After making Annette cum on my tongue and finger three more times, we took a small nap after giving her one of my shirts to put on. I had refused Ana on reciprocating pleasure. “Today is about you and your pleasure. I fucked up and want to prove that you are the center of my world.” I had explained. I lay in bed with Ana wrapped up in my arms. I was in awe of this woman. She seemed to continuously prove how different she was from Ambrosia. A lamp in the corner of the room created a golden glow. I’d closed the black out curtains to give us privacy. Annette’s milky skin was soft under my fingertips as I traced my hand up and down her stomach and thigh. The sound of her deep breathing as she slept was like a lullaby. It calmed me and made it easy to just be in the present and not stress about all my responsibilities. With much dismay, I untangled myself with Ana’s body and went to the bathroom to freshen up. After sliding on a tee and sweatpants. I left the room to ask the concierge
Ana POVI looped an arm around Xavier’s waist to help hold him up. His large frame dwarfed my already small stature. A figure in the shadows took out the enemy, right before we became a wolf’s dinner. They removed their hood. A stunning tawny-skinned woman with black tight curls stood before us. Her gold eyes took my breath away. “Seline?” Xavier coughed out. I knitted my brows together while I looked at him and the bronze beauty. Seline took several deep breaths as she tried to catch her breath while putting her hands on her knees. “Shit, Xave, I haven’t done that in forever.” She placed her hands on her hips and gave us a bright smile. “Felt so damn good!” Xavier chuckled before a coughing fit started. Seline’s brows furrowed. “What’s wrong with him?” She rushed towards us and wrapped his arm around her shoulders while her arm wrapped around the other side of his waist. “I don’t…. I don’t know. He mentioned something about his drink tasting weird.” Seline cursed under her breat
XAVIER POVAs soon as my team of guards and healer got to the hotel, I felt like I could take a deep breath. With the mixture of fluids and mixes of herbs, I was feeling almost as good as new. ‘Thane, you good?’ I asked my internal counterpart.‘Just fucking peachy.’ He growled. ‘Well good morning to you too, princess.’After a couple of hours of sleep, we were on the road and headed to Cliff Edge. It had been quite some time since I had last visited. I had Ethan stay back with Charles and a couple other guards to continue the investigation into the attack.I let out a curse as we passed the Welcome to Cliff Edge sign. I felt like we had traveled into an alternate reality or a poor country. Gone was the picture-esk town, and in its place graffiti marked, abandoned buildings stood. Overgrown brush filled in the cracks of parking lots, and metal bars protected the windows on the remaining businesses that were open. I didn’t like the feeling of this place. It was evident that I wasn’t
Xavier POV I followed the guards into the casino. Walking into the rotted casino building, I was greeted with the smell of stale beer, smoke, and body odor. Men’s laughter could be heard down the hallway to the main room. Five men sat around a poker table. Cigars rested on ash trays as the ember end continued to smolder. The laughter seized as soon as I pressed out my aura, except no one moved. Glowing red eyes that belonged to Alpha Sam, met mine as I approached. Sam let out a growl in annoyance before looking at one of his guards. “I thought I told you idiots not to let anyone in.” I gritted my teeth and crossed my arms over my chest. Footsteps lightly padded behind me. I knew by their scents it was Sarah and Ana. Sam tensed when he noticed the pair walk in. “And who the fuck are they?!” He bellowed. Oh, Hell fucking no, he would not talk to my mate like that. Without second thought I moved at the speed of light. Before Alpha Sam could react, I had my hand gripped tightly around
Ana POVThe farmhouse was a gorgeous burgundy red color with black shutters. It’s farmers porch wrapped around the structure’s entirety. A matching barn sat a couple hundred feet away from the main house. Sarah scrunched up her face in disgust and waved her hand in front of her nose. “Goddess, that smell never gets any better.” As Matilda let go of Xavier, she yelled out, “oh Sarah, quit being a crabby patty and come give your Aunt Tilly some love.” Matilda extended both arms, ready to embrace Sarah. Sarah smiled and gave Matilda a long hug. I approached Xavier with Geegee to get introduced. Sarah ran up the front steps as Matilda yelled over her shoulder, “Sarah, make sure you save some cookies for Ethan, or I will make you scoop horse shit before and after dinner!” I let out a snort. It gave me much satisfaction to see someone boss Sarah around. Matilda radiated positive energy. With her round rosy cheeks, beaming smile, and sparkling eyes. Xavier wrapped an arm around my waist
Ana POV I don’t know when the palace had begun to feel like home. But I knew just as much as I knew I needed air to breathe, that when we pulled down the driveway, I was home. The cobblestone of the roundabout in front of the entryway rumbled under the tires. Xavier had remained quiet on the way home.Geegee headed to her quarters, muttering to herself about needing to get some chores done. I didn’t pay attention to hear her clearly as my eyes tracked Xavier’s every movement. Staff flooded him with questions after he entered the door. Instead of showing any annoyance, he answered every question and concern about our early return. Butterflies felt like they were fluttering in my stomach. Another piece of my heart was falling for this man. He gave me a wink as he headed to meet with Ethan. I felt a sense of nostalgia walking into my room. So much had changed on our short trip away from the palace. Not only had my relationship with Xavier grown but also my perception of myself. Two k
