CassandraUnbelievable! The hypocrite. I leaned against the door I had slammed shut a second ago, fuming with anger. So I couldn’t look at guys, but he could cuddle a girl right there in the street for anyone to see?Agnes rushed downstairs to see what the noise was all about. “Cassie? What happened?”I stomped past her into the kitchen. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Found a glass in the cupboard and filled it with water straight from the tap.“Did Alpha Connor say something to upset you?” Agnes followed me into the kitchen.I drank the water and slammed the glass onto the counter. Made for him, huh! I leaned against the counter, looking at my mother. Seemed like we shared the same poor taste in men.“Honey, you know you can talk to me.” She reached out to touch my arm, her brown eyes sympathetic. But I was still angry at her.“Really, Mom?” Sarcasm dripped from my tone. “What can you tell me that will make this better?” I folded my arms across my chest and glared at her. “Can you
Agnes knocked on the bedroom door after Connor left.“I assume you’re no longer mad at Connor?” she said, leaning against the wall. “He was smiling when he left.”I lay on the bed, hugging the pillow against my chest. It was a poor substitute for him, but it would have to do. His cologne still lingered in the room. “Yeah, I guess you can say so.” I sat up, smiling.“I wish you would stop being angry with me, Cassie.” Agnes shoved off from the wall and sat on the bed next to mine. “We’ve always had a good mother-daughter relationship, and I would hate for this to ruin it.”I sighed heavily. Anger was a draining emotion and no matter what, I loved my mother. She wasn’t perfect, but neither was I. “I’m not angry, Mom. Just disappointed.”She looked down at her hands in her lap. “I understand that, Cassandra. There is no excuse for what I did, except to say that when you have kids of your own, you will understand a mother would do anything to safeguard her children.”I shrugged. She might
JOELEver since Agnes came back, my wolf and I have been at war with each other. The beast wanted what was his claim and mark her and bedamn the consequences. I couldn’t. Too many years have passed. Years in which I had suffered from the loss of my soulmate.I couldn’t even reject her because she was human. It would have no effect on her. but it would kill me for sure. I still loved her, but she broke my heart into a million pieces.Although I understood her motives and knowing Alpha Troy, she must have been terrified beyond reason, I was still deeply disappointed that she couldn’t confide in me. And keeping my pup from me, that was unforgivable.Cassandra. The moment she stepped out of the car, my wolf Ross recognized her as ours. At first, I tried to deny it. The anger and pain I felt seeing Agnes were too much at that moment.Cassandra’s animosity towards me hurts me more than I care to admit. It wasn’t my fault that I missed her childhood, but it was obvious she blamed me.‘Yeah,
ConnorI was up before dawn, having spent a restless night thinking about Cassie and what I planned to do. She needed to be accepted into the pack as soon as possible. Maybe even tonight. Of course, there had to be a ceremony, as was our custom, and a party afterward. I only wished it could be our union ceremony. But all in good time.After training, I would give orders to my chefs to prepare a feast for the night. Joel, my gamma Eric and his mate will see to the preparations needed for the ceremony. The elders would need to be present as well. I wasn’t looking forward to that, particularly. But it was necessary.Miles worried they would object to her being accepted because of Agnes.“Why the hell would they, Miles? She’s a werewolf.” His constant worrying was exhausting.‘She’s half human, Connor. That could be grounds for objections, especially if you tell them she’s our mate.’“Well, that’s why we wait until she has her first turn. So, stop worrying about it!” Gods, he was just loo
AGNESI was alone in the house, or so I thought, when I went downstairs to make some coffee and a bite to eat. But what I found was Joel, busy making breakfast. He was shirtless. I stood in the doorway, watching the muscles in his back ripple underneath his bronzed skin as he whisked eggs into a bowl. I shouldn’t have stared, but I couldn’t help it. He was even more handsome than he was eighteen years ago. Only now his body had filled out, was no longer that of a boy. He was all lean, hard muscle, broad shoulders and narrow hips. His fiery hair was long and curled on his shoulders. I never thought I'd be into a guy with a beard, especially one as wild as his, but it suited him. “Are you going to stand there gawking at me the whole day or are you going to give me a hand?” he drawled without turning around.How did he know…? Of course. Werewolf senses. “I wasn’t gawking.” My face felt like it was on fire.“Whatever you say.” He turned, and I saw a long scar marring the skin on the l
Cassandra“Lift your hands, Cassie. Protect your vulnerable parts.” Sam stood close behind me, helping me learn the proper fighting stances and blocks. Were all of them so good-looking? I have not seen a single unattractive person here. It was very distracting being surrounded by powerfully sculpted bodies.“Why do you do it?” I asked Sam. “Train to fight? Connor told me everyone must, but I don’t get it.” It seemed peaceful there being surrounded by nature. Were they expecting trouble?“Connor, is it?” he chuckled like I had said something inappropriate. “Well, honey, we live in a dangerous world. Didn’t Alpha Connor explain to you what we’re up against?” he stressed the word alpha.“I grew up in the city. Of course I know.” My thoughts immediately went to Frank and the people he associated with. They were a different breed of wolves. Ones with guns.“This is not the city, sweetness.” Sam corrected my stance. “Put your weight on your back leg. It makes it harder for me to do this…” h
