Elara’s POVThe only thing I could perceive was darkness. It enveloped me like a choking shroud, drawing me further into the abyss. I felt both weightless and confined, my senses numbed and my thoughts hazy. A remote voice echoed in the void, deep and authoritative, sending a chill through my body.Then I glimpsed the source. The spirit.It emerged from the shadows, its figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. The sight ignited a blend of fear and rage within me.“Not you again,” I said, fixing my gaze on the figure before me.“That's not how you should greet a friend,” he answered, tilting his head slightly.“We are not friends.”“That is out of point. You lost,” the spirit spat, its voice slicing through the air like a whip. “Once more.”I clenched my fists, though I wasn’t certain if I even possessed a body in this bizarre, otherworldly realm. “I didn’t fail,” I shot back, my voice steely.I refused to let a strange entity, who expected me to murder som
Elara’s POVBut the burden of it weighed on me like a truth I could no longer ignore.I shifted awkwardly beneath Andrew’s gaze, his golden eyes boring into mine as if they could break down all my barriers. His unyielding look made me feel almost exposed, vulnerable in a way that felt unfamiliar.Stop looking at me like that, I thought, though I would never say it out loud. Instead, I forced a shy smile, attempting to suppress the startling energy buzzing between us.“Hey,” I stammered, my voice coming out lighter than I had hoped.Andrew didn’t reply right away. He simply continued to stare at me, his jaw tense, his expression now shadowed. For a moment, I feared he might not say anything at all, but then he leaned back slightly, his shoulders easing a bit.“Elara,” he finally said, his voice gravelly and deep, “you terrified me.”I opened my mouth to retort, but my words faltered when I caught sight of the gentle rays of sunlight streaming through the windows.Morning? How could it
Elara's POVThe applause resonated loudly in my ears, nearly overwhelming as it reverberated across the courtyard in front of the health center. The crowd's cheers were a blend of appreciation and joy, their faces lit up with admiration as they focused on me.Standing there frozen and uncertain about how to react, my chest constricted with a confusing mix of emotions. I struggled to decide whether to soak in the warmth of their gratitude or succumb to the chilling sense of guilt that threatened to engulf me.I looked at Andrew, my lips slightly parting as I sought his insight. “Why are they applauding? What have I done to earn this?”Andrew, towering beside me, leaned down a bit so his voice could pierce through the noise and reach me easily. “They’re here for you, Elara,” he said, his golden eyes softening. “To honor your recovery and express their gratitude for saving their lives.”Saving their lives.His words lingered heavily in the atmosphere, crashing into me like a powerful wav
Elara’s POVThe journey to my room felt like an eternity. Every step Andrew took behind me was careful and steady, as if he intended to walk forever. Meanwhile, all I desired was to hurry to my room and slam the door behind me. My heart raced erratically in my chest, a blend of excitement and anxiety gnawing at me. His words echoed in my head, “I have something to share with you.”What could he possibly want to discuss that warranted his following me back to my room?How would the others at the pack house react upon seeing their Alpha accompanying the cursed wolf?No. I doubt they call me that anymore, thanks to my gallant behavior. To my surprise, the corridors of the pack house were eerily silent, devoid of the usual lively chatter. Perhaps everyone was still at the health center, or maybe the recent events had hushed them, sending them off to their rooms. Either way, the stillness heightened the discomfort between Andrew and me.When we arrived at my door, I unlocked it and entere
Andrew’s POVMy hands came to her face again, pushing her lips deeper into mine some more. I bit her bottom lip, sending her a signal and she opened up, letting my tongue plunge into her hot mouth as I resumed my dominant behavior.I have been craving this moment for a long time. I once thought that after our first time together, my need for her will disappear. But I was proved wrong. My need for her only intensified till I couldn't fully concentrate without thinking of her.Our tongues fought for dominance as I tasted her, relishing in her sweetness. But eventually I won, dominating the kiss while she succumbed to my touch.I wanted all of her at once. As much as I tried to control myself, the beast wanted non of that.I turned us around and this time had her against the wall, pinning her there as our kiss reached a feverish level for a few minutes, before we broke apart for air but our eyes never left each other's.Unable to help myself, I took her mouth once more but only for a sho
Elara's POV"Do you know how much I want you? You really don't. I want you so bad that I don't mind begging and pleading for you to take me like a wild animal. Unleash the beast. Oh fuck, I can't wait to have you inside of me." I said as I bit my lips.How doesn't he notice that I have always wanted him for a long time. Especially after our first night together. And now, the mate bond isn't even making things any better. I have never wanted anyone like I did him at that moment.Surprise colored his features after I spoke the words but his surprise couldn't overshadow my excitement. Instead it only made me more wet knowing my words could affect him. He was already rock hard, but I noticed the bulge in his pants twitch stemming from her pleasure ridden words, the pure naughtiness of them made his member pulse and strain against his pants and from all indications, he still wished to tease me some more, but he couldn't wait any longer.Because the next moment, he pulled my panties down in
Andrew's POVI quickly resumed pushing in slowly and it really helped that she was wet or it would have hurt a lot more. I continued my slow movements but soon forced my way through, embedding myself deep within her wetness.The pain was hair splitting but the huge amount of foreplay had helped. I quickly sensed her discomfort and stilled, giving her a chance to get used to being so full and stretched thin on my big cock.Elara took deep breaths and tried her best to adjust to the feeling quickly and when she was sure she had, she signalled me with a small moan and I began moving in her, slowly at first.In a matter of minutes, her painful moans had disappeared and was replaced with raw pleasure as I thrusted in and out of her in a gentle rhythm.I could already feel the build up inside me and it excited my wolf, but I refused to give into my primal instinct to take her at once.Elara moaned softly as she tried to get used to the wonderful feeling that her body was experiencing, she e
Elara’s POVI stirred to life, wrapping myself in the warmth of his embrace, content. My body was heavy, yet in a nurturing way, as if nothing outside this moment had any significance. A soft sensation with a gentle rhythm flowed across my shoulder: first soft, like a whisper of wind, then I recognized the rough texture of a fingertip tracing slow, delicate designs on my skin.A sleepy smile oozed across my face. I didn't need to open my eyes to know it was Andrew. The peculiar warmth of his touch, the regular rise and fall of his chest behind me, and the overwhelming pine and earth fragrance were all the reassurance I needed.I burrowed deeper into his chest, my head still spinning, and his arm pulled me closer to him, tighter, as if he wanted more of me, and his fingers stilled the playful patterns they'd been tracing."You're awake," he whispered, his deep voice rumbling through his chest, and something inside of me sizzled."Uhmmm," I replied, my voice muffled against his neck.I
Andrew’s POVThe second her fist connected with my jaw, it seemed as if the world had stopped. A sharp jolt shot through my skull, shaking my senses.Silence.Pure, stunned silence.Elara stood frozen, her eyes wide, her breathing uneven. She couldn't believe it.She had hit me.I brought a hand to my jaw, rolling it slightly. A dull ache bloomed, but I barely felt it.Then, slowly—deliberately—I smirked.“Now that’s more like it.”Her expression twisted—anger, confusion, something else she wasn’t ready to admit.She had felt it. That flow of power. The instinct that had guided her.And it had thrilled her.I could see it in the way her fingers trembled at her sides, the way her chest rose and fell too quickly.But instead of excitement, fear darkened her eyes. She looked like she had seen a ghost.She took a step back, shaking her head. “No.”My smirk faded. Why was she being so dramatic?“Elara—”“No,” she snapped, voice sharp and shaking. “That wasn’t me. That was—” She swallowed,
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