Cassia’s POV From the look on Cole’s face, I can tell they’re teasing me about something, but I have no idea what. Even Garrett’s lips are starting to twitch. “Who’s Belli?” “Oh get ready, Cassia,” Cole grins wickedly. “She’s an absolute menace.” I blink at him, but he gives me nothing so I turn back to Garrett who is grinning now. “She’s been begging to meet you since the nano-second we brought you to the hospital. But we’ve fended her off.” “I’m honestly a little surprised she hasn’t snuck in here herself, the nightmare,” Cole comments, turning back to his food. I shove him slightly, feeding off of their amusement now. “Who? Who is she?” “Nope,” Cole replies, keeping his eyes on his plate. “I think we’ll let you wait and see when you meet her. Eat your food, little mate.” “Yes… that IS what two ogres would do, isn’t it, Brother,” Garret smirks before turning back to his own food. My mouth drops, and I squeak indignantly, pushing at both their massive shoulders. They are en
Garrett’s POV Dinner was uneventful, but truly pleasant after all that has happened. With Belinda’s encouraging, Cassia seemed to bloom with confidence, easily engaging not only my parents but with the other ranked families as well. My wolf nearly preened with pride, and I don’t think I’ve ever smiled quite so much or so easily. But now, walking with her and Cole in the brisk dusk, I can’t help feeling uneasy. I know the McKinneys don’t blame Cassia - but her willingness to blame herself concerns me. Looking down at her face, I can see it’s tight with anguish, her little lips set in a firm line, her eyes bright with tears I’m certain will pour down any moment. I untangle our fingers to wrap my arm around her and pull her close to my chest. “Remember, darling - let the blame lie with the rogues. It isn’t yours to carry.” She nods - just barely enough for me to see, but I know she hasn’t taken my words to heart. I look over at Cole who just shakes his head, frowning. We walk i
Apologies for the long absence. Between being sick, a sister’s wedding, a hurricane, and severe writer’s block, I just haven’t been able to figure out what comes next for our heroine and her pack. But I’m getting back in writing mode today, so you should have several chapters before the week closes out. I hope you’re all well! And let’s dive back in!
Cole’s POV With Cassia and Garrett tucked into bed, I try to pick up anything Dad couldn’t. Around midnight, I’m sighing into the reports from the architect and the construction crews, paying attention to notations from my father about additional help being sent from the King, and debating leaving the rest for tomorrow. Apparently, the King is sending people to all border packs to begin construction on border walls - something we all probably should have made a priority years ago. We’ve known a war was inevitable - why had we waited? I growl when a guard nudges me mentally. “Alpha?” “What is it, Stone?” “Sir, there’s a woman here. With a teenager? She says she’s the Luna’s Oracle?” It takes me a moment to remember our Oracle’s words. The past week - no, even less than that really, has felt more like months. So much has happened. “Alpha?” Stone hesitates at my silence. “Sorry, yes, Stone. Bring them to my office, please, and then have someone prepare a suite in our wing for t
In the darkness, two shadowy figures huddled over a small bundle. “Nathan, it just - it just seems so wrong to - “ she faltered, her lip trembling and tears falling unheeded into the blankets she’s holding. “I know, my love. I know,” the other figure crooned, his voice gruff yet decidedly tender. “But we must do what we have to in order to keep her safe.” A car door snicked shut not far from them, far too quiet for a normal human to hear. “There they are. We must go.” ————————— Sam’s POV All was quiet. The forest seemed almost to be holding its breath. Even the wind had stilled, as though it were waiting. The full moon cast eerie shadows as a copper-haired young man ran through the trees, his footsteps sure, as though he ran along an invisible boundary. As he came into a clearing, his eyes scanned the forest, and his shoulders tightened. The forest shouldn’t be this quiet. True, it was rarely loud - the animals recognised Sam and his people for
Sam’s POV Where Sam had stood but a moment before, there now stood a large wolf with dull copper fur and bright green eyes. Sam knew he had to trust Garrett and Cole to handle any further instructions to his team and shut out all mindlinks except for theirs. The wolves he now faced were larger than any rogues he had ever seen. “Could they be Lycan?” he wondered to his wolf. “They could be,” his wolf responded. “But she is important. We must protect her at all costs.” “How do you know?” “I can feel it.” Sam sniffed at the fallen woman before he pounced to the other side of her, gently pushing her further away from the rogues with his back paws, his hackles raised, and his jaws snapping as he growled. The rogues had clearly been running, but now they took their time, letting themselves rest as they began stalking Sam. He knew he would be in trouble if they circled him. “How many, Sam,” Cole asked. “At least fifteen. Cole, they’re huge. And I’ve got an in
