[Elise’s POV]Phantom faces haunt my dreams, making my skin break out in a sweat and my body toss and turn. They’re calling to me, and their clawed fingers are beckoning me, but I fight with all my might to stay away until my eyes fly open and I find that I’m in my room in the girls dorm of the academy.“Fuck,” I sigh, sitting up and wiping tendrils of stray hair away from my soaked forehead. “What the hell is this?”This was the second night that these phantoms haunted my dreams. Although I knew that they were something important, I couldn’t make heads or tails of what I was seeing.Letting out a grumble of annoyance, I untangle the blanket that is wrapped tightly around me and then get up.Peeking at my phone, I find that it is still fairly early and classes won’t be starting anytime soon. Although I would have loved to go back to sleep, I already know that won’t be possible, not with the anxiety I was feeling.‘Some fresh air should help.’ Anna offers.‘You’re probably right.’Deci
[Elise’s POV]Eyes widening, I realize too late what the hell is coming out of my mouth. Fuck. Why did I go and say such a thing when there were plenty of other explanations? Was I some sort of idiot?‘Probably,’ Anna chuckles, not making matters better. ‘Or you were speaking from the heart.’At her words, I feel my heart squeeze painfully as I look at William, who is watching me carefully. Sure, maybe that was right, but there was no fucking way we could ever be together now.“You’re spying on me because you like me.” He says now, snapping me out of my head. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”Shock rolls through me at his words, but in a way, I’m happy that he doesn’t actually believe what I said. However, if he wasn’t willing to believe that I liked him, then what did he suspect?“I’ve thought this since the day that you approached my niece, but you have a secret agenda for getting close to not only her but even me, don’t you?”Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but I kno
[Elise’s POV]I wait as Denali examines me, a look of longing in her features, and when she rushes toward me, pulling me into a hug that damn near smothers me, I can feel just how badly she missed me. And even though I know I should be hugging her back, I’m left motionless, as for the first time in my life, I feel the feeling of family.“I knew it.” She whispers, slowly releasing me so she can stare down into my eyes. “I felt it the minute I saw you.”Nodding, I consider her words as I try to get my emotions in check and ignore the nagging fear that I will die.“But why did you lie before?” She continues when I don’t speak. “Is there a reason that you’re hiding it? Is something going on? Is someone possibly chasing you?”“Woah, there,” I sigh, stopping her before she can go into full panic mode. “It isn’t anything like that. Instead,” I continue, wondering if I’m actually allowed to speak of the deal I made with the goddess. “I had my reasons.”For now, I would keep that reason close
[Maverick’s POV]I watch as Serenity nods in agreement with my request, but even now I can tell that she is hiding something from me. Usually she would tell me everything, like I was her closest confidante, but here she was hiding things from me for the first time.“Deal,” she says. “We should get going before we’re late for class.”“You go ahead of me.” I say. “There’s something I need to do first.”At my words, Serenity gives me a look of confusion, but she doesn’t question me, which also isn’t like her. This alone was proof that she was distracted.“Don’t be late.”It’s the last thing she says before she turns and disappears into the sea of students who are heading toward their classes. Once she is out of sight, I turn and begin to move, heading toward William’s office so I can have a word with him.Although I knew that it was probably for the best that I be separated from Serenity and placed in the boys dorm, I just couldn’t stomach the idea of not being near at all times. Maybe i
[Serenity’s POV]I arrive at battle class just as the bell rings, but despite that, Maverick is still nowhere to be seen. Frowning, I find myself wondering where he could possibly be.“Don’t just stand around,” Professor Alex announces. “Change into your battle gear and get out here.”As she speaks, Maverick’s warning about a combat test taking place returns to me. However, didn’t he know that he would also be participating in this test? If he so much as failed anything, then he would be kicked out of the academy and wouldn’t be beside me anymore.“Where are you?” I whisper as Professor Alex glares at me.“Now!” He snaps, narrowing his gaze. “Why are you just standing there?”“Sorry,” I grumble before turning and heading to the changing rooms, where the rest of the girls in class are already changing.While I move, their gazes come to rest on me, and I can see that familiar look of hatred on their faces that I have grown used to. Ignoring them, I continue to move until I spot Eleanor
[Maverick’s POV]I rush down the hall, my irritation growing. Because of my discussion with William, I was running late for class, and I was certain that Serenity would be worried about me.“Dammit.”As I move, William’s question races through my mind. Why was he even asking me such a thing when he was subtly making it clear that he didn’t think I was good enough for his niece? Was it some sort of joke on his part or something more? And why didn’t I just outright say how I felt?Because Serenity should be the first to hear it. The small voice in the back of my head screams at me.Right. How could I possibly go around admitting to others just how special and precious she was to me when she didn’t know? But there was no fucking way I could say such things because that alone would ruin our relationship entirely.Deciding that now wasn’t the time to be focusing on such things, I quicken my pace, and when I reach our combat class, I burst inside and begin to look around, taking in the stud
