Neo POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers steepled, my mind burning. The glass of whiskey in front of me sat untouched, the amber liquid swirling with each impatient tap of my fingers against the polished wood.Sky.Zeke.Their names alone left a bitter taste in my mouth, souring the air around me. I should have seen it coming. I should have known the moment I let that little bitch step foot back in my packhouse; she had started infecting it with her defiance.The way the pack looked at her tonight. The way they listened when she spoke. It was like she hadn't been gone for years. Like she belonged. Like they still saw her as Alpha blood. I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists.That was my place.And Zeke?I had given him everything. Pulled him up from nothing. He was a fucking nobody before I made him my Beta. And yet—there he was. Hovering around Sky like a guard dog. His lips on her. His hands gripping her.My fingers twitched at the memory of Maverick's report, his descrip
Sky's POVI slipped into my room, closing the door softly behind me, my body still humming from the run, from Lucy's warning, from the feeling of being watched.But the moment I stepped inside, my chest tightened.I smelled him.Zeke.The scent was subtle but unmistakable—earthy, warm, laced with the slightest hint of something that always made my stomach twist in ways I hated.Evie stirred immediately, her presence sharp and alert. He was here.I know. I scanned the room, my pulse picking up despite myself. There was no sign of him, no lingering warmth of his presence, but my wolf knew. He left something.And then I saw it. On the nightstand. A tray of food, still warm—eggs, toast, bacon, even coffee. My throat tightened. “How did I miss him, I had just been in the kitchen?” I asked Evie, who said nothing, to invested in purring like a damn cat. Next to it, a single note.One word."Soon."My breath hitched. A promise. But a promise for what?My fingers curled around the small piece
Sky's POVThe warmth of the early morning sun kissed my bare back, seeping into my muscles and easing the stiffness that had settled overnight. My body felt heavy, my mind still tangled in sleep, but the comfort was fleeting. I cracked one eye open, blinking against the golden light that flooded my room.And then I saw it.The tray. The fucking tray.I groaned, rolling onto my stomach, my forehead pressing into the pillow as frustration curled in my chest.I ate it.All of it.I had barely eaten at dinner, just stolen bites here and there, but my wolf had been starving. Tired, restless, pissed off. And when I had come back from my run, the smell of food had been too much to ignore.I hated myself for it.Hated that Zeke knew.Hated that he had been right—that I did need it."It's not a weakness to accept food from your mate, you know." Evie stirred in my head, stretching lazily."He's not my mate." I scowled, but deep down, something inside me twisted.Because even as I denied it, eve
Zeke's POVEvery muscle in my body was wound tight, my wolf pacing just beneath my skin as I watched Sky stand across from Kade, her fists clenched, her breathing uneven.She shouldn't be here.She knew it. I knew it.And Neo?He was going to fucking love making an example of her.Kade shifted on his feet, rolling his shoulders like he was waiting for permission to strike. The cocky smirk tugging at his lips sent irritation crawling up my spine. Of course, he was enjoying this.Kade was a bully. He always had been.He was the type of fighter who liked to push others past their limits just to watch them break. He enjoyed winding men up, digging at their weaknesses until they snapped. He made warriors stronger, sure—but not without casualties.I had hoped, just for a second, that he'd be a little more respectful of Sky.She was Neo's sister, after all.But now? Watching the way he sized her up, the way his hands flexed like he was eager to tear into her? I wasn't sure who I was more wor
SKY POV "I said I don't want to talk about it, Neo!" I sighed, pulling my legs up under me as I watched the world whizz by through the passenger side window. "I didn't wanna drive three hours to get your ass out of trouble again, but shit here I am, sis! So how about you drop the attitude and start telling me what the fuck is going on?" Neo scoffed, his eyes briefly leaving the road to check my reaction. "Damn, big brother, how long has dad been dead, three months? And already you are sounding... just. like. him." I muttered, squeezing my legs tighter to me and rubbing my sore wrists. "Sky, look..." "No, you look, Neo, my boyfriend just had me arrested on some bullshit charges that meant I spent hours in that shit hole, being strip searched and questioned, only for the bastard to drop the charges and demand I was released. So how about you let me sulk a little while longer." I snapped moodily."We are wolves, Sky; we see each other naked all the time." His only reply and it inf
SKY POVLuckily, the remainder of the three-hour car ride had been painless. Neo had remained silent, no doubt sulking over the fact I wasn't jumping for joy at being dragged back to the pack, and I had imagined hundreds of ways I could kill my big brother. Things had always been like this between us. I was the annoying little sister he never wanted and certainly didn't ask for; he was my big brother. Who, until I left, I had idolised and wanted to spend every minute with. My father and I were close growing up, and I did not doubt that if I had gone to him and told him about Z being my mate and Neo's offer, he would have kicked Neo's ass and demanded we be allowed to find our way. But honestly, the second Z paused even for a second to contemplate my brother's offer... I was done. I knew my worth! At least I did back then!"I truly do just want what is best for you Sky!" Neo relented as we pulled up to the packhouse. Scoffing, I turned to look at him through strained eyes and nodded
