When Arthur finally shifted back, he didn’t say much. He just pulled on some clothes from a hidden closet. I had expected a tirade so the silence was unsettling. I wanted to leave the office, but I was also scared that if I moved, it would set Arthur off.After what seemed like hours, but was probably only ten minutes, Arthur sighed. I watched him warily as he sat down, elbows on his desk, chin resting on his interlaced hands. He regarded me with a look that I couldn’t quite decipher.“I am not a man that apologizes very often, but I do know when to admit that I was wrong. I do apologize for not believing you. I can’t say that I do believe
SofiaSofia sat in her hospital bed, staring at her cell phone. She was back, had been back for two weeks now, and still there was nothing. She hadn’t heard from Arthur. She wasn’t even sure if he knew she was in the hospital.She frowned. It wasn’t like him to ignore her like this. She couldn’t honestly believe that she had upset him enough to earn this type of treatment. Arthur loved her and had always forgiven her for whatever she’d done.But her pride wouldn’t allow her to call him again. Sofia had already talked to A
AlmaraAnother week had passed since the whole Noah-Arthur confrontation thing. A week since Kaylee had become my shadow. Other than her name, I hadn’t learned anything about her.Noah was doing as he promised. He wasn't crossing any boundary that I didn’t want him to cross. But Arthur was still unhappy about me going over there. I was sure if he didn’t have responsibilities at work or with the pack, he’d stay with me as long as Noah was around.It was those responsibilities that took Arthur away for the day. The house felt empty wit
ArthurArthur was tired. Today had been a particularly grueling day full of mind-numbing tasks and endless meetings. It hadn’t felt like a Saturday at all. All he wanted now was to bury his face in between Almara’s legs and hear her cries of pleasure that only he could give her.A feral smile crossed his lips. Perhaps tonight could be the night that they finally crossed that line. It wasn’t her fertile period, but he didn’t care. He wanted to bury himself as deep as he could go and feel her break around him.Ever since he had met her
AlmaraI stared up at Arthur from my place on the bed. My heart had set an impossible pace in my fear. I was trying not to hyperventilate.Pay attention, Almara. Breathe in his scent. Look above his head. You don’t need to be afraid, Lily said, breaking through what would have been a panic attack. I breathed in deeply through my nose and Arthur’s arousal was potent. I glanced above his head and everything was a deep pink.I suddenly realized that whatever punishment he had planned was meant to be pleasure, not pain. It sparked my own lu
The next morning I woke up with Arthur wrapped around me. I sighed in contentment, hugging his arm tighter around me. I wanted to cherish the moments like this while I had them. They would get ripped away soon enough.“Good morning, little wolf. How are you feeling?” Arthur mumbled, nipping my ear playfully.Ravished, Lily answered and I giggled. I told Arthur what Lily said and he gave a dark chuckle.“As much as I would like to ravish you again, we have things to do and places to be. Get dressed quickly and we’ll be on our way.”I quirked my eyebrow at him. “Where are we going?”“I think it’s high time that I met your parents, don’t you?”I stared at him in open-mouthed shock. I had never expected him to meet my parents. Not really. I guess some part of me thought that Sofia would come back before it ever came to that.Arthur took in my expression and a small smile played on his lips. “What? You don’t want me to meet them? Or you don’t think that they’ll approve of…” he moved a hand
Another week had passed and it was once again the weekend. Arthur was pulled away again on business. I had the entire day to myself. And I had no idea what to do.I meandered around the house, having explored the whole thing already. I felt restless. I supposed after going non-stop, I didn’t know how to relax anymore.One of the staff passed by, carrying a large vase of neatly arranged flowers. It gave me an idea and I mentally slapped myself for not thinking of it earlier.I turned to Kaylee, who was following me like always. “We’re going out of town. Do you mind driving me? It’s a bit far for public transportation.”Kaylee didn’t say anything. She just nodded. I smiled and made my way to the art studio Arthur had set up for me. I grabbed my favorite painting that I had done recently, then headed to the huge garage where numerous luxury cars were lined in neat rows. I went to the least expensive looking one and climbed in.“Where are we going, Ms. Almara?” Kaylee asked as she took th
