I watch Claudia’s reaction as I bring the sponge to her back, the soap foaming up as I swirl small circles over her skin. She swallows, her throat bobbing as she absorbs what I just said. A few moments pass before her hand drifts up to her neck, fingers brushing over the mark I left there. Her mate mark.“Oh.” It’s all she says.My lips press together. I was prepared for her to freak out, but I expected more of a reaction than this. I continue washing her back, careful over the bruises that still mar her body. The silence stretches between us, filled only by the sound of water sloshing and our beating hearts.“Does this mean I will be like you?” she asks, finally breaking the quiet, her fingers still ghosting over her throat. “A lycan?” She says it like she’s testing the word, feeling its weight. I relax, a smile tugging at my lips.“Only if you want to be.”She looks over her shoulder, her gaze locking onto mine. I see her red bottom lip caught between her teeth before she fully turn
“Naah, Leo,” she moans, her walls clamping around me. Seeing her like this is one of my favorite things in the world. The sounds she makes, the way her hazy, lust-filled eyes lock onto mine, and how completely she lets go. Every gasp, every tremor, every desperate arch of her body—I commit it all to memory.I curl my fingers with each thrust, and her mouth pops open, spilling sounds that would make anyone blush. “Goddess, Leo… aaah, please,” she whimpers, her grip tightening on my shoulders as her hips buck against me. Water sloshes between us, warm and slick, amplifying every movement. I smile. I love how greedy she becomes, the way her walls clench around my fingers, pulling me deeper while she chases her release.“I think I should punish you. What were you doing so close to the border?” I arch a brow, watching her lips part, her nails biting into my skin at the sudden shift in conversation.“What?” she breathes, her voice half-dazed. I slow my movements, teasing, and she whimpers,
We call a meeting in our office to decide what to do. After filling everyone in on what happened with Ansel and making a quick trip to the hospital to have my leg bandaged, we gather—Reid, Erin, Gaia, Leo, and myself. Reid and Erin have been training the warriors, while Gaia and I prepare because Braden is coming for us. I feel it in my bones, a slow, crawling certainty. He is on his way.Leo spreads a map of the pack’s territory across the hardwood table, his fingers smoothing out the creases. Everyone leans in as he points to potential entry points, strategizing how to minimize damage. The flickering overhead light casts shifting shadows across his face, emphasizing the sharp angles of his jaw. The only problem is, I can’t stop thinking about what Ansel discovered. That Leo isn’t just a Lycan—he’s the lost Lycan king. The knowledge presses into me like the tip of an arrow poised between my shoulder blades. Leo told me he has a target on his back, but now I feel it, a cold weight set
Leo and I make our way back to our room as dawn creeps over the horizon. We are ready, but that does nothing to stop the weight in my stomach from sinking deeper.Hand in hand, we walk through the castle, the high ceilings looming above us. The sconces flicker, casting restless shadows along the stone walls. Despite the vast space, it feels like the walls are closing in, the air growing thick, harder to breathe. I have never fought in a battle before, and my thoughts spiral—wishing I had trained more, mastered a new move, pushed my wolf to practice harder. But none of that matters now. I am as ready as I will ever be, and worrying won't change anything.Leo squeezes my hand, his storm-gray eyes crinkling at the edges, more than usual. “It’s a good plan,” I tell him, because it is. We have the numbers, the advantage—we are bringing the fight to them. But if my plan works, we won’t need to fight at all.“I know it is,” he says, his voice steady, but there’s tension beneath it. “It’s alw
The shot burns, and I feel Reid’s eyes on me the entire time. Even as I watch Asher and Claudia leave, his gaze never wavers. Now, it’s just the three of us.Erin, thank the Goddess, quickly pours another round before the tension between me and Reid solidifies into a living, breathing thing—impossible to ignore. “Cheers!” she slurs, and we clink glasses. The alcohol spreads warmth through my belly, a pleasant fuzziness settling over me. Before I can stop it, a real smile tugs at my lips.Reid is hooked by that point. Even when I catch him staring, he doesn’t look away. It would be cute if it weren’t so infuriating.By the time we finish the bottle, a lazy buzz hums through my veins. I know—I know—from the way Reid keeps looking at me that I need a clear head. But it’s too late for that now.Erin mumbles something, but her words blur into the background. Reid and I are locked in some kind of silent battle—a staring contest that neither of us seems willing to lose. My heart flutters as