ZEKE POVI stood on the porch watching Sky and Neo walk towards the packhouse. She was just as sexy and spirited as I remembered, although her beautiful brown hair was now a stunning shade of soft pink. Seeing her again was like a punch to the gut. My wolf, Payne, was instantly in awe of her, demanding I claim her and forget the past. But I knew Sky well enough to know she wasn't the sort of girl to take demands well. I felt my lips twitch at the corners as they walked; my eyes couldn't help but follow the sway of her hips and the curve of her ass. She was going to be the firecracker the packhouse needed, that was for sure."Mine!" Payne growled low. "I am not so sure about that, bud." I sighed, my eyes still glued to her ass."Mine." Payne, a wolf with a limited vocabulary, insisted again with a growl; this time, however, I felt the growl rip from my throat, the sound catching the attention of Sky and Neo, who turned to face me, neither looking impressed."Down, boy." Sky taunted,
SKY POVI took the stairs slowly; thanks to the wine, my legs were a little more shaky than I would have liked. 'Lightweight', I teased myself as I reached the top floor and had to use a wall to steady myself feeling weak from the lack of food, sleep and long ass drive. Approaching my old room, I took a deep breath and paused before entering."I am not sure what to expect anymore," I admitted to Evie, not expecting an answer; after all, I had been horrid of late. I didn't want to come home, but now I am..." I let the sentence drift off because I wasn't sure I wanted to admit that I found myself caught up in a mix of emotions. I was enjoying the nostalgia, but with it came the pain of betrayal and doubt."Maybe Neo has turned my room into a gym. Or a sex dungeon." I mused with a scoff."Lord knows he needs some kind of relief," Evie added with a grunt herself."Did you just crack a joke?" I asked my usually shy wolf, amusement lacing my question."No. I was being serious." She laughed,
Zeke's POVEvery muscle in my body was wound tight, my wolf pacing just beneath my skin as I watched Sky stand across from Kade, her fists clenched, her breathing uneven.She shouldn't be here.She knew it. I knew it.And Neo?He was going to fucking love making an example of her.Kade shifted on his feet, rolling his shoulders like he was waiting for permission to strike. The cocky smirk tugging at his lips sent irritation crawling up my spine. Of course, he was enjoying this.Kade was a bully. He always had been.He was the type of fighter who liked to push others past their limits just to watch them break. He enjoyed winding men up, digging at their weaknesses until they snapped. He made warriors stronger, sure—but not without casualties.I had hoped, just for a second, that he'd be a little more respectful of Sky.She was Neo's sister, after all.But now? Watching the way he sized her up, the way his hands flexed like he was eager to tear into her? I wasn't sure who I was more wor
Sky's POVThe warmth of the early morning sun kissed my bare back, seeping into my muscles and easing the stiffness that had settled overnight. My body felt heavy, my mind still tangled in sleep, but the comfort was fleeting. I cracked one eye open, blinking against the golden light that flooded my room.And then I saw it.The tray. The fucking tray.I groaned, rolling onto my stomach, my forehead pressing into the pillow as frustration curled in my chest.I ate it.All of it.I had barely eaten at dinner, just stolen bites here and there, but my wolf had been starving. Tired, restless, pissed off. And when I had come back from my run, the smell of food had been too much to ignore.I hated myself for it.Hated that Zeke knew.Hated that he had been right—that I did need it."It's not a weakness to accept food from your mate, you know." Evie stirred in my head, stretching lazily."He's not my mate." I scowled, but deep down, something inside me twisted.Because even as I denied it, eve
Sky's POVI slipped into my room, closing the door softly behind me, my body still humming from the run, from Lucy's warning, from the feeling of being watched.But the moment I stepped inside, my chest tightened.I smelled him.Zeke.The scent was subtle but unmistakable—earthy, warm, laced with the slightest hint of something that always made my stomach twist in ways I hated.Evie stirred immediately, her presence sharp and alert. He was here.I know. I scanned the room, my pulse picking up despite myself. There was no sign of him, no lingering warmth of his presence, but my wolf knew. He left something.And then I saw it. On the nightstand. A tray of food, still warm—eggs, toast, bacon, even coffee. My throat tightened. “How did I miss him, I had just been in the kitchen?” I asked Evie, who said nothing, to invested in purring like a damn cat. Next to it, a single note.One word."Soon."My breath hitched. A promise. But a promise for what?My fingers curled around the small piece
