~Adriana~ I drag my hand down my sweating face and look up at the giant tree that still smells faintly like Liam. It’s all I can do to keep my tears at bay. I am so full of hurt and anger that I don’t even know how to handle it anymore. Rosie steps up next to me, her hand on my back as she tries to comfort me. I picked up his scent late last night, but it was too dark to keep searching for him. Every second I can smell him but not touch him, hear him, breaks me further as I realize all the things I have done wrong to make him feel like he must face this on his own. I should have let him lay everything out on the line for me. Maybe then he would believe he was worthy of being wanted and loved.“We will catch up to him.” Rosie says softly, and I chuckle at nothing. It’s not a funny statement, and the situation is far from hilarious, but the laughter rolls out from me and I shake my head. “We will catch him when he wants to be caught.” I say once my hysterical laughter subsides. “Is
~Liam POV~The Alpha’s who are after me have clearly broken into smaller groups. There is no way they haven’t discovered the three I already took out yet. Here we are a full two days from when I ran from the pack and we still have not come across any more of them. I would chalk it up to my skills, but these aren’t your average rogues. These are full-blown leaders, no matter if their packs were taken from them.There is a higher expectation for alphas for a reason. We are strong, fast, and often have a natural knack for planning and execution of said plans. Though some are better than others in those areas. I started all my training much younger than most alphas. Taking my first life at fourteen and it didn’t end there. Every single time I showed mercy or a hint of hesitation, the outcome was the same.Seven rogue lives. That’s all it took for me to stop showing mercy to the pack members I sparred with. The number seems huge compared to a normal fourteen-year-old child who got to actua
Not that it will do anything. This fox is stubborn as shit and has a knack for getting in the way. Or getting herself in trouble, which are two things I don’t need right now. The wind is howling through the trees and not blowing in my favor, so I ease around them in a wide berth to approach them undetected by my scent.“We should split into smaller groups,” One of them demands.“Yeah, so we can all end up dead like Will, Edgar, and Mike? Yeah, no thanks. I’d rather have strength in numbers.”“Brandon has a point, Dom. Three verses one isn’t good enough odds for us. Liam isn’t an ordinary Alpha. He is fucked up in the head. He enjoys watching life leave his victims’ eyes. His soul is as black as a starless night.”Brandon groans in annoyance. “You sound like you are in love with the ass, Chase.”“I’m afraid of the fucker. And you should be too. I watched him watch his dad die on my land.” Chase punches Brandon in the arm and Brandon growls in response.“Yeah right,” Dom says, chiming i
~Adriana POV~Jacob stops suddenly, his head looking from side to side as he crouches and inches further ahead. I toss a look at Rosie, who is sniffing the air, and that’s when I catch it. The smell of fresh blood lingered in the hot humid evening. I follow Jacob’s lead, easing my way behind him until he gestures for us to fan out. I creep north of him, Declan on my left and Rosie on the other side of Jacob as we move closer and closer to the smell. I see a naked man laying on the dirt-covered ground and move to him, reaching out to check for a pulse. When I look back up, I see Jacob standing yards away with his hands on his hip. Liam’s scent invades my senses and I nearly purr with how strong it is. This is the closest he has been to us in days and no matter the carnage he left behind, I still long to be close to him. “How many this time?” Rosie asks. “Four,” Declan says, appearing from beyond more trees. “There is a small trail of blood heading southwest. Looks like single heavy
When we finally settle into camp out the night, I situate myself next to Jacob. I’m not nearly as close to Jacob as I am to Axel, but he has always been open and honest with me when asked. And the questions I want to ask him, I know he will answer. Jacob was born and raised in the werewolf world. Though he was born without a wolf, his story is like all of us in Axel’s pack. Axel, in his ultima form, found us and chose us to be blessed with a wolf. Because of the way he grew up, Jacob has a considerable amount of werewolf knowledge and comes from the world that knew Liam as the fearsome warrior he was. I have rarely asked about Liam and his past, just simple things with his ex-mate and her relationship with Liam. With the mate bond comes considerable jealousy. I definitely was a victim. “You have questions, don’t you?” He asks, poking the fire with a stick. “If you don’t mind?” I say, releasing a breath. “Nope. Lay them on me.” I can feel the slight tension in his back and the ai
I drag my little tent with me, searching for a spot where his scent is strongest. Liam's scent has been all around us for days like a word stuck on the tip of your tongue, but you can’t quite get it right. I find a small clearing and I’m overwhelmed by Liam’s scent as it seems to linger through the whole space. I try to reach out via the mindlink, but he gives me nothing, says nothing for almost the third day in a row now and my heart sinks.“Liam,” I say softly, closing my eyes and just begging for him to show up right in front of me. I peel my eyes open and nearly sink to the ground in disappointment when I’m greeted with the same darkness. When I open my tent and move to crawl in, I hear a rustling in the trees and I freeze, a prickle of awareness creeping up my spine as I scan the treetops looking for the source. I know I am being watched, but the question is, by what? A tiny breeze shifts and I’m overwhelmed by Liam’s scent. My knees grow weak and tears spring to my eyes as I in
