Lora’s POVMichael’s lips hovered just inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. The kiss we’d just shared had left me lightheaded, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.I wanted more. I felt too hot in my clothes. I wanted the fire that had erupted inside me and managed to lit my mons quenched.It was only him that could do it.His hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek with a tenderness that made my chest ache. “Lora…” His voice was rough, uncertain, as if he was still trying to hold back.I didn’t want him to.I had spent too much time second-guessing, too much time wondering if he wanted me or if he saw me as a mistake. But there was no hesitation in the way he looked at me now. No doubt in the way his body leaned into mine, drawn by something stronger than logic, stronger than our backgrounds.So, I did what I’d wanted to do from the moment I realized he was mine. I closed the space betwe
Michael’s POVThe hallway was quiet, except for the faint drone of voices drifting from the lower levels of the packhouse.I ran a hand through my hair as I stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, my body still humming with the aftermath of what had just happened. Lora’s scent lingered on my skin, a reminder of the sacred moment we just spent together.I have officially marked her. Lora has a mate. And it was me.It took everything in me to steady my breathing, and to push back the powerful need to go back, and spend some more time with her. My wolf couldn't get enough of her. I could feel his annoyance about leaving my mate back there. As much as I wanted to follow my animal instincts, I couldn’t.Not now.Andrew was waiting. And he was sure to ask questions. I had left in the middle of a meeting with his mate.The memory seemed so distant now though it was just a few hours ago.I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders as I forced myself forward.I had a job to do. I wonder what ha
Elara's POVWithout so much as a knock, I pushed the door to my room open to fid Lora lying on my bed. She had a far away look on face that made me think of a deer, comfortable in its home.She looked soothed. But my bed? Not so much. It looked rumpled and in disarray. It seemed some good shit went down here.A blind man could easily tell even though she was clothed.“Well, well.” I began. “Someone looks happy.” I had already accosted Michael trying to get out him what he had been up to, but he was adamant.I didn't need him to tell me the obvious. It was all over him, as much as he tried to play it cool.“Why wouldn't I be?” Lora asked sitting up. “I just had the most fantastic time of my life.”Hmmm. That much was obvious. Taking a good look at her, I could see how flushed she looked. Gone was the pale look she had when I left her in a hurry this morning for the meeting with Andrew.Speaking of which, I was grateful Michael was too busy to interrupt the way Andrew tried to convin
Andrew’s POVAs Michael walked in, I couldn't help but be irritated with him. We were in a middle of meeting when he suddenly left without giving me any detailed information on where he was going.Not that I was complaining about what the few hours of alone time with my mate in the office led up to.At least it helped quell her fear a little and allowed her to agree to training with me. She was one hell of a nut to crack.Not long after she left, he knocked on my door as if he was waiting for her to leave. I was sitting behind my desk, when he let himself in. I considered him more of a friend than anything but he was still my beta and I felt the urge to rattle him a little. The moment he was inside, I pinned him with my best piercing gaze as I rested my elbows on the polished wood, my fingers loosely clasped together. The best fucking look of calm. Making sure my face didn't betray any emotions. I knew he felt uncomfortable when I got like this.A beat of silence stretched between
Andrew's POVIt's been a few hours since I gathered all the warriors in my pack to train. For the first time in a long while, I decided to conduct the training myself.The training grounds smelled of damp earth and sweat. The scent of adrenaline filled the air, thick with the preparation for a battle that was sure to come.Everyone seemed to be doing just fine. They soaked up my lessons like sponges in water except for one person.Elara.She seemed to struggle with everything that was thrown at her. Literally.“Are you sure, she will be fine?” Michael asked as we both watched struggling with a dummy that was used for training to substitute for actual people.I scowled. “She has to be fine. She is my mate.” I was already tired of seeing her howl in pain while shaking her hand vigoriously, whenever she threw a punch at the wooden dummy. She was a wolf for crying out loud. “You of all people should know I don't tolerate weakness. In any form.”When I convinced her to start training yeste
Andrew’s POVElara hit the ground hard, her body bouncing like a rag doll. Dust kicked up around her as she gasped for air, her arms trembling as she tried to push herself up. Her lip was split, blood trailing down her chin, but she didn’t cry out.She was stubborn, I’d give her that.Max stepped back, barely panting. He hadn’t even gone full force. I knew it. She knew it. And from the way the other warriors shifted on their feet, they knew it too.“Elara,” I said, my voice cold.She lifted her head, her green eyes flashing with raw emotions like Pain, frustration, and anger.Good.I crouched beside her, lowering my voice so only she could hear.“This is going to happen again,” I said. “Over and over. Until you get up and fight like you mean it.”Her fingers curled into fists. It's been about an hour since I paired her up with Max and the results were… tragic.“I am fighting,” she muttered.If that's what she calls fighting, I will be damned. It was like watching a lion toying with it