ArthurArthur smirked as he looked at his phone. Almara was on her way back to the house. She was listening to his instructions so nicely. So nicely, in fact, that he was going to reward her later that night. But first he wanted to see the person most important to him.His grandmother ran a flower shop in the next town over. Even though she had once been the Luna of the pack, she had wanted a quiet life away from the politics and drama. Which Arthur could understand.But the rest of the family didn’t. As soon as his grandmother told everyone that she was doing her own thing, there had been a lot of protest. His father had been Alpha at the time and had given his own mother an ultimatum. Either she could stay with the pack or be disowned.Obviously Arthur’s grandmother had picked the latter. The entire pack was under strict orders not to interact with her. However, Arthur absolutely was not going to follow that rule. The woman had raised him for a time. He owed her so much of who he wa
Almara’s Pov5 Years Later“Cheers,” Arthur sys clinking his mixed drink of vodka and lemonade with my non-alcoholic lemonade. I’m pregnant, again. This pregnancy is completely different than my first two, I actually get to relax. Which is exactly what we’re doing in the manicured garden of our backyard.We sit stretched out on zero-gravity pool chairs, sweat
Almara’s PovAfter a much-needed week of rest and restoration, Arthur and I are back on the vampire territory. I suppose that it can officially be called that again now that it has been reclaimed.My body healed magnificently after months of not only growing another being, but also fighting a war. It’s amazing what good rest and proper nutrition can do. Of course, the real healing ingredient came from the sacrificial love of my wonderful husband.Even though he suffered his own inju
Almara’s PovFinally, after several journeys back and forth from our homeland to the enemies we come to the final steps. We saw plenty of wolves making their expedition back home and there was a unspoken agreement that what everyone needs right now is peace.Thankfully, no one came up to us with questions, grief, or comments. It’s like we have this new kinship with the gammas in our world that we didn’t before. We seem to understand each other, or at least truly see one another.
Almara’s PovOn the way home we make a pitstop to a very special place. “Why are we seeing more dead bodies?” Grace asks, her tone telling me we are nearing a full-blown tantrum.“This body belongs to someone very important in our family,” I tell her calmly and hike her up on my hip. I’m not sure if my words got through to her, or maybe it’s her father's serenity as we ascend up one final hill to where Bess lays.Bess’s gravestone is set apart fro
Almara’s PovWith the vortex closed off and gone, the air becomes breathable again and the storm lessens. Still, my paws squelch in the wet terrain.Unfortunately, as I look around at the battlefield and see the piles of bodies slumped over one another, I think it’s more than just mud causing the stickiness.I try not to look down at the innocent blood shed on the ground. As I take careful consideration to step over and around the bodies, I tell myself they chose to come out and hel
Almara’s PovCathy and I weave through the castle, barely missing rubble crumbling off from the stony walls. We leap over counters, using everything we have in us to catapult ourselves past knocked over statues of gargoyles and shredded velvet furniture.“Catch!” Cathy calls out and reflexively I snatch a jagged shard of ceramic in my hand. I recognize it from a broken pot on the ground. Then out of the corner of my eye I see something else flying at me, though I don’t catch it this time, I duck.
Almara’s PovI’ve never seen Cathy look more confident and proud than she does at this moment. She stands tall, cuts strewn across her body, but they only add to her tough exterior. She’s covered in her enemy’s blood and she has a thrilling look in her eyes.“Have you seen Arthur?” I ask cutting to the chase. Cathy nods back towards tall white cabinet doors. I turn back to look at my mother who nods in confirmation. I rush over to the door and throw it open.
Almara’s PovI awake to a familiar beeping sound. It’s faint at first, like a distant call from far away until it’s suddenly blaring in my ears. My eyes shoot open and the blood in my body rushes to the important organs and I sit up with a jolt.“Where’s Grace?” I ask before I can make out anything else. “Arthur? Robbie?” I call out, hoping the sound of my distressed voice will cause Robbie to cry back.“Shhh,” a gentle voice says with
Almara’s PovArthur flings open the door, this time it breaks off the hinges. I guess there’s no changing our mind now. I keep Robbie wrapped up in both my arms and under my shirt.Arthur uses his body to guard mine, outstretching his arms and a puffed-out chest as he keeps his eyes zeroed in on every moving body around us all while moving us forward and falling in exact pace with each of my steps.We fight through sideways rain and vicious winds, it dawns on me that this storm isn&