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
Elara's POVI sat up against the headboard, knees tucked into my chest, hugging my arms over them defensively. The said and unsaid words of Andrew lay heavy and stiflingly between us. The speck of hope that had laced my heart sometime back now felt so cruelly joked about.Andrew, who lay beside me just a moment before, now sat up with his elbows to his knees, running his hands through his dark hair. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and shutting his eyes-to appear bothered.And it grated on my nerves.I studied him, waiting for something, an answer, an explanation, anything that could give meaning to his behavior. But when it was obvious none was coming, my furrowed brows continued to capture the frustration growing inside me."Andrew," I softly yet firmly uttered, "why do you not want anyone to know we're mates?He refused to answer, further fuelling my frustration by his silence. When he finally opened his eyes, they weren't soft and w
Andrew's POVIt was a chillier night than I had anticipated as I walked back towards the central building, the cold wind cutting into me. The far-off howl of a wolf echoed through the trees, clearly a rogue but it was a reminder of what terrors lay beyond our borders.But tonight, the threats weren't out there alone, they were in here as well, within the pack mixed with the very life I was attempting to create with Elara.I shoved my hands into my pockets, my jaw clenched as my mind returned to her. Her kiss still lingered on my lips, a mix of many things but frustration among them.She didn't understand, not at all. How could she?How can I possibly say this to her?The truth now felt like a burden, a heavier one than any that I'd ever carried. Elara wasn't safe. Not just because there were already individuals who wished to harm her, but because of what she was—my mate.To make our union known to the pack would be to put a bull's-eye on her back. My enemies would recognize her as a w
Elara’s POVThe sun was dipping in the heavens, and the packhouse grounds were bathed in a warm, golden light. All was so serene, but I could not rid myself of the disquiet in my chest. Stepping outside, the chilly morning air struck me, bringing with it the smell of pine and wet earth.A hum of talk filled the air, and pack members one by one turned to greet me as I walked past them."Good morning, Elara," a young wolf said, smiling broadly."Thank you again for what you did," another said, lowering his head slightly.A small pack of wolves training nearby halted, offering me respectful nods.It was overwhelming.I had never been treated so respectfully since the day I was born. It all felt awkward and strange.I forced a polite smile and nodded in return, but each hello was a burden on my shoulders. They all thought I was a hero. They thought I had rescued them.But I wasn't a hero. I didn't attempt to rescue them. In fact, I attempted to kill them.My feet paused for a moment as gu
Andrew’s POVThe soft rustling of papers and the rhythmic ticking of the clock were the only sounds in my office as I sat behind my desk, buried in a mountain of paperwork. A dull ache pulsed behind my eyes from staring at contracts, land deeds, and reports for hours on end. Every now and then, I'd catch myself zoning out, my thoughts inevitably drifting to her.Elara.The stubborn woman, her name flitted like some vexing mosquito which refused to flee across my brain cells, though trying hardest to get consumed by it as I should: going through in my head over the plans that were for land expansion to further broaden my pack. How her lips, soft, caressed mine was all my troubled mind kept up with-how beautiful and striking she appeared last night-brown eyes that fired with both frustrations and desires.That memory alone was enough to give me a hard-on, wanting to rush over to wherever she was, bend her over, and plunge deep inside of her.I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, cursing
Elara’s POVMy heart was racing as I stormed down the hall, my feet moving quicker than my mind. I did not know where I was going; all I just needed was to get as far away from Andrew as possible. The sight of Rhea all over him, her hands on his chest, her intentions so blatant and obvious…It was too much.The air felt different now-oppressive, suffocating. My vision blurred, not from tears that I refused to cry, but from the great anger and humiliation that burned inside of me. I should have known better. Andrew had secrets, walls I probably could never see over, let alone climb. What was I thinking, letting myself believe this could be different?That would explain why he doesn't want the pack to know we're mates."Elara!" His voice echoed down the hall, but I didn't stop.He was right behind me, his heavy steps fast as he gained on me, but I didn't stop, quickening my pace as if the distance between us could ease the sting of the betrayal.It probably could."Elara, stop!" he call
Andrew's POVHer lips quivered against mine, the air catching in her lungs as I tugged her deeper, refusing to let the moment slip away. Fire and rebellion molded into one-and for a moment, I felt her defenses drop. But the softness there in the kiss was short-lived, replaced by a stubborn energy that I despised and loved.Don't ever do what?" she whispered.As I leaned back to respond, her stormy eyes bored right into mine; the pain I saw there was still fresh, raw."Don't ever run away from me like that again," I said, my voice low but razor-sharp. My hands were still firm on her waist, holding her close to me, as though letting go meant risking her disappearing from me forever.She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smirk even as her chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. "And if I do?My jaw clenched, and my wolf bristled at the challenge in her tone. She always knew how to press my buttons, how to get me heated and raise every primal instinct in me. I leaned in cl
Elara’s POVI didn't reply as I tried to break away from his grasp. But he proved to be stronger. “Let me go. You can continue having a good laugh at me.” “Don't be like that, it was just the spur of the moment.” He said his eyes dancing. “I'm sorry.” But the look on his face was anything apologetic.My temper flared and I tugged at my hand to get away from him but with one force, he pulled me back against his chest. Before I could protest, his lips crashed down on mine silencing whatever I had on my lips. Raising my hands to push him off, I ended up snaking them around his neck. Just as he deepened the kiss, I felt one his hands leave my hips to trace a path to my breast. Over the material of my clothes, he massaged it earning a gasp from my lips which were very much busy. As if that was the consent he needed, his hand slipped under my shirt and found its way to my globes. This time, he pulled it out of the bra and kneaded it, flicking at the nipples which sent a jolt through me a
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