*Liam POV*I stare at my sleeping mate, my heart torn in two at having to leave her side yet again. I scented her yesterday and knowing she was, near drove me crazy. Gwen is still upset with me for attacking the group that was hunting me. I allowed her to yell at me and get it out of her system while I walked stoically, waiting for her to take a breath so I could remind her she can leave at any time. And that’s when I caught her smell.I reach out and stroke her cheek, a small smile gracing her lips as she snuggles further into my chest. After passing out on her, Adriana woke me up to tell me her legs were numb from my body being on her. Naturally, I instantly felt terrible, but she laughed and pulled me up to her side and wrapped herself up in me like I was the blanket. I figured she would want to talk, but we both quickly fell back to sleep.I stoop down and kiss her lips, and they jump into action, moving against mine as her hands reach out and snake up my shoulders. I smile agains
I stare at Marc, the same man who used to be at my beck and call. He did an excellent job pretending to be my friend and confidant. Had I not been so cocky, I may have seen that he was vying for my spot. He encouraged me to join Samuel’s plight all those years ago to win back Ali, my first mate. Samuel had acted like a father to her, and it didn’t take me long to believe him when he told me she was my mate and would want me back. That all went to shit when he locked her up and tortured her in Wade’s dungeon. That’s when the change in me began. The slow opening of my long sleeping eyes showing me the corruption and terrible things I had been doing. But a man doesn’t change in the span of minutes. It takes years to unlearn habits and qualities and killing. Not caring was more than a habit, it was the core of who I was. And fucking Marc knew it would be the end of me.“You willing to risk the entire pack for a chance to kill me?” I raise a brow.Marc laughs, his head falling back, expos
**If you have not read Books 1 & 2 this portion contains SPOILERS!** (Mate pairs are at the end of the author's note) Dear Readers, I want to say thank you all for sticking out the entire Guardian collection. It's not a typical series since each book has different main characters and for the most part, are standalone's but if you stuck it out and read all three THANK YOU! I am humbled. The Alpha's Guardian is my first werewolf novel (and only the second book I have ever written in my life) and I like to think I have grown since then. I have only been writing novels for a year so the fact that you all are willing to read and pay for the stories that have been stuck in my head means so much to me. I promise to take all your constructive criticism and kind words to heart and work to better my writing and my storytelling! A special shoutout to the readers for correcting noticeable mistakes I missed. I use two editing apps and still, mistakes happen. When you comment it helps me know w
The Blue Moon ball has grown in size every time it is held. Thankfully, it’s not a yearly event, considering blue moons aren’t something to be scheduled. Though Axel has his ultima year round, his ability to transform someone into a wolf is only available when the blue moon is out. His powers heighten in the week leading up to it but don’t peak until the moon is at its full height. In eighteen years, there have only been twelve full moons. The saying ‘once in a blue moon’ got its meaning for a reason. When we enter the newly erected ballroom, the chatting is at an all-time high and the room is full of stunning ball gowns and buzzing excitement. Billy saunters over with his mate Bea and they both smile brightly, talking to the triplets. Billy and Bea never had a child of their own. Whether it was by choice, no one really knows as we didn’t feel it was our place to ask. We next run into Emal and Ginger, who have left their only son Edgar at home with Jacob and Cora’s son, Miles and Al,
“Matty!” Giselle groans in annoyance. Her dark hair pulled back in a sleek low bun, her lavender ball gown making her eyes nearly an amber color as she scowls at her brother. “What?” he says, looking up from the television for a mere second before looking back at it. “You aren’t even dressed yet. Seriously, we have to leave in ten minutes if we are going to be on time,” she says, rushing out of the room, no doubt to grab her older triplets tuxedo and shoes. Giselle is the keeper of order in our house. For the past eighteen years, I was the one to raise the children. Adriana, being one of the lead warriors, was usually home when she wasn’t training, but when she went away on mission, I tended to these sweet kids every need. Well… I suppose these three aren’t kids anymore. I hop up off of my kitchen stool and move over to where Matty is playing his video games and unplug the device. He groans loudly but stands from his spot and gives me a mischievous grin that mirrors my own. Bot