Ana POV Elizabeth was in a particularly sour mood today. When she argued with the head chef about cake selections being “wrong,” I knew I was in for it. She looked run down in a matching emerald green suede sweatpants outfit. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun at the base of her neck. I sat at the 20 person table in the formal dining area waiting to try whatever Elizabeth had picked out. Xavier’s mother stood next to the server as he placed small plates with different meals in front of me filled with different appetizers. I immediately held bile back from coming up my throat when I saw the amount of seafood on the plates. Oysters, calamari, bacon wrapped scallops, shrimp skewers, and bruschetta lay in front of me. The only appetizing item to me was the bruschetta. Elizabeth hovered over me. “Go on, try them.” I took a small bite of the calamari. The fried breading helped cover the weird texture of the calamari. I took a bite of everything except the oysters. “The chef makes the
Ana POV After a long rest I woke up feeling more like myself. I woke up to Xavier sitting on the bed next to me with a laptop resting on his lap. Black framed glasses rested on his nose, making his half naked body even sexier. Next to him was the infamous wedding binder that Elizabeth had given me. Sensing that I was waking up, Xavier looked over at me with a small smile. He closed the laptop and placed it on his nightstand. It was at that moment I realized I was not in my chambers. I was in Xavier’s room. His bed felt like I was laying on a cloud. I rolled over and winced at how stiff my body was. I didn’t think I had moved a muscle after the amount of antihistamine that was prescribed to me. Xavier moved the binder out of the way and moved so quickly that I didn’t have any time to react. Before I knew it I was laying on top of him with his arms wrapped around my waist. Xavier nestled his face into the crook of my neck and took several deep breaths. I took a moment to do the same
avier had been acting strange the past week, making me wonder if I’d done something to make him upset. But I couldn’t think of how I could have when he had been dealing with some rebellion threats and training with his guards.I knocked on Xavier’s office door before letting myself in. Ethan and Xavier were hunched over a map that had dozens of colored push pins pressed into it. Something about the way Xavier looked at me when he looked up from the map made me take a step back. After realizing who was walking in the room, he put on a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He stood in between me and the map. Ethan gave me a small wave to which I returned. “Hi love, come in.” He waved me into the room. Something in the air was off. But it was getting late, and I wanted to stop agonizing over whether or not Xavier would like the gift I bought.I laced my fingers in front of me. “I wasn’t sure how long you thought you might be?” I cleared my throat. “I was just hoping to exchange gifts l
Ana POV It seemed like in a blink of an eye the Winter Solstice was right around the corner. The palace had changed from regal beauty to a winter wonderland paradise. Evergreen garlands with red and gold ornaments cascaded down the railings of the lavish staircase. In the foyer a fifteen foot tree stood tall with warm ivory lights and continued to extend the gold and red theme. I counted ten real trees throughout the palace and dozens of artificial trees. All were decorated immaculately. I learned quickly that Xavier’s mother was very particular about decorating for the Winter Solstice. Luckily for me, she seemed to have no problem with my decorating, or if she did, she didn’t say anything. After keeping busy each day, I spent my nights dreaming about the women of the Winter Solstice Tribe. Each night, I learned more about the powers each pack member had. I realized after a couple of weeks that each pack member had a common denominator, their wolf Miya. “Have you figured out wh
I stood in the clearing that plagued all of my dreams. Familiar howls of the enemy echoed in the forest, making my heart race. The sounds of Xavier calling my name could be heard in the distance. “Breathe, Ana.” I heard the familiar melodious voice sing out to me. Across from me stood the woman wearing her signature sage green cloak. Her face continued to be covered in shadow from the hood of her cloak. Tendrils of white blonde hair peeked out of the sides of her hood. I looked at the woman with a panicked expression and began to pull at my hair. “Just tell me who you are!” I cried. I knelt on the leaf covered ground and closed my eyes. I was so tired of having this dream over and over again. A gentle hand touched my shoulder. To my surprise, when I looked up, I was met with piercing emerald green eyes, and a face that looked similar to my own. “Mom?”The woman brushed some hair away from my face. “Hi my sweet girl.” Her voice was as beautiful as she was. She knelt in front of me