I followed Henna down a steep slope to the creek. We walked along the bank near the water bubbling over rocks and debris.“Careful, the ground is mossy and slippery as snot.” Henna grabbed hold of my arm when I stumbled against her.We hadn't gone far when I heard voices and laughter on the breeze. There were five of them, two girls and three boys playing around in the rushing water. Their ages ranged between sixteen and eighteen, if my estimations were correct.“Hey, guys! This is Cassandra. The new girl.” Henna called out to them.“Oh, is she Beta Joel’s daughter?” the girl flicked her wet hair out of her face and waved at me. “You’re all everyone’s talking about.”The others climbed onto the bank and regarded me with open curiosity. The curiosity was mutual. They looked so ordinary; just some teens having fun. Could they really be werewolves?“I didn’t realize I would be the topic of so much interest.” I said with a grin.“Yeah,” a tall, blonde boy walked up to me, water glistening
ConnorBy the Gods, she was pushing my boundaries. If only she knew how much effort it took for me to leave her there at Joel’s house, when all I wanted to do was take her to my room and ravage her.‘Ravage her?” Miles snorted in my head. Those were not the words you were thinking at all. Sounded more like f…’“Shut up wolf.” I had to get her out of my head so I could get my work done. Miles wasn’t helping at all. He kept sending me images of her in that skimpy outfit and of her sparring with Sam. Of course, she knew what it was doing to me, seeing her being touched by another male. The little tease. I ought to…I stomped into my bathroom. What I needed was an ice-cold shower. She had wanted me; I smelled her arousal, the damp scent between those shapely legs when I pressed her against the tree.“Fuck!” I slapped my hand against the shower wall, cracking a few tiles. The cold water assaulted my body, but it only intensified the heat in my balls. I craved release and was just about to
CassandraConnor left me behind with Stacey to look for some kind of intruder, which I called bullshit on. There was no one there. The blonde bimbo just used an excuse to get him there. What she didn’t expect was that I would accompany him. Fine, she was pretty with bigger boobs than mine and long legs, which I would kill to have. She was also a head taller than me.“It must be difficult for you. Umm, Cassandra, is it?” She looked down her perfect nose at me and all I could think of was how I would love to punch her in her make-up caked face.As if she doesn’t know my name. “What do you mean, it’s difficult for me?”“Oh, with everything, I guess.” She waved a manicured hand in my direction. “I can’t imagine growing up not knowing what you are. Then having to adjust to living in a pack. Must be why Connor feels sorry for you.”“Excuse you? Sorry for me?” Bitch please. I glared at her, my hands on my hips. “I am his mate. He made that clear that I will be his luna.”She gave me a condes
CassandraConnor left me behind with Stacey to look for some kind of intruder, which I called bullshit on. There was no one there. The blonde bimbo just used an excuse to get him there. What she didn’t expect was that I would accompany him. Fine, she was pretty with bigger boobs than mine and long legs, which I would kill to have. She was also a head taller than me.“It must be difficult for you. Umm, Cassandra, is it?” She looked down her perfect nose at me and all I could think of was how I would love to punch her in her make-up caked face.As if she doesn’t know my name. “What do you mean, it’s difficult for me?”“Oh, with everything, I guess.” She waved a manicured hand in my direction. “I can’t imagine growing up not knowing what you are. Then having to adjust to living in a pack. Must be why Connor feels sorry for you.”“Excuse you? Sorry for me?” Bitch please. I glared at her, my hands on my hips. “I am his mate. He made that clear that I will be his luna.”She gave me a condes
I woke to find Connor sitting on the edge of the bed, his back facing me. Reaching out, I touched his shoulder, and he turned his head to look at me. What I didn’t expect to see was the dark frown marring his features. Self-consciously, I covered myself with the blanket. Was he angry? Did I not please him?“Connor?”“This shouldn’t have happened. Did you take your suppressant like I told you to?” his voice was distant, and it shocked me more than a slap in the face. “I hoped to the gods you took your birth control. Although I doubt it would be effective at this stage.”But along with the shock and the hurt came righteous anger and indignation. “Of course I did! Good God! You make it sound like I deliberately seduced you!” I jumped up, taking the blanket along and there it was, the bloodstain on the white sheet, like an accusation.His eyes traveled to the spot and back to me. “Didn’t you, though? Your pheromones were off the charts. I had no control.” His blue eyes narrowed suspicious