“I must decline this honor this time.” Axel’s red eyes stare deep into mine and he tilts his head. While I know Axel is understanding of my position and my choice, it is very clear that his Ultima wolf is not keen on me saying no. Though ordinary wolves can not speak, Axel remains in unison with his wolf during the blue moon, allowing him to use his voice to speak. Though it is never anything poignant or flowery. More guttural demands and basic one-word usage.“Why?” He asks me. I stare right back at him.“I am not yet worthy in my mind.” He seems to think about this for a moment, then with a nod, he walks around the room some more, stopping in front of Francis, Wade and Ali’s beta, and his mate Sammy. I feel at peace with my decision. Adriana was right earlier today when she said she could feel me second-guessing myself. But it wasn’t her telling me to trust myself that made me stay the course. It was a decision I made for myself. I am tired of making decisions and hiding behind my
~Liam POV~“Everything okay?” Axel asks as I walk into his office.“Yeah,” I say, not giving him much and he lifts a brow, waiting for more of a story. “She had a realization that made her emotions go a little haywire. She was running to find me when I found her.”“Pregnancy hormones?” He asks, and I shake my head. “I’m not so sure. She admitted she didn’t want me to accept a wolf from you. She wants me to be able to find myself without one before accepting.” I explain and he makes a surprised face. “I wasn’t aware you were reconsidering…”“I’m not sure I actually was.” I sigh and plop down in the seat across from him. “All I want is to do right by her. Everything I have done since meeting her has been trying to be better for her. Trying to deserve her and everything she brings to my life.”“You deserve her, Liam.” Axel tries to assure me, but all I can do is chuckle.“I really don’t. She deserves perfection. Adriana is the freaking sunshine and happiness. I was raised being told I a
~Adriana POV~ “You chose this?” I ask, my hand running along the soft silky fabric of the gold dress. It’s stunning and simple. The sheath dress has wide straps and a square neckline, where it will be more snug on my breast. It tapers open around my true waist where chiffon falls in uneven strips over the lower half of the gown, giving it a royal punk princess look. “Is it… do you not like it?” Liam asks, sounding so unsure of himself. Liam, not being so confident in his actions, is so much more of a turn-on than he realizes. Where Liam used to be sure of everything and himself, he is floundering to do things for me just to be sweet and he is so worried he is doing it wrong. I spin to face him and put my arms out, calling him to me with a wry smile. “Liam,” I say as I wrap my arms around his neck. “It is the only dress in the world I will ever want to wear again. I love it, almost more than I love you.” He grins, a twinkle of satisfaction and a shimmer of pride as he wraps his ar
I walk with Adriana down to the training field. I may not be allowed to do anything strenuous, but I can go for walks and watch my mate be a kick-ass fighter, pregnant belly and all. It’s strange being human. I knew a lot would change, but what I didn’t expect was an eerie sense of peace without my wolf. Where I felt hollow for weeks, I’m now finding peace in the solace. There is no animalistic urge that is overcome with anger and irrational mood swings. I’m just more… human. There is no other way to explain it than that. It’s funny, when I lived in the city there were so many humans looking lost like they were missing something. Maybe it’s the mate bond or maybe it’s just the woman I get to have at my side, but I want for nothing. Okay, occasionally I miss what I had. I will always miss my wolf. He was a part of me, but the longer I am without him, the more I realize he was someone I tried to hide behind. It was so easy to shut myself off emotionally and let him take the reins. Adr
“So it was Uma?” Adriana asks, slumping into one of Axel’s overstuffed chairs. “But that doesn’t make sense. She saved him.” “She was forced.” Gwen explains over the phone line, “And then she was afraid to say anything. She hasn’t left her home since it happened.” I can feel Gwen’s distress over the situation. Which is understandable. This is Gwen’s first real Luna ask where she and her mate may have to be responsible for the punishment coming to their top healing due to circumstances none of them made. Marc had made them. He always loved fucking up people’s lives and here he is from the grave, doing it again. “Is she there?” I ask, remaining calm. Which feels like a feat. “She is,” Hugo says. My eyes snap to Adriana, who looks sick and conflicted as she rubs her tummy. “Uma, I want you to explain it to me.” I sigh. “Alpha Liam…” “I have told you before, I’m not an Alpha and now I am an omega. Refer to me as Liam,” I snap at her, hating how the word omega tastes on my tongue. “
“Tell me everything,” Axel says, taking a seat and gripping a pen in his hand. Clearly, Adriana didn't have to wake him up. I regal him with the entire story and watch Adriana as she hears the full version for the first time. I tell them both how I believe that, though my mother started her own suicide, Marc was the one to finish it. No details are spared as I explain Marc’s reasons for hating me and wanting me dead, though I know this won’t help us solve anything but if I’m telling the story, I may as well tell the whale thing to the only two people willing enough to ask for it. “And you tried to get a hold of her?” he asks me, raising a brow. “Yes, multiple times,” I say, nodding. Axel looks like he is in deep thought before he leans back and steeples his hands. “But you got no response? Not even a sound?” Axel is asking. “Uh, there was a strange static noise,” I recall thinking deep on the matter. Axel frowns and shakes his head. “Static? Like an old tv?” Adriana asks.