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
CassandraBefore I blacked out, my last thought was how unfair life was. Dying a virgin after meeting the man of my dreams. I would have laughed at the irony if I weren’t so terrified.It was only when I heard Joel’s voice that I realized I was still alive and in Connor’s arms. Connor had saved me. I had a second chance! Pretending to be out of it, I snuggled into his muscular arms. Safe. I wanted to stay right there.If this was the danger that lurked here in this place, I would rather take my chances in the city. How could a person fight against such monstrous things? What were they, anyway? They looked like they had rabies or something: Cujo on steroids. Only they weren’t dogs.Then I heard Joel say, “We’ve completed the mating,” and my ears burned. How could I look him and Agnes in the eyes after what I heard? Will they be going at it every night? Hell, it was in the middle of the day, and they were screwing each other’s brains out.Oh, God! Now I have that mental picture stuck in
ConnorThe rogue attack created a buzz among the pack members. I felt their restless energy surging through the collective mind. It was good. We should never let our guard down. Just because peace reigned between the various packs didn’t mean it would last forever. Peace was a very fragile thing in our world. The slightest confrontation could set off a full-scale war. As packs grew in number, the need for territory increased, and our territory was significant, and the game was bountiful. My pack wasn’t one of the largest, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in strength.More pack members arrived while the omegas prepared the tables for the feast. The mouthwatering aroma of various dishes teased the senses. By the looks of it, my cooks had outdone themselves. There was more than enough food. I watched as a group of pups chased each other around the tables, squealing with laughter, and I wondered what our pups would look like. I imagined they would inherit Cassie’s stubbornnes
CassandraThere was an infernal buzzing in my mind that wouldn’t go away. I imagined that was what a hangover would feel like, even though I had never experienced one.Connor led me away to sit with Agnes and Joel. I only let him because I still couldn’t trust my legs. If I weren’t starving, I would have gone straight to bed.“You look pale, Cassie. Here, have some water.” Agnes held a glass to my lips, and I took it from her.“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, somewhat irritated, but gulped the water down, anyway. I still tasted Connor’s blood in my mouth and found it strangely sweet. It wasn’t as gross as I thought it would be. Who does that anyway? They’re not vampires.Joel leaned toward me. “It will get better. You will learn how to tune most of it out. Focus on someone you want to speak to. It’s like a phone connection.”Wow. That was the most words he’d spoken to me since he tried to give me the rundown on werewolves.Connor returned with plates stacked with food and took his place next
My wolf? Now? I was just about to have the best make-out session with Connor, and now she showed up.“You’ve got to be kidding me…”“This is wonderful. This is great news, Cassie.” He was grinning like a fool and I was just… damn!“But I can’t,” I moaned. “This is… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”Connor shook me by the shoulders. “Just let her speak to you.”As if that was so easy. This was insane. I shook him off and stomped to the living room and collapsed onto the couch. I’ve heard her voice before, but that was when I thought I was losing it and I ignored it…her. Now there was just silence. Right. Now you decide to shut up.Connor came over and sat next to me. “Cassie, just try to let her through. Look at me. Miles will help her.”He cupped my face, and I leaned into his palm, staring into his eyes. They changed from blue to red instantly.“You’re not going to shift, are you?” Panic flared in my chest. I was still not used to see him in wolf form.“No, I’m letting Miles cal
FrankIt turned out the guy that bought Cassandra’s car wasn’t a complete dead end. The guy was scared shitless when Carmine brought him to me, and he was more than happy to give me the dealer’s name that sold him the car.Said dealer had a serious case of amnesia when I questioned him about the two women who sold him the little Honda. Clientele privacy, and all that.But he was a greedy little monkey who’d sell out his own mother for the right price. He gave me the make and model of the piece of crap car he sold Agnes—told you she wasn’t all that smart—as well as the number plates which I gave to my boy Tony.Meanwhile, Tony hacked into the traffic cams to search for them. It took some time, but eventually he spotted the car heading towards the interstate, and that’s where he lost her. That was almost two weeks ago, which meant they could be anywhere by now. “Goddammit!” I tore at my hair, cursing the heavens and cursing her and her brat.“Boss, it’s okay. I’ll get them. There’s now
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