Layla POVI struggle trying to move as heat radiates from both sides of me. I feel like I am in a furnace. Rolling to my left, I come in contact with someone. Is that Amy’s scent? It can't be; I look closer, hovering over her, feeling like a stalker. My heart jumps for joy; my friend is alive, laying flat on my back again, and sighing with relief, I move over, trying not to wake her. I stiffen; there is another body. What the hell is this? Breathing deeply, the most fantastic scent fills my senses, lavender pine and a hint of lemon, “Nope, definitely not going there.”I have to move; I need to get away from him as fast as possible.Crawling down to the end of the bed, I intend to run; falling on top of a wolf, I scream and land on my ass. Jumping up, my hand is on the door handle when a deep husky voice says,“Stop where you are, Layla; don't you dare fucking move.”I freeze, shivers running down my back. Turning to the voice, I say,“Who the hell are you, and where the fuck am I?”A
Nathan POV"Let's get straight to the point.” I look her in the eyes as I answer,“Yes, Layla, I killed Michael, and I don't regret it.”She sits quietly, chewing her bottom lip, then asks,“What did my father do to you, Nathan?”“He killed my parents, wiped out my father's pack.” Layla goes to interrupt, stopping when I shake my head “NO” at her.“He kidnapped Diana, my aunty, and Amy, my sister. But last but not least, Layla, he tried to fucking kill you.”She looks down, rubbing her temples, and whispers,“I know he was a monster, Nathan, but I need a little time to process what you have just told me.”I stay silent watching Layla; I am dumbfounded; most females would be crying, falling apart after being told briefly about our past.Layla breathes in, catching Marian's scent as she steps onto the porch; a smile lights up her face when she sees her. She jumps up, embracing Marian, and tears trickle down her face. Marian grabs Layla’s face with both her hands,“I ran into Amy. She
Amy POV Nathan’s jaw clenched, and the vein near his temple was thumping like crazy; sitting back in my chair, I crossed my legs and placed my hands on my lap. He watches me closely; his scrutiny is starting to get on my nerves. “For goodness sake Nathan. Spit it out. What do you have to tell me.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table; then he tells me what happened to our parents, our pack, Diana, and myself. I can taste blood in my mouth where I have been chewing my bottom lip as he spoke; running my hand down my face, I shake my head. I don't know what to say to him. Trying to ease the tension I can feel coming from him, I say, “Guess I won't be calling you Alpha-hole anymore.” His smile is filled with grief when he asks, “Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you, Amy?” I feel so bad for him. Walking behind him, I wrap my arms around his shoulders and kiss his cheek. “I will be fine. I need to speak to Layla.” “Why do you need to speak to Layla?”
Layla POVSneaking out of the bathroom, I look for Nathan; he isn't inside. Feeling exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the last few days, I crawl into bed and fall asleep.I wake slowly, not wanting to leave the dream.Nathan's hands are running over my body, starting from my knee up over my ass, along the small of my back to my shoulder; when he reaches my neck, I shiver, turning into him. His hand continues along the front of my neck, then slowly moves to cup my breast gently in his palm. I feel my arousal slowly building as I watch him lower his head, gently taking my nipple into his mouth; he bites the tip slightly, then licks around it, sending quivers of pleasure through me.He moves his mouth down my stomach towards the center of my thighs. He pushes my knees apart, never taking his eyes off mine, smiling as he lowers his head between my legs. Slowly he starts running his tongue along my slit, opening it slightly so he can plunge his tongue inside me. He grabs my hi
Nathan POVI smile and watch Layla roll onto her stomach, the sheet slipping down her body, showing the curve of her ass; my balls tighten as my arousal grows and my cock hardens. I know I am never going to get enough of her. I groan, turning away, fuck me, if I didn't have work to do, I would crawl back in bed and fuck her senseless.I growl, mind linking Drew.“I am on my way up now.”“No worries, Alpha, coffees made” Walking into the house, Amy goes running past me. She stops.“Goodmorning, Nathan” stepping closer, she sniffs me,“You need a shower; you smell like Layla.”I raise my eyebrows at her.“I know Amy, and I love it.” An expression of horror crosses her face, and she runs out of the house.After having a shower, I go back downstairs, my mouth watering as I reach the kitchen. Coffee, bacon, eggs, and toast are on the table.“Where’s Diana, don't tell me you made this, Drew?”Laughing he says“No, Diana made it before she left this morning.”“Where is she?”“She ran into
Maree POV My hate for Nicole has grown over the years, eating me from the inside out. If only she hadn't stolen him from me, my life would be different. It is her fault my parents haven't spoken to me since I sent Sasha to live with Michael; when Lucian came to see Leon, I did what I had to do to ensure I would be the one he chose as his mate. The fact that he already had a son was appealing as the thought of being a mother again has always sickened me. Lucian is an unforgiving prick at times, and I can't afford for him to find out about my past. I could have killed him when he told me who he had arranged to become Isaac’s mate. There is no way I will suffer the bitches presence on my land. He said that the Red River Luna’s name was Diana; what the fuck happened to Nicole? Not that I give a damn about her, but I would have to have felt something if she had died, and I will do whatever is necessary to stop Lucian from finding out about Sasha. Tip toeing around the mud puddles in th
