The morning sun spills through the wide windows of the Coffee Shop Inn, casting a golden hue over the teeming scene within. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the sounds of clinking cups and quiet conversations. Behind the counter, Selena moves with practiced ease, her thoughts only half on the orders she’s filling. It’s busy, but her mind is elsewhere—on a pair of eyes that she can’t seem to forget. Selena and Demika are behind the counter, working in perfect sync.Demika has managed to recover from her almost ill-fated power-consuming adventures of few days ago—she has re-emerged from the aftermath of her recent power-surge misdemeanor, her spirit bruised but unbroken. The tempest that raged within her has quieted, leaving behind a newfound strength that hums beneath her skin. She is herself again, though something is undeniably different. Her powers, once wild and uncontrollable, now obey her—if only just. She can feel them simmering beneath the surface, ready to
Chloe’s eyes shift from Selena to Demika, and something sparks within her, a flicker of attraction that she hadn’t expected. “We are. Just passing through, really,” Chloe says, her voice soft yet filled with a subtle intensity.Demika smiles, her heart fluttering in a way that feels both strange and exciting. “Well, welcome… Strangers! To the Coffee Shop Inn. We make the best brew in town. Any special request?”There’s a brief pause, charged with an unspoken energy. Valentine and Selena exchange a glance, each of them trying to decipher the other, while Chloe’s gaze lingers on Demika, something deeper and more profound stirring within her.“I’ll get your coffee,” Selena says, breaking the silence as she moves to the machine. But her hands are trembling slightly, the presence of Valentine affecting her more than she cares to admit.Chloe steps closer to the counter, her attention focused entirely on Demika. “You’ve been here a while?” she asks, her tone almost casual, but there’s a gli
The evening casts a thick veil of twilight over the Pack House, a monolithic structure nestled deep within the heart of Redbone territory, just by the borders of Laketown. The air is dense with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the shadows lengthen as the day wanes, shrouding the surrounding forest in a deepening gloom. Inside the Pack House, the atmosphere is equally charged, though for different reasons.Alpha Wilson, a towering figure of raw power and unyielding authority, stands in the center of the room, his broad shoulders squared, his jaw clenched with the weight of his responsibilities. His eyes, cold and calculating, scan the room as if dissecting each detail for a potential weakness.Across from him stands Jason, his Beta, and lifelong friend. Jason’s loyalty has been unwavering, but tonight, a tension lingers in the air between them—an unspoken discord that neither man dares to acknowledge outright. Jason's eyes flicker with concern as he studies Wilson’s expression, se
He steps toward Selena, his gaze intense, almost predatory, eyes turn red. “You will stay away from them, Selena. I won’t have my mate consorting with Vampyres.”Selena opens her mouth to protest, but the look in Wilson’s eyes silences her. She can see the demon lurking just beneath the surface, ready to break free at the slightest provocation. Her heart pounds in her chest, fear mingling with the overwhelming love she feels for him. She can’t bear the thought of losing him, but neither can she ignore the connection she feels with Valentine.“Wilson, please,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “You’re scaring me.”At her words, something in Wilson shifts. The fury drains from his face, replaced by a look of horror at what he’s almost done. He reaches out to her, his hands trembling as they cup her face, tilting her head so that he can look into her eyes.“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, his voice thick with regret. “I never meant to frighten you.”Selena’s heart aches as she sees the torment
When it’s over, they lie tangled together, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing heavy and uneven. The silence that follows is thick with unspoken words, each of them lost in their own thoughts. But for now, at least, the storm has passed.Selena rests her head on Wilson’s chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin, scratching to tease him to response. She can feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her touch, a reassuring rhythm that grounds her in the present.“I should go,” she murmurs after a while, though she makes no move to leave. “There’s so much I need to think about.”Wilson tightens his hold on her, his voice a low rumble in the darkness. “Stay with me tonight. I don’t want you to go.”Selena smiles against his chest, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her. “I’ll stay, but I don’t think I can walk… please, carry me to the bedroom, I’m wasted.” she whispers. Wilson didn’t hesitate, carries her and immediately she closes her eyes as she drif
Charmaine stands at the edge of the Hydra Pack's training grounds, her cold eyes scanning the ranks of soldiers assembled before her. One hundred men. That is all Alpha Cortis has given her—a pitiful number considering the task at hand. The Redbone Pack of Clovis City is not just formidable; it is legendary. Wilson, their Alpha, is a force to be reckoned with, his lieutenant Jason a lethal shadow that follows in his wake. But Cortis, in his arrogance, has dismissed this threat. He sees this attack as a mere test, a probe into Redbone's defenses.Charmaine knows better. This is no test; it is a death march. These one hundred men, with their steely eyes and sharpened claws, are marching to their graves. She can see it in their faces, the fear they hide behind bravado, the doubt in their gazes when they think she isn’t looking. They are strong, yes, but strength alone won’t save them. Not against the Redbone Pack. She clenches her fists, nails digging into her palms until blood pools in
As the last of the Hydra soldiers fall, Wilson surveys the carnage, his mind racing. Something still doesn’t sit right with him. He turns to Jason, who is wiping blood from his face, his expression grim."Something’s off," Wilson says, his voice low. "This attack was too sloppy, too poorly coordinated. Charmaine is up to something."Jason frowns, his gaze narrowing as he considers Wilson’s words. "You think this was a diversion?""I don’t know," Wilson admits, his unease growing. "But we need to find out what she’s really after. And fast."********************While the battle rages at the borders, Charmaine slips away unnoticed, following the secret path through the forest that leads directly into the heart of Clovis City. The path is narrow and treacherous, overgrown with thorny vines and twisted roots that threaten to trip her at every turn. But Charmaine moves with a deadly grace, her eyes fixed on the prize that awaits her at the end of the path—Selena.As she approaches the city
The battle at the borders is over, and the Redbone Pack has emerged victorious. But the victory is bittersweet. Only two of their own were lost, but the sense of unease lingers. Wilson and Jason stand at the edge of the battlefield, surveying the carnage."None of them made it out," Jason says, his voice grim. "Not a single one."Wilson nods, his mind elsewhere. "Charmaine wasn’t with them," he says, his voice low. "She was never here."Jason frowns, his gaze narrowing. "Then where the hell is she?"As if on cue, a messenger arrives, breathless and wide-eyed. "Alpha Wilson," he says, his voice trembling. "There’s been an attack in the city—Selena was targeted."Wilson’s heart skips a beat, his mind racing as he processes the news. "Where is she?" he demands, his voice sharp."She’s safe," the messenger replies quickly. "But the attacker—Charmaine—was captured. She’s been imprisoned, awaiting your judgment."Wilson breathes a sigh of relief, but it is short-lived. Charmaine may be impr