sank deep in me, almost as if she were retreating to lick her wounds. Rhyson’s look of disgust had broken us both, and when I emerged, I started to shift. Nobody said a word as someone handed me some clothes.“Is there any way to fix it?” I asked without looking up. “Can you use magic to repair my bonds?”Janelle looked over at Irene and then back to me. “Honestly, I have no idea. There isn’t much information on wolf magic that’s available to witches. I’m not even certain how a witch would have gone about removing them to begin with. Your best course of action is to find the witch that removed them and hope he knows how to fix it.”That didn’t bode well. Even if I could somehow get the information from my father, it wouldn’t do me any good. “Well, thank you. I did think I’d go my whole life never knowing what was wrong with my wolf. Turns out she’s perfect.” I forced a smile. “We were just fucked from the moment we were conceived.”“Maya
I gave myself into the wonder and curiosity and tried to let go of the hypervigilance and fear. We sniffed and ran. Anna even tried to play with me, although I had no idea how to play as a wolf. When she bowed to me, I tried to run, and when she started to run, I wanted to hunt. In the end, we settled for running side-by-side.Other wolves watched, but no one joined and no one approached. Finally, when it felt like we were hundreds of miles from where we started, we collapsed and started to shift back.Reaching into a tree stump, she pulled out a bag of clothes and tossed it my way. “Ah. I did wonder how everyone always had access to clothes,” I said without thinking.Anna gave me a sideways look. “This is the most common method, at least here. How is it off the mountain? Do you not run for fun?”“I can’t tell you what it’s like off the mountain,” I said carefully. “You can’t leave the mountain or come to the mountain, remember?”Wrinkling her nose, she started to dress. “Right. Okay,
Rhyson“So you think Emerson left the mountain and killed your brother,” the alpha on the computer screen said. Unlike most wolves I knew, and most wolves I’d seen on the mountain, Elonso kept his hair cropped short. He must have shaved it every day to keep up with it. His expression was distrusting, but it was obvious he was interested in my story.If Elonso was Emerson’s second, I didn’t trust him at all. Jax swore that Elonso worked his way up as Emerson’s second with every intention of taking him down when he got the chance, and not out of loyalty. Since he was alpha and Emerson was dead, I guessed his plan had worked.“I know the exact month. You would have been his second then. To your knowledge, did Emerson leave the mountain?” I asked.“Hard to say,” Elonso said dryly. “My memory has been a bit foggy since two members of my pack have gone missing.”Behind the computer screen, Jax rolled his eyes. “They’re not missing. Cindy is technically no longer part of your pack as her pac
Maya“Wait, why are you yelling at me? I don’t even know you. She tried to eat it,” I said as I pointed at Anna. The man in front of us glared disapprovingly while the enormous body was laid out on the table behind us.The healer’s veins bulged in his forehead. “You were going to eat it?” he echoed.Anna turned to me. “What the hell, Maya? I showed you a good time, and now you’re going to throw me under the bus?”“Sorry,” I whispered and dropped my head. “He looks mean.”Anna just snorted. For the past hour, I’d had the most fun I’d ever had. I hadn’t considered myself violent, but taking down that mutated creature had been exhilarating. Anna’s warriors worked as a team and listened to her every word, and she was an excellent strategist.Unfortunately, the creatures were in a pair, and the first was too far gone to take down safely. The female had been secured and was being brought in now. I’d given my wolf plenty of control and watched her joy.And this man was totally judging me for
The female smirked and strode away. Only then did I realize that Rhyson was still touching me. Reality hit me hard. What the fuck was that?Saul turned. “Maya, my dear, your wolf has kindly requested that I examine you and the babe, so if you’ll go into room one, we’re almost finished up here, and your healer will join you.”It was all I could do to run away from Rhyson. Tessa winked at me as she ushered me into the exam room. “By kindly, he means that Rhyson bellowed it very loudly after he and Jax got into a heated argument about his mate leading you into danger. It was very entertaining to watch, and it didn’t end until Saul shouted at them that they were breaking his concentration.”There was a strange light in her eyes. “You seem excited,” I observed.“Saul has some amazing equipment here, and his knowledge is incredible. I thought my training was superior, but he knows far more about wolf magic than I even thought possible. Outside of this mountain, we tend to forget that we’re
RhysonNobody said a word as I walked out of the office, but a few minutes later, I found Jax behind me. “Don’t you have someone to spy for you?” I asked.“Not spying. Apparently there’s a skirmish forming between your people and mine. I was going to suggest we go check it out.”A skirmish? I frowned. “My people don’t skirmish.”“Neither do mine, so this should be interesting.” He fell into step next to me. “We fight to survive out here, but we do know how to have fun.”“Are you implying that my people don’t know how to fight to survive? Do you know what we’ve faced to get here?”Jax shrugged. “I just assumed the outside was all luxury cars and golden thrones.”He was baiting me. It was clever. “Our threats are different, but they are no less real. I brought only the best with me.”“Care for a wager?” Jax asked lightly. “My people win, and you leave. You can leave the woman too. It’s clear you don’t know how to take care of her.”I growled at him for that.“And if your people win, the