Elara’s POVThe battlefield stretched endlessly before me, filled with blood and torn bodies.Wolves lay scattered like rats, their fur matted with dark crimson, their eyes empty. Some faces I recognized instantly—Max, his throat ripped open. Lora, her chest caved in, like someone had stomped on it. Michael, his hand still reaching for her as he lay motionless.A sob built in my throat, but I couldn’t make a sound.Because at the center of it all, standing in the midst of the destruction, was Andrew.His chest rose and fell steadily, as if this massacre meant nothing. His clothes were soaked in blood, his hands still curled into claws. But it wasn’t just the destruction around him that sent ice through my veins.It was his eyes.Black. Bottomless. Wrong. Gone were the golden pupils.He turned his head, sensing me.And then he smiled.The world turned. A scream shattered the silence. Mine to be precise.And I fell.I hit the ground hard, my body shaking. The vision brought me back to r
Elara’s POVThe moment I agreed, the shift in Andrew was immediate. He didn't ask me to prepare. He was ready from the on set.His stance hardened. His expression turned unreadable.This wasn’t a training exercise. This wasn’t about teaching me a lesson.This was war.A war between us. It was not going to be as easy as fighting with Max. I will have to t use everything in me to fight him.I barely had time to process before he lunged at me, his hand stretched out in an attempt to grab my arm.I dodged on instinct, but he was fast—too fast. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, and in the next second, he threw a kick at my mid riff.The breath whooshed from my lungs as I hit the ground hard. Pain shot through my ribs.Andrew didn’t wait for me to recover. He was on me in an instant, foot pressing lightly against my throat—not enough to hurt, but enough to prove a point.I glared up at him, panting.“Dead,” he said flatly. “You hesitated.”Rage burned through me. I twisted, kicking out
Elara’s POVThe moment I agreed, the shift in Andrew was immediate. He didn't ask me to prepare. He was ready from the on set.His stance hardened. His expression turned unreadable.This wasn’t a training exercise. This wasn’t about teaching me a lesson.This was war.A war between us. It was not going to be as easy as fighting with Max. I will have to t use everything in me to fight him.I barely had time to process before he lunged at me, his hand stretched out in an attempt to grab my arm.I dodged on instinct, but he was fast—too fast. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, and in the next second, he threw a kick at my mid riff.The breath whooshed from my lungs as I hit the ground hard. Pain shot through my ribs.Andrew didn’t wait for me to recover. He was on me in an instant, foot pressing lightly against my throat—not enough to hurt, but enough to prove a point.I glared up at him, panting.“Dead,” he said flatly. “You hesitated.”Rage burned through me. I twisted, kicking out
Elara’s POVThe battlefield stretched endlessly before me, filled with blood and torn bodies.Wolves lay scattered like rats, their fur matted with dark crimson, their eyes empty. Some faces I recognized instantly—Max, his throat ripped open. Lora, her chest caved in, like someone had stomped on it. Michael, his hand still reaching for her as he lay motionless.A sob built in my throat, but I couldn’t make a sound.Because at the center of it all, standing in the midst of the destruction, was Andrew.His chest rose and fell steadily, as if this massacre meant nothing. His clothes were soaked in blood, his hands still curled into claws. But it wasn’t just the destruction around him that sent ice through my veins.It was his eyes.Black. Bottomless. Wrong. Gone were the golden pupils.He turned his head, sensing me.And then he smiled.The world turned. A scream shattered the silence. Mine to be precise.And I fell.I hit the ground hard, my body shaking. The vision brought me back to r
Andrew’s POVElara hit the ground hard, her body bouncing like a rag doll. Dust kicked up around her as she gasped for air, her arms trembling as she tried to push herself up. Her lip was split, blood trailing down her chin, but she didn’t cry out.She was stubborn, I’d give her that.Max stepped back, barely panting. He hadn’t even gone full force. I knew it. She knew it. And from the way the other warriors shifted on their feet, they knew it too.“Elara,” I said, my voice cold.She lifted her head, her green eyes flashing with raw emotions like Pain, frustration, and anger.Good.I crouched beside her, lowering my voice so only she could hear.“This is going to happen again,” I said. “Over and over. Until you get up and fight like you mean it.”Her fingers curled into fists. It's been about an hour since I paired her up with Max and the results were… tragic.“I am fighting,” she muttered.If that's what she calls fighting, I will be damned. It was like watching a lion toying with it