Nathan POVMonique's voice in my mind wakes me up.“We need you and Drew at the border, Nathan; we have a family of rogues wanting to cross into your territory.”“Don't let them out of your sight; we will be there soon.”Drew’s still asleep. I shake him awake,“Get up; we are needed.”He growls, still pissed off with me about last night, and puts on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.“Where’s Amy and Layla,” he asks.I shrug and mindlink Monique again,“Are the girls still at the cabin?”She laughs through the link,“They won't be awake for hours with the amount of alcohol they consumed.” I turn to Drew,“Layla and Amy are still asleep. We will be back before Amy wakes up.”He snarls as he follows me downstairs; it will take us half an hour to reach Monique.“What can you tell me about the wolves, Monique.”“A male-female and one pup. There’s something off about the male.” I watch as the rogue approaches. The male is large and very muscular; the way he walks shows me he is overconfident
Nathan POVWe have just returned to the packhouse when Amy squeals, running up onto the porch and jumping into Drew's arms.A smile spreads across Drew's face as he looks at me, fuck no! Neither of them notices Diana and me running in opposite directions; there is no fucking way I want to hear Drew and Amy getting it on.I open the cabin door slowly; Layla is spread across the bed, sound asleep. The smell of stale alcohol stops me in my tracks. How much did they drink last night? There are empty bottles everywhere. I get why Layla is hesitant to let me mark her and complete our mate bond, but my patience is wearing thin. Trying to control Neo when she is near us is nearly impossible. That's why I encouraged Danni last night and didn't tell her to fuck off. I wanted to see Layla’s reaction, and I wasn't disappointed; she definitely has a temper on her. Opening the windows to let some fresh air in, I start tidying up. Sitting at the table drinking a coffee, I remember I need my fuckin
Darius POV Ellie and Beth have just turned five, and watching my daughters interact with the other children in our pack never ceases to surprise me. Whenever the older pups get into an argument, you can guarantee that Ellie is standing in the middle of them, trying to calm everyone down. Beth always stands beside Ellie with her fists clenched, ready to step in if anyone gets too close to her sister. We always knew Ellie would be our diplomat; her calming nature can diffuse just about any situation in which the girls may find themselves. If Ellie can't get through to the other pups, you can guarantee Beth; our warrior, will take control and step in. Beth watches her mother train with the warriors every afternoon, mimicking Layla’s movements; we are trying to delay letting her train with the older pups. But it is getting harder and harder to refuse her, especially when we know what our daughter's future holds for them. Ellie and Beth are highly protective of their little brother; they
Layla POVAll the pups that Willow brought with her now have homes; it never ceases to amaze me how quickly children can adapt to new surroundings. Willow and Riley have marked each other. Willow is a beautiful she-wolf with a loving nature; Riley and Willow are perfect for each other. Darius and I are on our way to my territory; Anita has gone into labor, and Diana is there, but both Zach and Anita have asked if I could be with her in case Zach passes out as Drew did. Our baby is due in a couple of weeks; I feel like a baby elephant these days; my feet are swollen most days, and getting up off the floor never ceases to have Ellie and Beth giggling uncontrollably. We have everything set up for when our pup arrives; I don't mind admitting that I have told Diana to bring any pain relief she can get her hands on when my time comes. I smile when we pull up out front of the packhouse; Zach's pacing frantically in the front yard; he turns toward us and approaches the truck opening my door
Darius POV I wake up in a foul mood; my eyes feel like someone has tipped a bucket of sand in them. Layla is sound asleep beside me; I untangle my body from hers and throw a pair of jeans on before going downstairs. No sound comes from the loungeroom where the pups and Willow are sleeping. I go to the kitchen and make a coffee before going to my office. I go to stand when I hear footsteps getting closer to my office; the door opens, and my eyes widen in shock when Riley enters and sprawls out on the couch opposite me. He rakes his hand through his hair as he says, “I need to talk to you.” I smirk at him and reply, “That's obvious, or you wouldn't be here this morning.” He shakes his head and chuckles nervously as he says, “I need your advice.” I groan, “Please don't tell me you have gotten one of the she-wolves you sleep around with pregnant.” Riley snorts as he says, “If only it were that simple.” I frown; this is serious; it looks like I am not the only one who