Garrett and Cole’s POV “So what do you think,” Cole asked. Garrett shook his head, his black hair falling into his face. He grimaced, annoyed, and pushed it back before looking at his brother. “I think it’s time for a damn haircut.” Cole barked out a laugh. “You and your damn hair. You’re as bad as dad.” Garrett joined in his brother’s laughter. He then moved his arms in a mocking, robotic way and made his voice deep and stiff - “you - must - keep - your - hair - high - and - tight, - boys!” Cole fell onto his bed laughing, his own hair a tangle of dirty blonde curls that always stuck out in odd angles. “I think he gave up on me as far as hair was concerned in - what - the third grade? But you - I think he got to you, brother.” It was true. Garrett’s hair was known for being perfect, along with the rest of his appearance. Not a hair out of place, his perfect jaw never hidden behind so much as a layer of stubble. The clean cut of the twins and the exact
Garrett and Cole’s POV No time to dwell on finally finding her, their wolves roared in rage as they crashed through the trees. “Shawn! Oliver! Get to Sam’s position and help him protect the she-wolf.” Garrett snarled through his mindlink. They each crashed into a rogue and for a moment everything was chaos. The rogues moving on momentum, Garrett and Cole intent on inflicting as much pain as possible on their mate’s pursuers. A flicker of a thought from Sam, and Cole growled into the link telling him in no uncertain terms to stay put, Garrett adding his own command. “Do we leave any alive?” queried Cole. “As much as I’d love to torture every single one of them over a period of months,” responded Garrett whilst ripping the throat from the rogue he battled, “I say we kill them all and hear the story from her.” “What if she doesn’t know it all?” “Fine. One. And only one.” The rogues quickly circled themselves around the twins, acting very much like a unit - a pa
Cole’s POV With Cassia and Garrett tucked into bed, I try to pick up anything Dad couldn’t. Around midnight, I’m sighing into the reports from the architect and the construction crews, paying attention to notations from my father about additional help being sent from the King, and debating leaving the rest for tomorrow. Apparently, the King is sending people to all border packs to begin construction on border walls - something we all probably should have made a priority years ago. We’ve known a war was inevitable - why had we waited? I growl when a guard nudges me mentally. “Alpha?” “What is it, Stone?” “Sir, there’s a woman here. With a teenager? She says she’s the Luna’s Oracle?” It takes me a moment to remember our Oracle’s words. The past week - no, even less than that really, has felt more like months. So much has happened. “Alpha?” Stone hesitates at my silence. “Sorry, yes, Stone. Bring them to my office, please, and then have someone prepare a suite in our wing for t
Apologies for the long absence. Between being sick, a sister’s wedding, a hurricane, and severe writer’s block, I just haven’t been able to figure out what comes next for our heroine and her pack. But I’m getting back in writing mode today, so you should have several chapters before the week closes out. I hope you’re all well! And let’s dive back in!
Garrett’s POV Dinner was uneventful, but truly pleasant after all that has happened. With Belinda’s encouraging, Cassia seemed to bloom with confidence, easily engaging not only my parents but with the other ranked families as well. My wolf nearly preened with pride, and I don’t think I’ve ever smiled quite so much or so easily. But now, walking with her and Cole in the brisk dusk, I can’t help feeling uneasy. I know the McKinneys don’t blame Cassia - but her willingness to blame herself concerns me. Looking down at her face, I can see it’s tight with anguish, her little lips set in a firm line, her eyes bright with tears I’m certain will pour down any moment. I untangle our fingers to wrap my arm around her and pull her close to my chest. “Remember, darling - let the blame lie with the rogues. It isn’t yours to carry.” She nods - just barely enough for me to see, but I know she hasn’t taken my words to heart. I look over at Cole who just shakes his head, frowning. We walk i
Cassia’s POV From the look on Cole’s face, I can tell they’re teasing me about something, but I have no idea what. Even Garrett’s lips are starting to twitch. “Who’s Belli?” “Oh get ready, Cassia,” Cole grins wickedly. “She’s an absolute menace.” I blink at him, but he gives me nothing so I turn back to Garrett who is grinning now. “She’s been begging to meet you since the nano-second we brought you to the hospital. But we’ve fended her off.” “I’m honestly a little surprised she hasn’t snuck in here herself, the nightmare,” Cole comments, turning back to his food. I shove him slightly, feeding off of their amusement now. “Who? Who is she?” “Nope,” Cole replies, keeping his eyes on his plate. “I think we’ll let you wait and see when you meet her. Eat your food, little mate.” “Yes… that IS what two ogres would do, isn’t it, Brother,” Garret smirks before turning back to his own food. My mouth drops, and I squeak indignantly, pushing at both their massive shoulders. They are en