Andrew's POVIt's been a few hours since I gathered all the warriors in my pack to train. For the first time in a long while, I decided to conduct the training myself.The training grounds smelled of damp earth and sweat. The scent of adrenaline filled the air, thick with the preparation for a battle that was sure to come.Everyone seemed to be doing just fine. They soaked up my lessons like sponges in water except for one person.Elara.She seemed to struggle with everything that was thrown at her. Literally.“Are you sure, she will be fine?” Michael asked as we both watched struggling with a dummy that was used for training to substitute for actual people.I scowled. “She has to be fine. She is my mate.” I was already tired of seeing her howl in pain while shaking her hand vigoriously, whenever she threw a punch at the wooden dummy. She was a wolf for crying out loud. “You of all people should know I don't tolerate weakness. In any form.”When I convinced her to start training yeste
Andrew’s POVAs Michael walked in, I couldn't help but be irritated with him. We were in a middle of meeting when he suddenly left without giving me any detailed information on where he was going.Not that I was complaining about what the few hours of alone time with my mate in the office led up to.At least it helped quell her fear a little and allowed her to agree to training with me. She was one hell of a nut to crack.Not long after she left, he knocked on my door as if he was waiting for her to leave. I was sitting behind my desk, when he let himself in. I considered him more of a friend than anything but he was still my beta and I felt the urge to rattle him a little. The moment he was inside, I pinned him with my best piercing gaze as I rested my elbows on the polished wood, my fingers loosely clasped together. The best fucking look of calm. Making sure my face didn't betray any emotions. I knew he felt uncomfortable when I got like this.A beat of silence stretched between
Elara's POVWithout so much as a knock, I pushed the door to my room open to fid Lora lying on my bed. She had a far away look on face that made me think of a deer, comfortable in its home.She looked soothed. But my bed? Not so much. It looked rumpled and in disarray. It seemed some good shit went down here.A blind man could easily tell even though she was clothed.“Well, well.” I began. “Someone looks happy.” I had already accosted Michael trying to get out him what he had been up to, but he was adamant.I didn't need him to tell me the obvious. It was all over him, as much as he tried to play it cool.“Why wouldn't I be?” Lora asked sitting up. “I just had the most fantastic time of my life.”Hmmm. That much was obvious. Taking a good look at her, I could see how flushed she looked. Gone was the pale look she had when I left her in a hurry this morning for the meeting with Andrew.Speaking of which, I was grateful Michael was too busy to interrupt the way Andrew tried to convin
Michael’s POVThe hallway was quiet, except for the faint drone of voices drifting from the lower levels of the packhouse.I ran a hand through my hair as I stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, my body still humming with the aftermath of what had just happened. Lora’s scent lingered on my skin, a reminder of the sacred moment we just spent together.I have officially marked her. Lora has a mate. And it was me.It took everything in me to steady my breathing, and to push back the powerful need to go back, and spend some more time with her. My wolf couldn't get enough of her. I could feel his annoyance about leaving my mate back there. As much as I wanted to follow my animal instincts, I couldn’t.Not now.Andrew was waiting. And he was sure to ask questions. I had left in the middle of a meeting with his mate.The memory seemed so distant now though it was just a few hours ago.I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders as I forced myself forward.I had a job to do. I wonder what ha
Lora’s POVMichael’s lips hovered just inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. The kiss we’d just shared had left me lightheaded, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.I wanted more. I felt too hot in my clothes. I wanted the fire that had erupted inside me and managed to lit my mons quenched.It was only him that could do it.His hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek with a tenderness that made my chest ache. “Lora…” His voice was rough, uncertain, as if he was still trying to hold back.I didn’t want him to.I had spent too much time second-guessing, too much time wondering if he wanted me or if he saw me as a mistake. But there was no hesitation in the way he looked at me now. No doubt in the way his body leaned into mine, drawn by something stronger than logic, stronger than our backgrounds.So, I did what I’d wanted to do from the moment I realized he was mine. I closed the space betwe
Michael’s POVI stood outside Elara’s room, staring at the door like it might attack me.This was stupid. I should turn around and walk away. Pretend like I was never here.But I couldn’t.Not after the way I treated her last night.Lora.The name echoed in my mind like a whisper and a war drum all at once.I exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of my neck.This was the right thing to do.I had to apologize.So, before my cowardice won, I raised my fist and knocked.Silence.Then, I knocked again, a little harder this time before I heard soft footsteps. A pause.The door creaked open.And there she was.Lora.Her dark eyes met mine, widening slightly before she schooled her features into something unreadable.“Michael.”Her voice was careful, controlled. Not cold, but not warm either.Not that I blamed her.“What are you doing here?” she asked , her voice cold. I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Can I come in?” “Why?”My jaw tightened slightly. “I need to talk to you.”Why was