Neo POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers steepled, my mind burning. The glass of whiskey in front of me sat untouched, the amber liquid swirling with each impatient tap of my fingers against the polished wood.Sky.Zeke.Their names alone left a bitter taste in my mouth, souring the air around me. I should have seen it coming. I should have known the moment I let that little bitch step foot back in my packhouse; she had started infecting it with her defiance.The way the pack looked at her tonight. The way they listened when she spoke. It was like she hadn't been gone for years. Like she belonged. Like they still saw her as Alpha blood. I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists.That was my place.And Zeke?I had given him everything. Pulled him up from nothing. He was a fucking nobody before I made him my Beta. And yet—there he was. Hovering around Sky like a guard dog. His lips on her. His hands gripping her.My fingers twitched at the memory of Maverick's report, his descrip
Chapter 23 – Sky's POVI tossed and turned, the sheets tangling around my legs, my tank top and shorts clinging to my skin like a second layer of irritation. The room was too hot, too stifling, my body restless, itching to move, to do something.Sleep evaded me, slipping through my fingers every time I got close.With a frustrated groan, I threw the blankets off, my skin damp, my heart still thrumming with the residual heat from him. My fingers curled around the hem of my tank top, yanking it over my head and tossing it aside. The cool air kissed my bare skin, a small relief against the warmth pooling low in my stomach.I prayed for sleep to finally come. It didn't!Not after that hallway. Not after Zeke.I had laid in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, my body still thrumming from the way his hands felt against my skin, from the way his lips had hovered over mine, from the way he'd looked at me. I hated that it had gotten under my skin. That he had gotten under my skin.Because n
Neo’s POVThe dining hall was silent, save for the distant clatter of dishes being cleared away. My grip tightened around the delicate stem of my wine glass, my patience hanging by a thread.Sky had been back for less than a day, and already she was making me look weak.I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to keep my posture relaxed, but inside, I was seething.The way she walked into dinner—smirking, dishevelled, deliberately testing me in front of my pack—was infuriating. And that wasn’t the worst part. No, the worst part was how they had looked at her.They weren’t just amused.They were watching.Assessing.Wondering if maybe, just maybe, my control over her wasn’t as absolute as they once believed.And that? That was dangerous.Sky had always been trouble, but this—this was different. She wasn’t just being difficult; she was being defiant. And in this world, defiance was a challenge. A test of dominance.I drained the rest of my wine and rose to my feet, my movements slow, deliberate
Sky POVZeke stared at me, his chest rising and falling in sharp, ragged breaths as I basked in my victory, savouring the power thrumming between us. His lips were parted, his pupils blown wide with barely restrained hunger, his hands twitching at his sides like he was debating whether to grab me or force himself to walk away.Then he moved.Fast.His hands shot out, reaching for me, but I was faster.I seized his wrists and twisted, using his own weight against him as I spun him around and slammed him back against the wall of the alcove. His back hit the cool stone with a dull thud, my body pressing flush against his, caging him in, keeping him right where I wanted him.The growl that tore from his throat was deep, raw, dominant—furious.And it wrecked me.My heart slammed against my ribs, my stomach clenched, and my thighs tightened involuntarily. I felt the strength in him, the way his body coiled beneath mine, letting me have this moment—but only for now.Deep down, I knew I was p
Sky's POV"Your brother is always watching! You know that!" Zeke uttered breathlessly against my cheek as I continued my exploration of his body, my fingers teasing over every hard muscle, every heated inch of skin.I smirked, dragging my nails lightly down his stomach, my lips grazing his jaw."Let him watch," I whispered, my breath fanning over his pulse point."It's the most action he's gotten in a while, from what I've heard.""How do you know that?" Zeke exhaled sharply, a laugh buried somewhere deep in his chest as he tilted his head slightly, eyes burning into mine. "You've only just got back." His brow lifted as I grinned, shifting against him just enough to make his breath hitch."I'm not the only one with connections in this pack, Z," I purred, my hand trailing dangerously lower. "And maybe if he did get some, he wouldn't be such a cock.""You might be right about that." Zeke let out a slow exhale, his lips quirking as he watched me with something unreadable, something dark
Zeke's POVI sat at the table, my body rigid, my jaw clenched so tightly it felt like my teeth might crack under the pressure. My eyes never left Sky, tracking her every move with the precision of a hunter—not for prey, but for protection.She was playing a dangerous game, one only she seemed to think she could win.Neo swirled his wine, his face an impassive mask, but I knew better. His patience had limits, and Sky was testing every single one of them. The pack members ate cautiously, avoiding eye contact, all hyperaware of the tension thick enough to suffocate the entire room.Sky sat there like she owned the damn place. Picking food off plates, tossing taunts like they were casual conversation, all the while smirking at Neo like she knew exactly how close he was to snapping.I had to give it to her. She wasn't afraid.Or maybe she was, but she refused to show it.That terrified me.I kept my posture relaxed, pretending to sip from my glass, but my attention was split between the tw