Layla POV It had only been a couple of weeks since Soren, Nathan, and Teena came to our territory. It's early on a Saturday morning, Darius and I are still in bed, our pack run was the previous night, and as always, after our packs ran together, we had a bbq. It was a bit of a struggle getting so many wolves in one place, but somehow we always managed to pull it off. Since it's not safe for pregnant females to shift, I waited at home with Ellie, Beth, Amy, Abbie, and the younger members of our packs. Darius and I usually lead the run, he wanted to stay at home, but I didn't see the sense of both of us missing out on one of the things we loved. We have added two toddler beds in the nursery for Ellie and Beth; Darius and I are lying in bed arguing over baby names; we have only just agreed on Bohdi as a boy's name. Choosing a girl's name is becoming impossible. I chuckle when I hear the pitter-patter of two pairs of feet as they run toward us. Ellie and Beth have started climbing int
Layla POV I froze when Teena stood up and went to follow me inside. Did I want this woman in my home? Lea’s voice entered my mind as she said, “Teena and Soren won't harm Ellie and Beth.” I nod and motion her to follow me; Alec is playing with the girls in the lounge room. I pick Ellie up. Teena looks at me and asks, “Can I pick this little one up?” I can see the shock in Darius’s eyes when I say “Yes” Lea had already told me Teena was a witch; as long as she wasn't here to harm my babies, I couldn't care what species she was. When we entered the kitchen, Teena said, “You are pregnant. Would you like to know if you are having a boy or girl?” I shake my head and answer, “No, Darius and I are happy to wait until our pup arrives.” She nods, helping Diana, Abbie, and I carry the food to the porch. Darius has already taken the girl's chairs outside; mom pulls a chair close to her and narrows her eyes at Alec as she says, “Behave yourself, or you will be eating inside
Darius POV We knew Soren and his companions were coming; our patrols spotted them two days before they reached our border. I mind-linked our warriors and told them not to stop him from crossing the border. Alec, Beth, and Ellie were to remain inside the house with Diana and Abbie while they were here until told otherwise. Sebastian was staying on Layla’s territory with her wolves. Everyone was to remain on high alert in case of any trouble, we weren't expecting any, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Lea has already alerted Layla that Alpha Soren would arrive within the next thirty minutes. Layla has set up a meeting area on the porch, she refuses to allow him to enter our home. Zach, Riley, Jackson, Nicole, Leon, and Kyra are already here, and Drew and Amy are on their way over now. Its have been raining non-stop since yesterday, so they would have to walk a fair distance up the mountain; my patrol mind links me and says, “They have pulled the cars off the road and coming
Soren POV The wolves Teena let into my territory have been here for two days; they have recovered from the wounds, and I intend to speak to them today. Teena and I have been in my office since dawn; she sits opposite me, holding a cup of coffee in both hands. I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest and ask, “What did you see?” She frowns as she says, “Nathan was an Alpha before he came here; he has made terrible mistakes in his past and is trying to compensate for the hurt he has caused the ones closest to him.” I nod, looking at her; Teena seems tired. I growl before saying, “And you still want to claim him as your mate?” She nods her head “Yes” and replies, “Everybody makes mistakes, Soren; you know that.” I snort, “That may be so, but it's too dangerous for you to leave here without me.” She chuckles as she says, “Mark my words Soren; Nathan will denounce his title as Alpha and stay here with me.” I roll my eyes at her and say, “Your very con
Layla POVIt's been a couple of days since Josie’s visit. Darius and I have been awake for hours, I get out of bed, and as soon as I place my feet on the floorboards, the room starts spinning. I run to the bathroom, kneel in front of the toilet, and empty the contents of my stomach. I groan, resting my head in my hands until the room stops spinning. I use the vanity to pull myself off the floor and step gingerly into the shower turning the water on so I can have a shower. I stay under the water until I feel better and wrap a towel around myself as I leave the bathroom.Darius is resting against the headboard of the bed with a frown on his face as he asks,“Are you ok, sweetheart, your not making yourself sick worrying about what Josie said?” I sit beside him and rest my head against his shoulder as I say, “Maybe I don't know Darius?”He wraps his arms around me as he whispers, “I wasn't joking when I said I would kill anyone who hurt our girls, Layla.” I sigh, looking up at him, a
Alpha Soren I haven't had anything to do with my family for years; I left home at sixteen and have remained hidden for the last twenty years. The politics of my brother's court sickens me; I had many wolves loyal to me and have built my pack from two thousand wolves to five thousand wolves; we choose to stay hidden. My brother has no idea where I am, and I intend to keep it that way. My brother Phillipe is an evil prick and wouldn't hesitate to kill my mate and my children if he knew our whereabouts. I wrap my arms around Tatiana, holding her close to my chest as the sobs wrack her petite frame; I can smell the fear seeping from her as she murmurs, “What are we going to do, Soren?” I kiss the top of her head as I reply, “I will never let anyone hurt our daughter Tatiana.” My sister Teena has just placed Octavia in her cradle; she smiles at me sadly as she leaves my bed chamber. Octavia is a beautiful baby. She will grow into a beautiful woman just like her mother; the corners