Reid freezes, and a crushing weight settles in my chest at the thought of disappointing him.“Oh,” he says, his voice flat. The bond thrashes inside me, begging me to explain. I want to—but I also don’t.“It’s not what you think. My mate physically removed my canines so I could never mark anyone else.”Every muscle in his body locks into place, rigid as if he’s about to explode like a bomb. Damn.“I’ll tell you everything. Please, let’s just go to my room.” I scan the corridor because I can't say what I want to with so many people close by.His jaw clicks so loudly it echoes down the hall.Reid grabs my arm, and the moment his skin touches mine, sparks dance between us, making my already addled brain melt to mush. He doesn’t say a word as he practically drags me down the hallway. The silence stretches for what feels like miles, the energy between us thick, electric, and suffocating. I can feel his rage burning through him, searing like an open flame. Despite swearing I would never tel
I pull back, giving Leo another slow, lingering smile. The fire crackles beside us, its flickering glow casting shadows over his sharp features, but worry still lingers in his eyes. I don’t want that. I refuse to let him carry it tonight.Biting my lip, I feel the undeniable pull between us, the electric charge humming in the space where our bodies almost touch. Leaning in, I brush featherlight kisses along his cheek, trailing down to his jaw. A low groan rumbles from his chest, his breath hitching as I shift, straddling his thighs. His hands find my chin, his grip firm yet reverent as he tilts my face to meet his.Then his lips crash into mine.The kiss is searing—possessive, commanding—like he’s trying to reclaim control, to remind me exactly who he is. I let him. My fingers thread through his thick, tousled hair, loving the way it feels against my skin, soft yet untamed. His tongue tangles with mine, the heat between us rising with every breath, every press of our bodies molding int
Her lips curl into a smirk that could make the devil himself drop to his knees, and I growl low in my throat, the sound rumbling through my chest like a predator stalking its prey. She’s mine— mine—and I’ll be damned if I don’t claim every fucking inch of her tonight. My fingers work at the clasp of her finery with a fury, tearing the fabric away like it’s an insult to her divine body. The sound of it ripping echoes in the dimly lit room, and her breath hitches, those jewel-blue eyes of hers flashing with a hunger that matches my own.Her curves are a fucking masterpiece, and as her attire falls to the floor, I take her in like a starving man at a feast. Her tits are perfect—full and heavy, the nipples already pebbled and begging for my mouth. I can’t help but reach out, my rough palms grazing over her soft skin, and she shivers under my touch. “Leo don’t tease me,” she begs but she will be begging far more before she gets what she wants. Her hips sway as she steps closer, her pussy s
Epliogue Part 2Thirty Years LaterToday is the day Grey finally moves out of the castle. My youngest is ready to explore the world on his own. None of the other kids have moved far, not really. But this feels different. This is him leaving. He won’t be under our roof anymore. And even though we have centuries together, it doesn’t make this any easier. My heart still aches at the thought of his absence echoing through the halls.What doesn’t help is the fact that Gaia and I both believe his mate is her daughter, Summer. Which means he’ll be hours away from us, living at the New Moon Pack. Gaia and Reid are thrilled at the idea. Honestly, I sometimes suspect Gaia’s been nudging fate with her magic… except her spells have no effect on Summer, and Grey never seems to react to any of Gaia’s not-so-subtle hints that they should mark each other.Summer and Grey have been inseparable since they were little. Every year, we’d spend the summers with the New Moon Pack, or Gaia, Reid, and Summer w
Epilogue Ten Years LaterThose years with Braden feel like nothing more than a distant memory. There was a time I couldn’t imagine being happy or free like I am now. That’s not to say the nightmares don’t still come—those nights I jolt awake in a cold sweat, heart racing, lungs gasping for air as if I’m still trapped in that hell. But all it takes is a glance into the storm-grey eyes of my mate, and the past fades like smoke. I’m here. I’m safe. It’s over.The last ten years pass in a blur. It’s only when our son arrives that I truly feel the weight of all the children I lost. Pregnancy, as joyful as it is, terrifies me. I dread something going wrong, haunted by the possibility that Braden’s poisons still lurk in my blood, waiting to strike. That's really when the nightmares came once again. The birth is… intense. I’d like to say it went smoothly. But Leo, on the other hand? I see clumps of his thick dark hair littering the hospital floor by the time the nurse is telling me to push.