[Serenity’s POV]I keep my gaze fixed on Maverick’s retreating form. Even from where I sit, I can feel his emotions slamming into me, and although I want to comfort him and tell him that whatever it is that he is thinking is wrong, I don’t move. Instead, I continue to watch until he heads out of the infirmary and slams the door behind him before turning my gaze to Eleanor, or rather, Aunt Elise.“Wow,” she whistles, tearing her attention from where Maverick disappeared. “He’s pretty sensitive, huh?”“About certain things,” I admit.As long as I had known Maverick, the only times I really saw him show any type of emotion was when I attempted to hide something from him. There were also the rare moments when he would show his gentle side and even laugh or smile with me, but those didn’t happen often.“Why didn’t you just let him stay and listen to our conversation?” She pushes, drawing me out of my head as my heart begins to hurt over my inadvertently hurting the one closest to me just t
[Serenity’s POV]“Spell it out?”Frowning, I try to make sense of what it is that Maverick is getting at. Was he talking about his duty to protect me? I was more than aware of that, but for some reason, this seemed like something totally different.“Yes, little fool.” Maverick sighs, giving me a gentle smile. “Figure it out.”Stepping back, he watches me, waiting as I continue to try to figure out what exactly it is that he is saying, but when I come up empty, he just sighs and collapses.“You know,” he huffs, giving me a smirk. “You really are oblivious to so much if it isn’t related to pack matters or battle.”“Are you insulting me?” I growl, still feeling like I was missing something important.“Not at all,” he responds.Growing quiet, he just takes me in with that unreadable expression from before that makes my heart kick up speed and my stomach erupt with butterflies. I swear, it felt like he was almost seeing right through me, and I didn’t necessarily hate it, but I didn’t like
[Serenity’s POV]“Do you think Uncle William is okay?”I stare up into Maverick’s dark eyes while his arms tighten around me, pulling me closer to try to comfort the anxiety that I’m feeling.Two days had already passed since Uncle William went back to Crystal Fang, and even though there was no word on how he was, there was also no word that something happened, which in the end was a good sign, but I just couldn’t seem to calm down no matter how many times I told myself that everything was going to be okay.Was this feeling of foreboding only because of Uncle William, or did it also include the battle that we would be heading out for tomorrow?Of course, I have full faith in my pack, my family, and my family’s packs, but I was still nervous because the thought of losing even a single person was eating away at me, especially since I was the reason all of this was happening.“Hey,” Maverick murmurs, gently grabbing my chin and making me look at him. “Listen to me.”“Mmmmm.”Where he tou
[William’s POV]I stare at Lydia, my gaze narrowing as I take in what it is that she is saying. I wasn’t sure if she thought that I was so easy to fool or if she really went crazy, but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her shit.“You know there is no way that is impossible.” I say, ignoring my anger over her even suggesting such a ridiculous thing. “If you’re worried about not having anywhere to go once you leave here, you don’t have to worry about that. I will continue to support you as I promised, but you will no longer be able to stay beside me as you have until this point.”“You can’t be serious.” Lydia says, her eyes widening. “You’re going to send me away even though you know that I’m pregnant?”“You’re not pregnant.” I snap. “I took all precautions to ensure that didn’t happen.”“Nothing is a hundred percent.” She points out. “If you don’t believe me, then shall I have an examination?”“Have it,” I shrug. “Even if you are pregnant, I wasn’t the one who did it. Now, if you’re do
[William’s POV]I give Serenity and Maverick a final look before turning and peeking at Elise, who is curled up in bed with the blanket wrapped so tightly around her you would think she considers it the only thing protecting her from what is happening around her.“Why does this feel like goodbye?” Serenity asks, drawing my attention back to her. “I don’t like it.”“Don’t worry,” I chuckle, ruffling her hair. “I promise that I’ll be back, after all…”After all, wherever Elise is is where I will be. There was no way that I was going to let her out of my sight now that she was here with me. Of course, I knew that our relationship could never be what it once was given our current standing, but I could still be her support as she navigated the trenches of whatever life she decided to lead.“Now,” I continue, gently shutting the bedroom door behind me. “You and Maverick should take advantage of the time you have left before we leave.”“Okay,” she says quietly, but from her gaze, I know that
