Elara's POVI shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat of the Jeep, as it continued to bump its way along the dirt trail. The silence was a thick, heavy hanging between Andrew and I, broken only by the sound of crunching tires over gravel and the occasional howl of wind through the trees. Greg sat in the back quiet, his eyes scanning across the woods as if anticipating danger to leap from the appear at any moment.I still didn't know why I was here.Andrew said it was training, but what kind of training required dragging me to the edge of the pack's territory with no warning and no explanation? He hadn't spoken much since I'd met him downstairs-just barked orders at Greg and tossed me into the Jeep like some kind of inconvenient luggage."Why am I even here?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.Andrew didn't look at me. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white. "You'll see soon enough.""That's not an answer."He glanced at me then, his sharp eyes glinting wi
Elara's POVMy ears rang as I tried to focus on Andrew's voice yelling my name. My chest heaved with my gasping for breath as my heart pounded against my ribs as if it would burst from them at any moment. Before I could wrap my mind around what had just happened, they came.Someone darted toward us with inhuman speed, followed by two more figures. The attackers didn't hesitate—they lunged with snarls that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."Stay behind me!" Andrew barked, his voice sharp and commanding as he moved in front of me.Greg was already shifting, his body changing as fur erupted along his arms. Claws extended from his fingertips, glinting in the moonlight. Andrew followed suit, but he didn't transform fully yet, it was just as swift and deadly. The air was thick with the scent of power and aggression, a mix of Andrew's dominance and Greg's vicious anger.I had little time to watch the power they exhibited. One attacker dove directly for me, and I barely dodged, my
Andrew's POVCarrying Elara in my arms felt like carrying the world's most fragile treasure. She was too still, her body limp against mine. Blood seeped through my shirt where her head rested, warm and sticky, and I could not tell if it was hers or mine. Every step to the medical center seemed like eternity, yet I moved faster than I ever thought possible.“Move!" I barked as we approached the main hall. Pack members scrambled out of my way, their faces pale as they caught sight of the blood.Greg was right behind me, his claws still out and his breathing heavy. "We've got to get her stabilized," he said, his voice tense."I know," I snapped, though I didn't mean to. My chest felt too tight, my head too full of the memory of her losing consciousness in my arms.As we burst through the doors of the medical center, Mirabel, the head healer, was already waiting, her sharp eyes assessing the situation."Get her on the table, now!" she commanded, her voice rising above the chaotic situatio
Elara's POVMy head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, heavy and slow. Voices murmured somewhere nearby, but I couldn't make out the words. My eyelids felt like they were weighed down with something heavy, but I forced them open, blinking against the harsh light.The first thing I was aware of was the scent-antiseptic and herbs mingling in the air. It hit me like a punch to the face, and it didn't take long to figure out where I was. A hospital. No, not just any hospital-a pack infirmary. The faint markings of the crescent moon symbol etched into the beams above confirmed it.What the hell happened?I tried to sit up, but pain ripped through my side, sharp and wicked. A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, and my hands instinctively pressed against my ribs. That's when I noticed something else: I wasn't alone.In the corner of the room, hardly seen under the dim light of the lamps hanging from the ceiling, was a figure. First, I had thought him to be one of the healers, but
Andrew's POVI caught her scent before I saw her. That faint trace of lavender and something totally hers—something I couldn't name but had burned into my memory. It pulled me like a magnet to the hallway outside her room, an invisible hold I couldn’t break even if I tried.Elara.Two days. Two damn days since she'd been discharged, and it was like she'd vanished. Sure, the healers had said she needed rest, but avoiding me? That wasn’t part of the prescription. And she was avoiding me—I was sure of it.The weight of unanswered questions bore down on me as I leaned against the cold stone wall, debating whether to knock. My knuckles hovered an inch from the door, hesitation holding me back. What if she didn't want to see me? What if she had her reasons, reasons I wouldn’t like? But just as I decided to let the moment pass, the door creaked open, and there she was.Her hand rested lightly on the doorframe, her lips slightly parted in surprise. Her hair framed her face, loose strands catc
