Mina POV - Mina couldn’t sleep. Exhaustion drew her eyes closed and Alastor’s steady breaths attempted to lull her to rest, but her mind was awake. Roman’s suggestion hadn’t left her since he had said it. It wasn’t like her and Alastor hadn’t grown close since their bond developed, but the thought to complete their bond had been far from her mind. So much else had happened since they found out about their connection. Marking each other didn’t seem like a priority when they were fighting for their lives. However, now Roman had mentioned it, it was all Mina could think about.Her bite on Alastor’s neck, feeling his canines bury into her flesh, the silvery half-moons they’d wear forever to show their commitment to their bond, to show they were claimed. The thought of him wearing her mark made her insides warm, it made her long for it, need it. Her cheeks burned, but she couldn’t deny it felt right. From the flutter of her heart to the pang of desire in her core, it felt right. She wante
Mina POV - His promise echoed on her skin, chased by a flurry of kisses that worked across her jaw and down her neck. Mina moaned, her head lulling back to offer up her throat. Alastor greedily accepted. His lips worked over her skin as if they were desperate to taste every inch of her. They traced the length of her neck and across her collarbone, hungry, needy, fuelled with the same passion that burned within her. It was red hot, combusting from a single flicker of heat in a matter of moments, like they had been two tinder boxes waiting to collide. Mina hissed when he sucked her flesh between his teeth, his soft nibble sending sparks of excitement directly to her core. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, squeezed her legs tighter and drew him close enough to blur the line between them. It still wasn’t close enough. She needed to feel the heat of his skin, feel it move against her own, shred every thread of fabric keeping them apart. Alastor’s lips stopped at her colla
Mina POV - Her stomach churned at the patches of blood staining the grass and climbing the tree, marring the beauty of the wood. Mina turned her back to it, taking a breath to remind herself that Alastor was okay. She had left his arms little more than an hour ago and, apart from his need for a bit more rest, there was no hidden pain or lingering difficulties in his smile. It was a lazy grin, still lopsided from their night together. If the memory of him wrapped in their sex scented sheets wasn’t enough to quell her unease, the little thrum of the mark on her neck was. She felt her mate's presence like invisible threads wove between them, his heartbeat making them hum beneath her skin. “Are you alright?” Roman asked, moving to her side. His attention flickered behind her, a dark veil shadowing it. “We can go back. You don’t have to be here, Williamina.” “Do you think my disposition weak, Roman?” She let him fumble a reply before she smirked and eased his worries. “We gathered some
Mina POV - No matter how she pleaded, not only did Roman refuse to stop calling her Mini, but he never agreed to save it for private conversations. The gleam in his eye told Mina everything she needed to know about his intention to keep calling her the nickname, even in front of Alastor. There was no chance he’d keep it quiet, so she had to get something in return. The idea struck her just as they re-entered the village and her eyes immediately landed on Alastor. Her mate was stood at the far end of the huge clearing, talking with some wolves she hadn’t met yet. Mina abruptly stopped and turned to Roman. “Okay, let's make a deal. I’ll let you call me Mini,” she ignored his little huff as if it wasn’t her choice, “if, and only if, you tell me what Alastor used to say about me.” A sparkle glinted in her mate’s eye, but she was certain it was just the early afternoon sun piercing through the break in the canopy above. His attention flickered over her shoulder, then he ducked down to
Roman POV - “It’s a pleasure to meet you and your unit, Mrs Lynn.” Mini dipped her head, deferring to his parents. Roman watched her, sharing a questioning gaze with Allie as their mate straightened her back and squared her shoulders, every ounce of playfulness gone. Was she nervous? He couldn’t tell. Her voice was strong, her hands steady, but something felt off. “Thank you for hosting Alastor and I in your village. We hunted some meat on the way. Please accept it as a gift.” His parents exchanged a look, one he couldn’t help but mimic. With an indifferent tone and expressionless features, he could feel a chill coming from her. Is this the strict Luna that Allie had been talking about for all those years? Allie leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “You’re not in Clear Blue, Princess.” His words were just loud enough for their unit. “No need to pretend, they’ll love you just as you are.” A muscle flickered in her jaw, but they shared a look, brief and sweet. It carried unsaid
Mina POV - When Mina woke up alone, a chill raced down her spine. She spread her arms wide, reaching for the two warm bodies that had slept beside her all night, but the bed was empty. She shivered and sat up. Roman's room was bright with the late morning hour, but there was no sign of him or Alastor. She sniffed the air, their scents strong, but waning with their absence. Mina frowned, and drew the covers tight around herself. It was the first time she had woken up alone since leaving Clear Blue. It felt odd not to have the comfort of her mates beside her. Then, she noticed a piece of paper neatly folded on the side table. ‘It was your turn to sleep, Princess. Breakfast is ready when you are. -A’ A rush of relief blew past her lips, and she flopped back onto her pillow, inhaling the lingering scents of her mates. Sharing a bed with her unit was more natural than she thought it would be. Lying between them, their bodies pressed to hers, so many arms reaching over and under each ot
Mina POV - The trio spent the rest of the day discussing Clear Blue and how to move forward. The main problem was proving Mina’s innocence. Without knowing the ability that her and Alastor had gained through their bond, they couldn’t prove the note was fake, and without knowing who was framing her, they couldn’t gather the evidence they needed to bring the real murderer to justice. She insisted they had to get word to Sam. Not only did she need to know he was okay, but he had been there when the man in the window had killed their mother. She hoped he had caught a glimpse of the culprit, but knew he’d already be working to get her home. It took a lot of convincing from Alastor, but eventually they agreed to use Oliver as a way into Clear Blue to get a message to Sam. Though it made Mina uncomfortable, the pack was a fortress which he controlled. Getting in without his help would just lead to one of them getting imprisoned or killed. Though she had been stubbornly against it, none of
Mina POV - Alastor crawled up her body, his knee sliding between her legs, parting them. Her breath hitched as his thigh pressed to her apex, but her attention was drawn away as a hand cupped the back of her head, guiding it to a pillow. Roman’s fingers threaded delicately in her hair, far sweeter than his dark gaze promised. Her chest warmed. Even when desire was creeping upon them, her mates were gentle with her, making sure she was comfortable. “Can I kiss you?” His voice was little more than a breathy rumble. Alastor’s lips were already on her neck, nipping and licking her flesh, following the trail of her pheromones. She knew his kiss, had felt its searing heat before, the way it consumed her. He was her first mate, the one who showed her how a fiery touch could make her body sing. It longed to sing again, to feel the rush of pleasure as he made her come undone. However, it longed for something else too. Her skin tingled at Roman’s presence, the intensity of his eyes as the