[Serenity’s POV]I kissed him. I kissed him. Holy shit! I kissed him.These words repeat themselves in my head again and again as I rush down the hall and then burst into my first class of the day.“What did I do?” I gasp, taking my place and burying my head in my hands. “What were you thinking, Serenity?”Shit. I acted on impulse. Was it because of what I discussed with Aunt Elise?No. I couldn’t blame that talk for what I did. Deep down, I knew that I did it because I wanted to do it, and now that it happened, what would happen with Maverick and me?Screaming internally, I hear a round of giggles. Lifting my head, I watch as some of the girls in my class watch me with looks of amusement.“Take a picture,” I huff just as Maverick enters.Tensing, I watch while he lazily heads in my direction. When he reaches, he takes his normal spot beside me. Holding my breath, I wait to see what will happen, but when he acts like normal, pulling his books out of his bag and preparing them for the
[Serenity’s POV]I grab Aunt Elise’s hand and begin to lead her out of my room, only to find that Maverick and my parents are in the living room. For a moment, they simply stare at me and Aunt Elise while we remain in place, and when my father’s expression darkens, I know that he’s going to show his ass.“Serenity,” he says slowly, looking from me to Aunt Elise. “I think it would be best if you didn’t…”“Hold that thought!” I yell, stopping him. “I know what you’re going to say, but I’m going to have to say I won’t listen to you.”Swallowing, I watch as a wave of emotions flashes in my father’s eyes before they settle on anger.Shit. Maybe that wasn’t exactly the best way to put it, but by this point things were too serious to back down, especially if we wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening with these rogues and what could possibly happen to Aunt Elise.“I know that neither you nor Uncle William trust Eleanor.” I continue now, pulling Aunt Elise against me and wrapping my
[Elise’s POV]I stare at Forrest for a moment while I try to make sense of what he is saying until I remember William’s fucking punishment he gave me.“Disciplinary committee.” I mutter in annoyance. “Right, I was put on that, huh?”“You kidding?” Forrest asks, tilting his head to the side. “How could you forget something like that in the span of a week?”A lot has happened. I think inwardly, but remain quiet outwardly.Sighing, I feel a bit of fomo starting to settle in over the conversation I was certain would be taking place in Serenity’s dormitory. It looked like I wasn’t going to be able to be present for it, and that was so damn annoying.“Earth to Eleanor,” Forrest says, waving a hand in front of my face, snapping me back to the present. “We gotta get going.”“Yeah, yeah,” I sigh, my frustration growing. “Lead the way.”Growing quiet, I allow Forrest to lead me toward a classroom where the rest of his delinquent crew is waiting along with a teacher that I don’t quite recognize.
[Serenity’s POV]I sit quietly, waiting with my parents and Maverick for my uncle William to join us. With each passing minute, my curiosity was growing, and by the time the man shows, I’m almost chomping at the bit to know if Aunt Elise’s hunch is correct. However, before I can even say anything, I realize that Uncle William is alone.“Where’s Aunt Elise?” I ask, peeking around Uncle William. “Didn’t she go to fetch you?”“He knew too?” My father hisses before Uncle William can even respond.At his words, Uncle William’s gaze shifts to my father, and a smug look flashes on his features, but I continue to stare at the door he just came through.“Jealous?” Uncle William asks completely at ease. “I guess they trust me more than you and for good reason given that temper of yours.”“Are you trying to pick a fight?” My father growls, beginning to get up but stopping as my mother grabs him.“Rosco,” she sighs, shooting him a disapproving look. “Now isn’t the time.” Growing quiet, she waits
[Serenity’s POV]I open my mouth to ask Maverick what it is that he means, but before I can, his mouth is slamming into mine, causing all rationale to go out the fucking window.Goddess, it’s like heaven erupts within me as his tongue pokes at my lips, urging them to open so that it can meet my own and begin to dance. And his hands that touch me are so fucking rough and gentle at the same time.No. A small part of me screams, trying to remind me that this wasn’t the time or place. You can’t keep this up.But I could. In the moment, I found myself wanting this to last forever because it felt like something that I wanted for so long but didn’t even realize it.Pulling away, Maverick stares at me with dark eyes while his breath comes in deep puffs.“Do you get it now?” He asks, brushing his fingers along my cheek, running delicious lines of fire along my skin. “Or should I continue showing you?”“I…” I begin, honestly wanting him to kiss me like that again. “I don’t…”I don’t get to fini
[Elise’s POV]I let out a howl, attacking the rogue closest to me, but as its blood explodes in my mouth, I feel something in me stir that leaves me scurrying back. Gagging, I attempt to get the overly sweet taste to go away in hopes it will stop the stirring that I feel.‘What is this?’ I hiss, trying to ignore the sudden desire I feel to taste more of it. ‘What’s happening?’‘The bite,’ Anna responds, causing my heart to skip a beat.Looking down, I examine the wound on my leg and feel a wave of horror rush through me as I realize the spot of my injury looks just like the rogues bodies, rotting and dirty.‘Fuck.’ I growl, understanding beginning to flare. ‘So that’s how they came to be. But where did the first come from?’As this thought hits, a rogue slams into me, sending me crashing into a tree, and when I hit, I feel a rib break and the air puff out of my lungs.Ugh, I really need to pay attention. Otherwise, I was going to end up getting myself killed here. Or would I? Could I
[Elise’s POV]I attempt to surge forward only to find that my leash is attached to the ground, keeping me in place while the bastard who is responsible for all this stares at me.“Who are you?” He whispers, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look into his eyes. “Because you can’t possibly be my queen.”Shit. He caught me. When it came to these damned visions, I forgot that if I wasn’t careful, those around me could tell that I wasn’t the one who was meant to be seeing.“Are you a spy?” He growls, digging his claws deeper into my skin. “Someone sent to take from me what is rightfully mine? GUARDS!” He roars, raking his claws along my skin.Cursing inwardly, I turn and watch as two men come forward while the rest of the group continue to eat. When they arrive, they wait patiently for their self proclaimed king to give his order, but before I can hear what the fate of the woman who I am possessing is, I feel myself being tugged and thrown through time and space until I’m left crashing in
[Serenity’s POV]I watch with wide eyes as my father turns and rushes to my mom’s side, shifting back into his human form. He picks her up and heads toward the school. It is only when he is out of sight that I turn my gaze to Maverick, who remains stunned.‘Hey,’ I call through mindlink, trying to draw his attention only for him to seem to not hear me. ‘Maverick.’I repeat this call a few more times, but he doesn’t seem to move. Realizing that he is too shocked by what happened to focus on anything, I shift into my human form and rush to his side.“Maverick!” I gasp, grabbing him and shaking. “Hey, snap out of it, Maverick!”“Serenity,” he whispers, blinking a few times. “I’m…”He doesn’t finish his words as Uncle William comes and drops down beside us, throwing a jacket over me and then pulling Maverick into a sitting position.“Are the two of you okay?” He asks, beginning to examine us. “Did you get hurt? Why the hell are you out here?”“We were attacked,” I sigh, feeling a sudden w
[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