Things are finally settling down and becoming normal again. Leo and I work hard, but we play hard too. It’s exactly how I always pictured my life would be when I was younger—only now, it’s my reality.“There you are, baby. I’ve been looking for you.”I’d know that voice anywhere. Every hair on my arms and along my neck prickles to attention. My stomach drops.“No… no, you’re dead.” I whisper because it's the only thing that makes sense. I spin around, heart thundering in my chest. He stands there—Braden—his dark blue eyes gleaming with a sinister glint, his wolfish grin carved across his face like a predator who’s already won. I know that look too well now. Nothing good comes from that look. He strolls toward me, each step slow, measured, powerful. I stumble backward until the wall presses into my spine. My breath stutters. It doesn’t make sense. He’s dead.He stops just in front of me, reaching out to toy with a strand of my hair. His fingers are deceptively gentle until they tight
I feel a squeeze on my hand as silence creeps in, thick and heavy like a storm about to break. Even Erin glances our way, her eyes narrowing as if she can see straight through me—like there’s a neon sign on my forehead flashing the word Lycan.The crowd shifts subtly, a ripple through the mass of bodies. I follow it with my eyes until I see him—a man at the back moving with unnatural smoothness, like a shadow cutting through the haze of murmurs and hushed breathing. One of the guards. I recognize him; he usually works the front gate, stopping intruders from ever getting this far.He’s coming closer. Step by step.My pulse thunders in my ears.Should I pull Claudia behind me? Should I shift? Should I fight?I count the seconds, heart pounding, my beast snarling just under the surface. Claudia’s grip tightens on my hand—iron strong. I couldn’t move even if I wanted to.The man climbs the stairs to stand before us. My beast pushes forward, hackles rising, claws itching to tear through
We’ve called a pack meeting, and nerves twist in my gut like a coiled serpent. Claudia told me to come clean—about who I really am. It’s not that I don’t want to. This has been my pack for years; it’s my home. I know these people. I trust them. They’ve had my back through everything. But knowing I’m a lycan means other packs might come for us. They always do. No one likes someone stronger, faster, who heals quicker than the rest. Envy breeds discontent, and I don’t want to paint a target on my back—not when we’ve finally found peace. Not when we are about to have a family. At the same time, we need to explain what’s happened—why Gaia and Reid have left the Blood Moon pack, and why we’ve both been missing for the last few weeks. I’m getting ready now, trying to tame my hair from where Claudia’s fingers pulled at it through the night. I smooth down my shirt, ensuring it’s pressed just right before tightening my belt.Claudia appears in the doorway, her long, dark hair cascading like in
She sucks me deep, taking me into her throat with a moan that vibrates through my entire body. Her tongue swirls around the sensitive head, lapping up the precum already leaking from me. Her hand works in perfect rhythm with her mouth, pumping and twisting as she sucks me off like it’s the only thing she’s ever wanted to do.“Fuck, love,” I growl, my hands tangling in her hair as I thrust into her mouth, fucking her face with a desperation that matches her own. She gags slightly but doesn’t pull away, taking every inch of me like a fucking champion. The heat of her throat squeezes me, and the pressure coils tight in my gut, my balls heavy and aching.But she’s not done yet.She pulls off my cock with a wet pop, her lips swollen and shining with spit as she crawls up my body. Her tits brush against my chest, soft and maddening, leaving streaks of heat on my skin. She kisses me deep, and I taste myself on her tongue—salty, musky, and so fucking her. She reaches between us, guiding my co
We make it back to the Blood Moon pack in record time. Claudia falls asleep early into the car journey, with Erin joining her shortly after. Erin snores the entire way home, the sound sharp and grating, but it keeps me awake.It may have taken us a long time to get here, but I know now—nothing is going to come between us again. We are having a pup. Something I hadn’t dared to dream of, especially so soon. After everything Claudia has been through—every miscarriage, every tear, every ounce of pain—I had no expectations. I was happy just having the two of us for a while. But now? Now, everything is different.It does put a slight hitch in my plans, though. I need to check the library to see if it’s still possible. I want to change Claudia into a lycan. It’s a grueling process and there are risks, but after the time I spent away from her—after how Braden altered her mind so she no longer recognized me—I can’t risk anything like that happening again. More than anything, I want time with h
The BBQ goes well — the pack loves Gaia, and maybe they always have. She’s been here from the beginning, after all. She is one of them. With Reid by her side, I know that whatever lingering trauma she carries, he will be there to catch her if she stumbles. The two of them are annoyingly cute together.Leo’s arms are wrapped around me as the five of us settle into the quieter part of the garden, drinks in hand, our bellies full — probably more than full. I swear we’ve eaten twice our body weight. The smell of smoked herbs and charred vegetables still hangs in the air, making my mouth water despite the feast. And I’m eating for two now, so there’s always room. At least that is my excuse.“I think I’m going to like it here,” Reid muses, scratching his chin. Gaia is draped lazily across his lap, gazing at him like he’s hung the moon itself. He toys with her wild hair, curling it around his fingers, and the two of them look so achingly content it almost feels like we’re intruding.“I guess
There is a pack BBQ being set up in the garden of the Alpha mansion. The intricate bushes, towering trees, blooming flowers, and the gentle trickle of the pond all add to the loveliness of the day, but there is a hum beneath it, something stirring beneath the surface. To my surprise, Gaia is already in the thick of it, directing where the marquee and BBQ station are to be placed. She even has a few guards digging up part of the garden for a hog roast, their shovels biting into the earth with sharp, rhythmic thuds. There’s a pep in her step as she waltzes through the preparations, her eyes scanning every detail to make sure the decorations are just to her liking.I can’t help but wonder if everyone in the pack is secretly relieved now that Braden is gone — or if Gaia is using her persuasion magic to ease them into the transition. I can’t be sure. The energy feels too smooth, too compliant. But perhaps I am overthining it. When she spots me walking across the lawn, she runs toward me,