Cassia’s POV Garrett chuckles, grabbing my chin and moving it so that I’m looking at him. He kisses my forehead, my nose, then my lips - but only for the briefest moment, and then I feel Cole pull away as he looks me in the eyes. “Why’d you stop?” He smirks down at me. “I told you. If you want us to keep going, I want you to say it.” “I - I don’t want you to stop.” My heart flutters… uncertain now that he’s asking. I want their lips back on me, I want them touching me… but… Garrett just nods. “Sex isn’t on the table today, love. Don’t worry about that. Do you want us to keep kissing you?” I nod slowly. Garrett just raises his eyebrow. “Y-yes.” And with that his lips are on mine, and Cole’s pulling my shirt down slightly so he can kiss my shoulder. The two of them together make it hard to focus on any one thing, but it feels so, so good. Cole’s tongue tracing lazy circles over my collarbone, his beard tickling my skin; Garrett gently biting my lip, his hand trailing up my st
Cassia’s POV I shiver and try to roll over, but find myself very, very trapped. “You toss and turn too much, gorgeous,” a sleepy voice murmurs in my ear. I can’t help the grin that springs on my face. “Well if you two ogres didn’t insist on being so close, it wouldn’t bother you half as much,” I purr, snuggling back against him. Yesterday is a blur. My body was so heavy and everything was far too much, but today… I feel almost like I did before this nightmare began. Maybe better. “Wolf?” I call out internally, for once expecting an answer. Instead, I feel both of my mates move, and I huff indignantly. “I wasn’t serious!” Opening my eyes, I see them both gaping down at me, and I can’t help but giggle. “Are you - are you feeling alright… Cassia?” Garrett murmurs, his voice cracking slightly. I notice his bandage is gone, a pink, puckered, shiny scar still lingering on his throat. I find myself wishing the rogue who did it was still alive so I could get my hands on him. “Better
Cassia’s POV Everything hurts, and my body doesn’t seem to want to stop shaking. I reach out wildly around me, attempting to grab Cole or Garrett and drag them closer, my eyelids fluttering just slightly. “You’re okay, Cassia,” a feminine voice croons above my head. “I know it’s painful, but you’re alright.” As my eyes open more widely, the room is far, far too bright, and I slam them closed with a yelp. I hear low growls on either side of me and can’t help but smile in my relief. They’re here. They didn’t leave me. I try to open my eyes again, hissing as the harsh light hits them. “Wh - why is it so bright?” I stammer out, the words somewhere between a slur and a stutter as my teeth chatter. “Why is it - s-so cold?” “We had to bring your fever down, Cassia,” a man says somewhere to my left. I try to look at him, but it’s far too bright, and his face is blurry. I close my eyes again, groaning. A hand reaches out and gently strokes my forehead. I lean into the touch, noticing
3rd PersonThe room is utterly silent save for the ragged breaths of a wild looking man. Blood drips from his mouth and claws as he stalks back toward his throne, throwing himself heavily on the seat.Several servants shrink as best they can into the shadowy depths of the throne room, but there is no hiding from Devlin Anwir. “Clean up this mess before I give you all the same treatment!” Everyone moves to fulfill his orders except for one man who moves closer to him, eyes concealing any emotion. “We’ll have to create more, Your Majesty. Shall I send for… recruits?” Devlin’s golden eyes don’t move from the servants carting off the remains of his rogue platoon. In many ways he looks more wolf than man - his canines permanently lowered, his claws permanently extended - and his black hair more mane than anything else. “Yes, Gifek.” He inhales, seeming to steady himself. “Although it will take some time to train them. Albius and his men were our best - although clearly too stupid to c
Cassia’s POVI slept even deeper and better than I have since I arrived at this pack, and as I wake, I know immediately why. I’m incredibly hot and sweating, tucked tightly between two mammoth men who are convinced I’m their mate. I’m surprised that I’m not panicking. It feels good - their bodies, tight around me. But the covers and the contact have me boiling. “Uhm -” I hesitate to wake them, but I truly can’t stand the heat another moment. “Guys?” I start wriggling, trying to untuck myself from their massive forms. Cole growls, dragging me into him. “Too early, Cass. Go back to sleep.” “But Cole, I’m burning up!” I squeak. Garrett chuckles in front of me, his eyes still shut as he reaches a finger to my forehead. Suddenly, his eyes spring open. “Shit. Cole, she means it. The poor thing is sweating.” In seconds, they’re both on opposite sides of the bed, and the covers are flung away from all three of us. Both of them stare at me wide-eyed, as I chuckle at them. “I’m fine