Elara's POVThe kiss was a shock-a storm of emotions I hadn't prepared for. One second, I was standing in my room, trying to ignore Andrew's piercing gaze, and the next, his mouth was on mine, searing and unapologetic. My first instinct was to push him away. My hands pressed against his chest, meeting the firm resistance of his muscles, but then something changed.My fingers betrayed me. Instead of shoving him back, they curled upward, tangling in his hair. His lips moved against mine with a hunger that pulled me in, and before I knew it, I was leaning into him, my body flush against his.The sound that growled from Andrew was low in his throat, vibrating between us, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands had been cradling my face with surprising gentleness; now, they moved lower, skating the sides of my torso until settling firmly onto my hips. Bold, yes, but not rough; a touch possessive in the most scary yet thrilling ways.I gasped into his mouth as his fingers tightened, pullin
Elara's POVAndrew's lips were on mine again before I could think. His hands cupped my face, but his body pressed against mine told me everything I needed to know. This wasn't just a kiss; it was an exposition. Every part of me responded, from the trembling in my legs to the heat pooling low in my stomach.When he groaned against my lips, I felt it everywhere. My breath hitched as his hips pressed forward, the hard length of him brushing against my stomach. A rush of warmth spread through me, and I couldn't stop the small sound of pleasure that escaped my throat.I pulled him closer, fingers tangling in his hair as he deepened the kiss. He tasted of the mint tea I knew he always had in the evenings, yet there was something else, more intoxicating and darker."Elara," he breathed against my mouth, his voice hoarse, "I can't—" He broke off, his forehead resting against mine as his hands slid down my arms. His touch left a trail of fire in its wake, and I couldn't bring myself to stop hi
Andrew's POVElara's whispered words, Your turn, had that ring in my ears. I was thrilled, something really unexpected. It wasn't only her tone, breathless and full of need, but it was the look in her eyes. This combination of mischief and full-blown confidence, like she knew just what she wanted and wasn't going to allow me to stop her, remained in my mind.For a moment, I froze, caught between surprise and something far deeper, a heat that spread through me like wildfire. I wasn't used to this. I wasn't used to someone else taking the lead, but there was something intoxicating about the shift in power. She moved closer, her fingers roaming over my chest, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.Her lips hovered over mine, not a kiss, but close enough to steal my breath."Elara," I breathed, her name a pleaI couldn't quite disguise."Shh," she whispered back, her fingers pressing gently against my lips. "Let me."And I did.She leaned in, her lips skimming my jaw and then lower
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
Lora's POVI sat alone in Elara’s room, the silence hanging over me like a dark cloud. The air still held traces of her presence—the faint scent of pine and something else uniquely hers. I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before letting out a slow breath. I always felt safe around her.But now we had a new problem on our hands.The prophecy.I could still see the haunted look in her eyes when she spoke about it. Whatever she dreamt of was really scary to have her in that shape. The pressure of it weighed down on her like a heavy boulder, and for good reason. If the blood moon truly meant what she feared, then none of us were safe. But thinking about it now wouldn't change anything. I wasn't Elara. I had no part in the prophecy, no role in whatever destiny had chosen for her.But there was no way I was going to let her face it all alone. When the time is right, I would do what I must.So I decided to temporarily forget about the prophecy and Blood Moon. Instead, my mind dr
Andrew’s POVThe door clicked shut behind Michael, leaving me alone with Elara. She was still sitting stiffly in the chair, arms crossed, a deep line between her brows.How much more of this insolence I could take, I didn't know. But somehow she knew how to push my buttons and get me all reeled up.But she is afraid. And my wolf does not appreciate it. I need to take it easy with her.I exhaled slowly. Michael had left because he knew this conversation wasn’t going anywhere. But I didn’t have the freedom of walking away. Not when it was my mate staring back at me with fire in her eyes and doubt in her heart.“Alright,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “No more yelling. No more commands. Just listen.”She scoffed but didn’t interrupt. Progress.I stood up from my seat and walked around my desk slowly as I made my way to her.When I was a feet away from her, I began.. “You know why I won’t let this go, Elara?”She lifted her chin. “Because you think I’m weak?”Weak? How could she say such