MayaI had dinner with Anna and went up to my room, exhausted. It was empty, and I was grateful. Since discovering what was wrong with me, I hadn’t had time to myself to think or process. Now that it was all hitting me, I just wanted to curl up in a fetal position and cry.My wolf and I would never have a connection or form a bond. I’d never have a chance at a mating bond. I’d never be able to truly rely on an alpha.Only one of those things bothered me. I was never going to find my mate, and I didn’t give a fuck about bonding with an alpha. As far as I was concerned, too many of them were assholes.Jax might be an exception. I couldn’t help but notice the one fair and kind alpha I found was in the middle of a rogue-infested and wild magic mountain. An alpha who bowed to no king. Oh, the irony.I cradled my hand on my belly. Had I conceived a child who would carry my curse? A babe who would never connect to their wolf?The door opened, and I stayed on the floor. Rhyson looked down at
RhysonHer breathing hitched, and I slipped a hand under her shirt and against her belly. A lot had happened today for both of us, and part of me knew that I should give her more time to adjust. Another part of me suspected she needed a distraction, and this was the best way I knew how to distract.It was too early to feel the baby. My brain screamed at what I’d learned only a few short minutes ago.What if he’s like me? What if he can’t control his wolf?I was going to have a son.“Rhyson,” Maya whispered. My hand stilled, and I waited to see if she would push me away.When she didn’t say anything, my hand inched up to her tits. “Yes?” I promised as I brushed a fingertip under one. “Was there something that you wanted?”“Fuck you. Just tonight.” She rolled onto me, straddling me, and I pulled her shirt off in one swift move before I brought my mouth up to claim her. Her kiss drove me wild. My hands tangled in her red hair, and she ground against me, thin cotton shorts the only barrie
Mica smiled up at him, squeezing his arm. “And if they refuse to swear allegiance, they can’t stay. For now, though, I’m accepting them under my protection. Unless you wish for me to send them away, Alpha?”Hayden gave her a dirty look but jerked his chin toward the hastily built lean-to on the south side of the house. There were three such structures now. The south was for the unmated women, the north was for unmated men, and the west was for family groups. The special ops team all shared rooms inside the house now, too, with the other rooms holding any injured wolves.“You can keep them, for now,” Hayden said. “But see that you put them to work. I don’t want them causing us any trouble.”“Of course.” Mica bowed her head toward him, fighting back a smile.Unlike Monroe and his people, Hayden cared about the pack. He might say that he only returned because Ryder and the others from Bluebell Valley wanted to save the pack, but he did genuinely care. It reminded Mica so much of the Hayd
MicaMonroe sent someone to the house every day for the next few days, demanding Elin back. He even went so far as to send Elin’s father. Hayden refused every time, but only allowed one of them onto the property. Or, as Mica learned later, only one of them could come onto the property.Spencer, it seemed, had no demon influence on him, but many of Monroe’s people were possessed.Mica tried not to think about that. She tried not to think about her own mother under a demon's influence. The few times when she and Ryder ended up working together, Echo was a topic neither of them brought up. Mica couldn’t bring herself to ask. If Ryder said there was no way to save her, then the last bit of hope she clung to would shrivel up and disappear.“Mica, we’ve received three more women,” Tess told her one morning. “Clarissa, Monique, and Rachel.”“Really?” Mica reluctantly closed the laptop she’d been working at. “Spencer’s daughters?”Hayden had been up at the crack of dawn, and Mica had gotten u
Hayden chuckled, enjoying her demanding side. He pushed in until he was fully seated, groaning as her greedy heat sucked him in. Mica whimpered and Hayden rested his forehead against hers. He waited there, letting her adjust. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. She was the one that started moving first, rocking her hips back and forth to move him inside of her. Her eyes were at half-mast, her mouth slightly open. He swelled, his skin feeling too tight to contain him.She kissed him, panting into his mouth. Hayden started to move, slowly at first but with increasing momentum. Mica matched his rhythm, her hips thrusting upward. Soon, she was crying out every time they came together. Hayden gritted his teeth, fighting back on the pressure building inside of him. Hewould see her finish first. He was getting dangerously close, so he reached between them and stroked her clit again.“Hayden,” she cried out. A flush rose up her neck and face. Her back arched, and her mouth fell open.“That’s
