Happy Christmas Eve xxx
My alarm blares again, the bleeping loud enough to wake the dead. I feel like one of them, every muscle screaming in protest as if I’ve been trampled by a stampede. I groan, dragging myself upright, the ache grinding through me as I shuffle toward the bathroom. A hot shower might be the only thing capable of making me functional today.Each step feels like wading through quicksand. I consider heading back to the hospital to beg for whatever gel they used on me. That stuff worked like magic. The moment I twist the shower knob, steam billows up, curling around me. I sigh audibly as the first rush of hot water cascades down, seeping into every sore inch of my body.Thank the goddess.I scrub down quickly, working the knots out of my muscles, hissing when I hit tender spots. By the time I step out, wrapping myself in a thick towel, I feel human again—barely. I throw on leggings, a sports bra, and a hoodie, steering clear of shorts. It’s far too cold for that. I need to ask Erin why we’re
Braden leads me back to his house, saying he has some items I'll need for my trip. He hasn't made any more moves to touch me, which I'm grateful for, but I can't shake the thought of him touching me without me knowing. I sneak quick sniffs at my skin, searching for any trace of him. Thankfully, all I catch is the crisp scent of the shower gel I used earlier.His house emerges from the darkness, familiar yet unsettling. I've been here countless times, but it still sends a chill skittering down my spine. The place practically screams danger, as if a neon sign above the door blinks ‘CREEP’ in glaring red letters. My eyes flick to him, tracking every tight clench of his jaw, the subtle curling of his fists. Each step feels like walking on the edge of a knife, waiting for the inevitable strike.I don’t want to be alone with him. But he's right—Claudia needs to come back. Maybe then things will shift back to normal, or as normal as they can be. Still, I hesitate. The idea of exposing Claudi
Braden storms into his office, his face thunderous, and the air shifts as if the room itself holds its breath. I instinctively step back until the cold wall presses against my spine. His knuckles crack as he rolls his neck, and when his gaze snaps to mine, I see it—that burning rage simmering behind his ice-blue eyes. His shirt hangs in tatters, the fabric torn over cuts that are already sealing shut.“Change of plans, darling. You leave tonight,” he mutters, striding toward me. His movements are sharp, predatory, but he collapses into his chair with a heavy exhale, dragging a syringe from his desk. The red liquid glows faintly under the dim light. My breath catches as he plunges the needle into his arm without hesitation. The second the last drop disappears into his veins, his eyes flicker, shifting to a molten amber that pierces the dark.He stands, his neck cracking once more as he stalks toward me. “Now, listen here, sweetheart. Bring my wife back to me. I don’t care what she tell
Claudia was avoiding me. I could feel it with the way she looked away from me the second I caught her eye. Frankly, it was pissing me off. I had years to prepare for this for her return. I just hadn’t expected her to be so … reluctant. Her seeing Sabrina … I hoped it would trigger something to make her realise the truth, but if anything, it has put us apart and I can’t even find a way to speak to her about it. Besides, even if I told her nothing happened, I doubt she would believe me.I pinch my brow as I lean back in my office chair that over looks the entirety of the pack. This place means more to me than any of these pack members realise I just wish I could tell someone. My office door raps and for a second I’m hopeful that it’s Claudia, and she has finally come to her senses, but from the stench of them I know that it is not.“Enter,” I state, sitting up and running my fingers through my hair. Reid enters his long blonde hair tied back with several braids wearing a black top and j
Claudia is avoiding me, and I’ve decided to take a more direct approach—somewhere she won’t miss me. Which is why I’m currently stretched out on her bed, ankles crossed, arms behind my head, staring at the ceiling. Her scent is everywhere. Jasmine, rose, and sandalwood. It’s intoxicating, overwhelming. My wolf paces beneath the surface, restless. If she doesn’t return from training soon, I’m not sure what will happen.Footsteps. Soft, rhythmic approach. The key turns in the lock. I smile, letting my head sink deeper into her pillow. The door creaks open, and there she is. Sweat glistens on her skin, tracing the curves of her body. My gaze drops to where it pools between her breasts, trailing lower to her stomach, shimmering with moisture. Her shorts ride high on her thighs—short enough to make even the most faithful mated man take a second glance. She looks fucking delectible. She doesn’t notice me yet. My cock twitches, thickening as the urge to claim her gnaws at me. Each day, the
I meet Erin again at the training ground for our next session. The last few days have been brutal—aches, bruises, and exhaustion—but I feel stronger, faster. It fuels me to push harder. But what gnaws at me, more than the soreness, is Asher.At first, he watched from his balcony, distant and unobtrusive. Now he stands at the edge of the training ground, his stormy grey eyes fixed on me. His presence burrows under my skin, unsettling me in ways I can't explain.I falter. My foot slips, and I hit the ground hard for what feels like the hundredth time. Erin extends her hand, pulling me to my feet. I dust myself off, cheeks burning. “Why is he always watching?” I whisper, the weight of his gaze still pressing down on me.Erin snickers. “He wants to see your progress firsthand.”I roll my eyes. “Can’t your reports be enough?” I groan as Erin steps into a fighting stance. We resume the dance of block and attack, but I stumble again. The prickling sensation of Asher’s stare distracts me, and
“You know he found you once?” Erin’s voice cuts through the thick silence. I break eye contact with Asher, confusion swirling in my chest as I turn to her.“What do you mean?” I ask, releasing her arm and letting her step back. She moves closer, lowering her voice until it barely brushes the space between us. Even the wind and the sound of the birds fade in the distance. “It was almost a year ago. He found you. You were bleeding, and he tried to take you with him, but you refused.” Her eyes flicker nervously. “Apparently, some absolute bastard stepped in and stopped him. Asher wanted to fight him off, but you were too injured and he didn't know if you would make the jouney back here on the run. He had gone alone to track you down. If he’d had backup that night, I think he would have taken you.” She whispers with an urgancy and part of me wonders if she should be telling me this. Her words spin in my head, and the ground beneath me seems to sway. That was Asher? I clutch at the edges
My heart stutters as I gaze at Asher, his easy grin making my core tighten with need. I want to believe what Erin told me. But even as his filthy words echo in my mind, I can't shake off the rumors that swirl around from the New Moon pack about the Bloodmoon pack—and him. Braden is probably behind those... I bite my lip, wavering between reckless hope and the creeping doubt that I’m being deluded all over again.A wicked gleam flickers in Asher’s gray eyes, and a shiver snakes through me, coiling low in my belly. “If you’re feeling better, let’s see what you’ve learned.” His voice drops into a low growl that thrums through me, sending a sharp pulse of heat straight to my core. As he stands, he pulls me up with him. The blanket puddles at our feet, and the cold air prickles across my skin. Asher rubs my arms, his touch sparking trails of fire along my nerves. I smile faintly, but there’s a gnawing fear that creeps in. It feels too easy, too normal. What if he turns out like Braden? I w
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,