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Mina POV - After declining her wish to come to Mina’s Luna ceremony, Jade didn’t bother to stay at Blood Mountain for the night. Her own pack was only a short way from the mountain’s base, and she claimed to have the rest of Castriel’s mess to clean up. Mina was glad to have the Red Spire Luna off her territory. The woman hadn’t done or said anything to lay suspicion at her feet, but her motives didn’t seem entirely pure either. Not that any alliance between two packs ever had selfless intentions. Mina had heard her out, but delayed a decision on the alliance, formally at least. Jade was an unknown to her but could be of use at the Luna court. That was also what the woman wanted from the alliance. Despite no longer being a Clear Blue wolf, Jade was certain a connection to Mina would increase her influence, help her to be seen and heard. Not at the next court, of course, when they would have to keep distant and hostile, but the ones to come. It was well-known that the original thr
Blake POV - In just a few days, the pack was transformed into a paradise Blake had never seen before. Colourful flowers, handpicked from the mountain path, were bunched and hung outside the door of every house that stood between the packhouse and the green. Streamers were strung between them, leading Willi through the pack to the ceremony. Some Blood Mountain wolves lined the streets, hanging back to watch their Luna pass, while others ran ahead to get a good spot on the green. All were smiling, talking of their new Luna, her beauty, her poise, her strength. They had spent the last few days working on the ceremony with her, getting to know her and she had shown them her true self. Blood Mountain adored Willi. They lapped up her attention, praising her choices, marvelling at her ideas. They hung on her every word, but she didn’t use their awe against them. Blake wasn’t even sure she saw it, but he did. As did his unit. Alastor often teased her about his sudden competition for her af
Blake POV - The celebrations went on all day and well into the night, but Blake didn’t want to stay and watch the sun rise with the hardcore partiers. He couldn’t when his mind kept drifting. It drifted to the tension in his belly that had grown ever since his mindlink earlier. It twisted and curled, telling him to run, telling him to stay, sparking inside him each time Alastor touched him and warming when Roman allowed him a smile. Willi had been kept busy mingling with her new wolves, but even the sweet looks she spared for only him were enough to make his stomach flip. The sensation was new but not entirely unpleasant. Whenever it got too much, he fled the celebration for some space, but one member of his unit would find him. They soothed his fears without even speaking of them, reassuring him with small touches scattered amongst casual words and, before long, he found himself following them back to the others. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable around them. The opposite really
Blake POV - As their lips locked together, Blake slipped his tongue into Willi’s mouth. The warmth of her enveloped him, teasing him of the pleasure to come. She tasted just as good as he remembered from a few nights ago and met him with an eagerness that stoked the brewing flame in his belly. His hands dropped to her waist, splaying over her gentle curves, itching to feel the soft skin beneath the dress that had been enticing him all day. He resisted the urge to strip her of it immediately. It was his first time with his unit, and he wanted it to be perfect. The hands that reached for him weren’t as restrained. Alastor’s body hovered behind him, sending a pleasant tingle of awareness down his spine. The Hayre’s hands quickly pulled Blake’s shirt free of its tuck and dipped his hands beneath the material. They were large, rough, finding an easy path across Blake’s flesh that let him explore every ridge and swell his abdomen had to offer. Lips found their way to his neck, lathering t
Roman POV - “Why me?” Roman’s eyes widened. Surely Mini would’ve been the obvious choice, she was Blake’s fated mate after all, and the head of their unit. Roman even would’ve understood Allie being his first mate. Despite his wariness at first, the Hayre had warmed to the Issacs quickly and had been far closer to him than Roman had. Blake averted his eyes and squirmed under the Lynn’s question. “Right now, your acceptance of me means the most.” He shrugged, failing to keep his tone even. “I need to know that you’re okay with this, that you accept me.” A sharp flash of sadness pierced Roman. He gently guided Mini from the wolf’s lap and closed the space between them, settling between the Issacs’ legs. Blake paled, but seemed to relax when Allie offered him a wink. Roman didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable around him, he didn’t want his mate scared of him, but he wasn’t as easy going as Allie or Mini.Though he finally understood Blake, after Allie told him about his past, it h
Alastor POV - Alastor moved fast as Roman nuzzled into Blake’s freshly marked neck. There was an instinct to cuddle and soothe one’s mate after the connection formed, but all of them were to mark him that night. If the pair managed to slip into the nest’s embrace and rest, they might not rouse until morning and their plans would be scuppered. He ignored the Lynn’s grumble as he took Blake from his arms. Alastor kicked off the lingering hold of the Issacs’ trousers and drew his naked body into his lap as he sat. Roman glared as him but had enough mind to leave them be. It wouldn’t be long until they were all mark and ready to hunker down together. Thankfully Mina was there. She sat beside Roman, moving his attention to her as she guided his head to rest in her lap. The wolf inhaled her, his eyes darkening as they fixed to Alastor and Blake opposite them. Alastor smiled. He knew what the Lynn was smelling because its scent still coated his fingers. Mina cheeks flushed as he brought th
Mina POV - “I want more.” Though the words were breathless, Mina could’ve drowned in the deep lust within them. Alastor was still inside Blake when the words left the latter’s lips. She almost couldn’t believe he had spoken them. Roman had taken over from the Issacs, finishing off her orgasm as she watched her first and newest mates bond. Their limbs had wrapped so tight around each other she thought one of them would surely break, but as their tension eased so did their hold on each other. Pleasure throbbed deep within her, still high, still sensitive, and that was just from her mate’s fingers. She couldn’t imagine how high Blake was feeling, yet he asked for more. “You need to give it a little while or it’ll feel too much.” Alastor leaned to press a kiss to Blake’s forehead, but the Issacs grabbed his jaw and yanked their lips together. Even from the other side of the nest, Mina saw Blake push his tongue into Alastor’s mouth, a heady groan ringing through the Hayre. When he fi
Blake POV - “Roman!” Willi’s cry was sharp in Blake's ear, but his panic flooded over the pain and sent them all scrambling after their mate. With their limbs entwined, they twisted and fell to the floor, but he was closest to Roman. He had been at his back mere moments ago but now laid silently at his side. Blake wormed free from Alastor and Willi, crawling to the Lynn. Everything had been perfect, but it had gone wrong so quickly. The high of completing his final connection to Willi still rushed in his veins, but it was smothered by adrenaline. It dragged a sharp worry to the forefront of his mind, zeroing his focus on his unconscious mate. Roman's skin had been a pleasant rose from their passions but now burned with a sickly fire. Blake pressed a hand to his forehead, yanking it back at the overwhelming heat of his flesh. “Shit, he’s burning up.” Clarity pushed through any lingering bliss, making him focus. “What the hell happened?” One moment his mate had been inside him, l