Mica shivered. “But I’m fat.”“You are beautiful, Mica.” He ran his hand down her hip. “Your skin is soft and smooth. Your breasts are perfect. I want to get to know the rest of you.”He slid his hand between her legs and cupped her. She felt even better without the clothes between them. The heat of her sex radiated into his hand, already growing damp. He massaged her slightly, watching her reaction. The tension melted from her shoulders. Her head fell slightly back and she let out a soft moan.“You’re beautiful,” he repeated. “And I want you.”Mica turned back to him, letting her legs open for him. Her sea-green eyes didn’t leave his face.“I think that’s the first time someone didn’t say ‘You’re not fat, you’re beautiful’ even though I am… without a doubt—” She cut off, biting her lip.“Do you want to continue?” he asked.Mica nodded. “Yes.”Hayden waited a moment before adjusting his hold on her. He slid two fingers deeper, exploring her. They brushed over her entrance, already wet
HaydenFuck, yes.Hayden’s wolf howled in delight at the promise this kiss held. He tangled his hands in Mica’s red hair, tugging her closer. Her scent curled into his nostrils. She was sweet and musky, a mix of vanilla and arousal. He needed her closer, but he also needed to touch her. Normally, he’d know exactly what to do, but at this moment, he couldn’t decide whether to keep his hands in her silky hair or move them over her body.Her delicious curves were too great a temptation. Hayden explored her, his hands roving over the flare of her hips, the swell of her breasts. There was far too much clothing between them.He hitched her knee over his hip. Mica gasped lightly. Her eyes were wide, staring at him as she molded herself against him. Her hands tightened around him, as though she was afraid he’d suddenly pull away from her.“You,” he growled as he nipped her neck, “are perhaps the most delightful creature I have ever had the fortune to lay my hands on.”“Creep,” she breathed ba
“What… what do you want to do to me?” she asked, her voice barely over a whisper.Hayden grunted. “You need sleep. You can have the bed tonight.”He was beinghonorable.He picked her up without asking, even though he just assumed that she’d be okay with being his mate. He was waiting for permission all the same. That care touched her. She just didn’t know what to say. Part of her still doubted whether he actually wanted her or if it was just the mate bond doing things to his wolf.“How is your injury?” she asked. She didn’t want to leave him but could not push the issue. At least, not yet.A fire burned in her core. She wanted Hayden to touch her. But more than that, she wanted him to want her. For real, and not because of any of this wolfy nonsense. Everyone always talked about the mate bond and how it made everyone elsedisappear. She needed to know if he’d thought about her at all over the years he was gone.“My injury?” Hayden repeated.“When the beast-demon attacked us in the fore
“I need to talk to you,” Finn said as he padded out of his room.Hayden nodded. He gave Mica an apologetic look as they went to the other end of the hallway.Elin started to stand but yelped and sank back down. “Mica, can I…?”Reluctantly, Mica stepped into the doorway.“I… they said they came for me because of you,” Elin said, flinching as she spoke.Mica nodded once.“Thank you,” Elin murmured. “And… and I’m sorry.”“I wasn’t going to let anyone stay in Monroe’s clutches,” Mica answered stiffly. She ignored the apology. It wasn’t good enough, not by a long shot. “Heal quickly. We’re going to need everyone we can.”Finn and Hayden were finished speaking at this time and Mica hurried back to Hayden’s side. He gave her a questioning look, but she only shook her head. She let out a sigh of relief when they were finally alone in Hayden’s room.“Thank you,” she blurted before she could lose her nerve.Hayden dropped to the couch and kicked off his shoes. “For what?”“Coming back. Trying t
MicaThe truth was clear.He wouldn’t say he would save Echo because he didn’t believe he could. Mica wanted to break down, scream, and beat her fists against the floors. Regret flashed through her mind. Was it because she had laid down the salt perimeter? Could they have prevented this if she hadn’t tried to run away?“If I had just accepted you at the pack meeting—”Hayden touched his finger to her lips. “Nothing would have changed. We will try, Mica.”She let out a ragged sigh. Right now, that was all she needed. There was still so much to do, and no doubt Monroe would be furious that Hayden had saved Elin. At least he, being possessed, wouldn’t be able to get onto the ground.“It might be a good thing for us, that Echo is possessed,” Hayden told her.“How can you say that?”“Because we need to know exactly what’s going on here,” he said. “And now we have a demon that might give us answers.”Mica shuddered. “You’re not going to torture the information out of her, are you?”Hayden s
“Sure,” Maverick snickered.Elin bit her lip, but whether because she had something she wanted to say or because of the pain, Hayden didn’t know.“We’re going to need to fortify the house,” Hayden said. “Monroe won’t be happy that we stole his mate-to-be right from under his nose.”“Your mate has already started, I think,” Finn grimaced. “Something’s changed. It’s uncomfortable for me to be here. Feels like… salt.” His expression changed, a growl rising in his throat. “There’s more, though. There’s a demon here.”Ryder stiffened. “My mother?”Hayden stopped him from racing to the house. “Gather everyone up so Finn can take a closer look at them. I’ll find Mica and check on Echo.”Ryder opened his mouth, but Hayden gave him a stern look with narrowed eyes. His Beta dropped his shoulders and nodded. Hayden then headed for the house as Ryder called for all the wolves to gather. His wolf snarled in his chest; he sensed a change, too, that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on en