Ana POV Xavier had sent Geegee into town for a spa day. However, we had other plans. We walked into the spa building and out back to the changing rooms, where the guards would not come. I peeked my head out of the dressing room curtain and looked both ways. Geegee let out a snort when she saw me tiptoe to the back door wearing a plush white robe. I waved her to me. “C’mon, we don’t have much time!” I whisper-yelled. Geegee began to tip toe towards me with her head moving from side to side. Carefully we opened the back door of the spa and ran down the three stairs that led into the alley between the spa and another brick building. We both shed our robes and held them in our arms as we rushed to the main street of the town. We attempted to get through a large group of men that were taking up the sidewalk to no avail. I was shoved from behind. “Fucking watch it asshole!” Gee-gee yelled while whipping around and shoving a man who I assumed was the person who pushed me. I grab Gee-gee’s
The sound of glass breaking echoed in the dining room after my mother threw a vase at a wall. Not only did she react very poorly to the news about Ana’s wolf, but also having a tough day with her illness.“Just when I was starting to have some sort of understanding of her, you tell me that she has no wolf!” She pulled at her hair. “My son, the Lycan King, has fallen in love with a defective wolf! How embarrassing and shameful” She paced on the side of the table before picking up another vase. But before she could throw that one as well I moved with lightning speed and caught it in my hand. At that moment I was grateful that I had insisted on her and Geegee going into town for a spa day. My mother’s tantrum had been going on for five minutes now and I was already feeling my control slip. ‘Do you want me to intervene?’ Ethan asked through the mind link. "No, it will only make it worse.”‘Okay but if she goes after my favorite candelabra, I will be forced to intervene.’‘Do you even
I sat up and looked at my hands that were fiddling with the bedspread. “Up until everything that happened with Tyson, I thought I didn’t have a wolf.” I looked up at the ceiling. “Ha. An Alpha’s daughter without a wolf.”Xavier shifted so he was sitting up straighter. He put a finger under my chin and moved my head, so I was looking at him again. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His tone was clipped; however, I could tell it was from hurt and not anger. “I…I…” I looked back down. “I finally was in a place where people were accepting me…” I took a pregnant pause. “My pack shunned me for something that was out of my control.” I looked up at him. “I didn’t want… I didn’t want to lose the first thing in my life that made me feel wanted and cherished.” Xavier wrapped me in a hug. “You aren’t going to lose me. I’m not happy you kept that for me.” He released me from the hug. “But I can understand your reasoning. But, had I known, we could have found a way to bring your wolf out by now.”I nodded
POV Ana It felt as if Autumn came in a blink of an eye. My dreams only get more vivid as the nights go on. Even awake I was still reliving last night’s nightmare. Xavier and I had been checking on the night patrol. The moon cast just enough light to see where we were going.Three sets of yellow glowing eyes were visible through branches as they approached us. Xavier had jumped in front of me to serve as a shield. Even with his warning growls, the rogues had advanced on us. “Ana, you need to shift!” Xavier yelled over his shoulder as he fought two rogues off. I was paralyzed with fear. I could see the question in his eyes. Why wasn’t I shifting?Xavier’s confusion created enough of a distraction that he wasn’t able to react in time as a rogue tore into his side. Xavier roared in pain. I heard patrol members running to aid us. One of the rogues tore into my side, causing my vision to blur. , “I’m so sorry.” I whispered. Before I knew it my vision went black and I had woken up with
stood in a clearing surrounded by trees. My breaths were short from running. Howls of the enemy echoed in the forest, making my heart race. A sense of being surrounded began to consume me. They were gaining on me. There was no way I could take on multiple wolves. “Breathe, Ana.” A melodious voice sang out to me. I looked around the clearing to find the source of the voice. Across from me stood a woman wearing a sage green cloak. Her face was covered in shadow from the hood of her cloak. Tendrils of white blonde hair peeked out of the sides of her hood. “You have to get out of here!” I cried. “They are after me!”“Do not fear, my dear. You have the power within you to stop them.” In a blink of an eye I felt the woman’s presence behind me. “Breathe in, breathe out.” I listened, taking several deep inhales and exhales. “Good Ana. Now close your eyes and imagine yourself pulling on a string. Can you feel the power rising as you pull?” I nodded. The howls and the sounds of paws hittin
Xavier POVI felt like a little kid who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I tried to fight the shit eating grin that threatened to spread. I ran my hand through my disheveled hair. “Hey man.” He licked his bottom lip. “There you are!” He stalked towards me. “I’ve been trying to mind link you for the past fifteen minutes….” He paused, taking in my appearance. “May want to fix your buttons before the meeting.” He tipped his chin at my shirt. When I looked down, I realized how much of a mess I looked. My dress shirt was only half tucked in, and the buttons were two buttons off from the right hole. I gave Ethan a “whoops” expression before adjusting myself to a more presentable manner. I walked into the conference room where three alphas were waiting to speak with me. We finished our agenda quickly. I felt my mother’s eyes on me the entirety of the meeting. When everyone signed off the Skype call, my mother began to pace the room. “Xavier, this is unacceptable.” She cr