[Serenity’s POV]I sit with Maverick outside of Uncle William’s room, listening quietly to what is being said inside. Although I don’t necessarily think it is such a good idea to overwhelm Aunt Elise with her backstory, I can’t help but hope that maybe, somehow, it will bring her memories back to her. But even if those returned, what would come of Eleanor’s memories before Aunt Elise awoke? Would they somehow be there, or was the Eleanor of the past be gone forever?“What is it?” Maverick asks me, snapping me out of my head. “You’ve got a pretty big crease between your brows.”“I was just thinking,” I say quietly. “What it must feel like to be devoid of everything.”The words leave me before I even realize what I’m saying and to whom, and when I realize what I’m doing, my eyes widen, and I snap my gaze to Maverick, only to find that he is giving me a gentle look.“I’m sorry,” I hiss, feeling like I just shoved my foot into my mouth. “I didn’t…”“It’s fine,” he assures me, his large ha
[William’s POV]Shock rushes through me as Elise works to cover her body, and I realize that she is getting the wrong idea about me. Shit. How could I even think of me ogling her body? Did I look like that much of a damn creepy old man?“No one cares about your body.” I huff, heading to the dresser and grabbing a shirt and shorts. “Don’t get the wrong idea here.”Turning, I toss the clothes at Elise and then wait as sounds of movement reach me.“I didn’t think this needed to be said.” I say now, crossing my arms. “But you’re a student, and I’m your principal. That is all that is going on between us. Understand?”For a moment, Elise doesn’t say anything, and I truly wonder if she is second guessing what I’ve said, but when a hand touches my shoulder, I turn and find that her large eyes are taking me in with so many questions.“What?” I ask now, keeping my expression straight. “What is it?”“I saw,” she says quietly, then stops as if questioning whatever it was that she was claiming. “I
[Elise’s POV]I find myself standing in the middle of a large room that smells of blood and death. Laying in the middle of the floor is a pile of dead bodies, and sitting on his throne of death behind them is the one I am certain is responsible for it. And the minute I accidentally touched one of the dead, I saw what happened and how this man was the one who insisted that it happen. He was the one that told them to fight against one another and the reason that they were like this, but despite that, he wore such a smile on his face like he was an angel.“You’ve returned.” He says to me, his dark eyes glowing with triumph. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away.”His voice is like a beautiful siren’s call that draws me closer despite what I’m seeing. I want to obey this man and do everything that he wants of me. That’s why, when I reach his feet, I bow and wait until his large hand comes to rest on my head so that he can rub my fur.The way his fingers brushed along me felt amazing,
[Elise’s POV]I’m in darkness. It is a suffocating darkness—a painful darkness that consumes me and surrounds me. It’s like being trapped in thorny vines that rip at my body again and again, slowly shredding my skin while it heals over and over.There is a voice in this darkness, my only companion as I move about trying to find something or someone who can help relieve me from this pain and free me from the darkness that has become my entire world.The voice is deep, one that belongs to a man, and when it speaks, everything in me screams to go along with it, but I don’t. I’m not sure why, but I know that I can’t go to that person because if I do then everything will be over. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I do, so instead of obeying it, I continue to move.How long have I been traveling? How many days? How many nights? I don’t know because they all blur together. I only stop long enough to eat and sleep, then I’m up and moving once more toward... I don’t know what. I only know
[Maverick’s POV]Later, I lay in bed while Serenity sleeps soundly beside me. The sun is slowly starting to trickle through the window to our right, but I find myself wishing that it would stop and that this single moment of pure bliss would last forever. However, I’m more than aware that isn’t possible.Sighing, I roll over and kiss Serenity’s forehead, causing her to stir, and when her beautiful eyes open and take me in, I fight the urge to jump her.“Morning.” She yawns, giving me an enchanting smile. “What time is it?”I don’t respond as I take in the lovely creature beside me, and when it all becomes too much, I’m pouncing.“Maverick!” She gasps, but wraps her arms around me. “What’s gotten into you?”“You,” I respond, nipping at her neck. “Just the sight of you drives me absolutely crazy.”“Well, that’s going to be a problem.”I don’t argue with her words, as I realize that she is right. It really was going to be a problem, but it was a problem that I was willing to deal with li
[Maverick’s POV]My tongue glides along Serenity’s clit, cleaning off any juices that linger there and then repeating this action again and again while she makes delicious noises that drive me absolutely crazy. Who knew that I would end up craving this, her noises, her taste, the way her body shivers as I make it feel good, and the energy that thrums between us? It was like nothing I knew; not even the joy of a hunt or battle could make me feel this alive.“Maverick,” she whispers, snapping me out of my head. “I’m going to...”“Cum for me, Serenity,” I murmur, shoving my tongue into her core. “I want to taste you on my lips and tongue.”At my words, her body tenses and then arches as a beautiful moan escapes her parted lips while an intense orgasm begins to rush through her. I have to admit, it is one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen, but I wanted to see even more.“Mav-Maverick,” she whimpers while I continue my attack, not caring if she has already cum for the firs