CassandraI heard the steel doors clang shut, and it sent a jolt of heat and excitement through my body where I stood underneath the icy shower. He shouldn’t be here. But a part of me was ecstatic that he was, especially the part that was pulsating with want.‘He’s coming for us, honey,’ Sage purred. Her voice sounded smug, as if she planned everything.“You did this.” I accused her. “You made this worse.” My body felt as if I were on fire, the heat pulsing through my nerve endings, electrifying my most intimate parts. One touch and I would certainly combust.‘I might have amped it up a bit. But you’ll thank me later,’ she said with a giggle, and retreated.“Cassie,” Connor burst through the bathroom door, naked and oh, so gorgeous. His eyes glowing with his wolf near the surface. The grittiness in his voice sent a shiver through me, down to my pussy.“Connor…” I turned to him, begging him for help with my eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening,” I moaned. “I’m burning up.”The distance
ConnorStacey’s plump lips brushed against mine. Her body, so soft and pliant in my arms, was as I remembered. I had committed every detail of her to memory, from the sound of her laughter to the way her skin felt against mine, and it used to haunt me relentlessly after our breakup.I was tempted, I won’t lie. Thinking of how her body moved with mine when we used to make love, it was magical. But…“We can’t do this,” I said and pushed her away gently. “I am not a cheater, Stacey.”I ignored the hurt flooding her green eyes. She didn’t reply.Miles exhaled a deep breath of relief. ‘You had me going there for a while, Connor.’“We must head back to the pack.” I looked around for something to cover myself with. Couldn’t go driving around Santa Barbara naked. There were dust covers on the furniture in the living area. I grabbed one and draped it around me like a Roman toga. It was just large enough to cover the important parts. “Let’s go.”On the drive back to Wolf Creek, I kept thinking
Cassandra“What do you mean, you think you killed him?” Joel asked, “Cassie, you’d better explain. Are you running from the authorities?”Were we? I haven’t even given that any thought. “I… I don’t know, don’t think so.” Unless they discover his body. My fingerprints were all over that statue. The visual images of the police executing a nation-wide manhunt for my mother and me had my heart hammering in my chest, making it harder to breathe. Oh, God, I didn’t want to go to jail! Imagine wolfing out in a cell. They would sure as hell shoot me. Or worse, send me to a lab to experiment on.I sank to the floor, gasping for breath.“What’s wrong?” Joel asked, bending over me. “You need water?” He swung around to grab a bottle from the counter and handed it to me.I took careful sips, and gradually my wheezing breath returned to normal. He helped me up and made me sit on a bed.“I just hit him. With a bronze statue. It wasn’t planned or anything. He hurt my mother.” Words just spilled out of
Not wanting to spend any more time with Stacey than was necessary, I introduced her briefly to the staff and hurried to my office to catch up on the administration. Not that there was a lot for me to do, because everyone took pride in their work and there were hardly any problems. I answered emails, ordered supplies where needed and read the reports on the undergoing renovations.A client contacted me regarding a historical building that he wanted us to renovate. I sent him a reply promising him to inspect the site today and let him know if I was interested. Keen to get out of the office and out of Stacey’s way, I finished up quickly and was just about to leave when Shelly called out to me.“Alpha Connor.” She was slightly out of breath when she came waddling over to me, being heavily pregnant. “Stacey will have to accompany you on your inspection. Alpha Troy requested a full report on all the sites.” She propped a checklist into Stacey’s hands and basically shoved her at me. “Have fu
ConnorNow that Cassie was taken care of, I must concentrate on my business. My pack owns three restoration companies in Santa Barbara. It won’t make us billionaires, but we couldn’t complain either. The work was satisfying for those who loved to work with their hands, which a lot of the pack members did. Now that father gave his position as alpha over to me, it was also my responsibility to ensure that business ran smoothly.Every shop had a manager which father trusted implicitly, but I still had to show my face at least once a week to check on operations. I was on my way to my SUV when I ran into Stacy.“Connor, may I speak to you for a minute?” Stacy approached me. She looked stunning, as always, dressed in a light cotton pantsuit that molded her curves in all the right places. Her hair and make-up were faultless despite the sweltering California heat.She would have made an awesome luna. She was elegant, polite, and submissive. If it weren’t for her cheating on me, she would have
CassandraWhat a creepy place! No windows, no way out of here. This is unreal. There’s tinned food in the cabinets, bottled water, even some clothing. Have they prepared for a zombie apocalypse or what? I hate closed spaces. Hopefully, whatever is going on will soon pass and I could get the hell out of here before I lose it.‘Yeah, it’s likely not happening soon,’ Sage yawned. ‘Get some rest.’“Were those wolves in the woods really attracted to my scent, like Connor said?” It’s insane, right?‘What can I say? If you have it, flaunt it. Now hush, I’m sleeping.’This wolf! She was so, so annoying! I threw myself down on a bunk bed and covered my eyes with one arm. Ugh! Why must my life be so complicated?Before I could enjoy my pity party, the steel doors clanged open, and sunlight flooded the space.“Connor?” I sat up in a hurry, filled with expectation, which soon turned into disappointment when I saw who came in.“I brought you some things.” Joel handed me a backpack. “The meds are i