Alyson I thrash myself away from the Alpha, my tongue buzzing nonstop with nothing but anxiety boiling in the depths of my stomach. I meet his wide, calm eyes, my entire body shivering in place, in this bed, seeing this Alpha loom so close it's as if he will intend to kiss me again. I can't let that happen, nor can I understand why he's done it in the first place. I cover my lips with my fingertips, still rattling with a buzz. His eyes shift to the floor, something cold moving through him. "That was a mistake." "Why—Why did you do it?" "It wasn't intentional, dammit," he sighs, his fists knuckling into the sheets nearby, his frustration obvious. "I just—I don't know, I felt like I saw—like you were—" The moment of silence between us screams volumes. "I can't do this anymore. Taking you was a mistake." He grabs for me, pulling me to a wobbly stand but I fail once, then twice, feeling
Alyson I have to duck, Ryan's massive wolf shifting right over top of me, cradling me between his four, large paws. My heart races and I plead to find my wolf but the wolfsbane is still in my system. I can't touch her now, and I can't intervene, seeing Olivera's wolf force itself out and the two Alpha's stare each other down with snarling, sharp teeth bore at the ready to strike. Even if I know better, I still try, crawling out between the two of them, hoping I can mediate this a little bit better but it's an utter failure. If anything, I make it worse, reaching for Olivera's wolf and hearing Ryan bark menacingly, as though I have left his side for Olivera's when in reality, I just want to this interaction to end. Olivera nudges me with his head,
Alyson When I wake, I feel more faint than ever, but at least I can tell I am safe this time, hearing Ryan's voice not far from me. my hand twitches, a tube knocking against my wrist where I feel a sore spot radiate from a needle that penetrates my veins. The pressure in my hand makes it feel swollen, like my head that radiates with a sharp, pounding pain. "Why do you taunt me?" Ryan gusts, his berating tone obviously not directed to me. "You're aware that I can't kill you at the behest of my mates wishes and you toy with that power. If you want my help, why bother pissing me off?" "I don't want your help," Olivera snarls back violently. "She persisted I tell you the truth, and I have. Like you, I wouldn't want to kill off her mate and wo
Olivera She sleeps for hours after Ryan leaves, something about her dreams forcing her to whimper, to kick in her nightmares, and she cries out a few times like she's being hurt. I adjust the blanket over her shoulders, seeing her toy with the tube that drains liquid into her wrist. "Don't fuck with that, sweetheart," I groan, peeling her fingers off the tube. "Settle down now. Lover boy won't be long." "Olivera," she whimpers. I hate when she says my name. her voice is so damn soft, too kind, and so innocent that it physically hurts my wolf. I stare at her perfect features, her pink, blushing cheeks and plump cherry lips. She pouts, the notion frustrating beyond belief. I can only picture th
AlysonMy body is tired, my mind is racing, but my eyes are cold on the sight of Olivera. He is outside in the rain, slamming an axe into the center of a log, splitting the wood into two pieces. The healer hasn't returned, and neither has Ryan. I worry for my mate, not able to tap into the mind link because of the wolfsbane. I wait patiently for it to happen, for the toxins to wear off and for me to hear my mate again, but my mind is far too focused on the rogue Alpha.My knees are weak, and I sink to the floor, leaning against the window. I have half a mind to pull the tube from my wrist again, the over abundance of fluid in my system making my head spin rapidly. I wish it would end already and I could sleep until Ryan returns, but it doesn't appear to be working all that well. I'm wide awake.Olivera grunts, slamming the axe down, and tossing another stack of logs under the awning outside to keep the wood dry, even if he isn't. When he finishes, he grabs a handful of the wood logs a
Alyson"Stop," I whimper, pleading, the utter feeling of unfamiliar hands on my body and face making my heart hurt. I need my mate, something so salaciously dangerous about the feeling of a rouge toying with my body. "Stop it, dammit—"A harsh slap rings out against my cheek, the sound deafening and the pain stinging. "Shut up, Luna slut. You need to learn some damn manners when talking to authority.""Keep your filthy fucking paws off of her!" Olivera shouts, the noise making my heart jump, my eyes opening to a dark, damp cell in some form of barracks, the air murky and heavy with the iron stench of blood. "You hit her again and I'll rip your throat out, rogue, you hear me?""You say rogue like you're any different," the wolf before me snickers, pacing behind me, his hand trailing across my back, my skin bare and naked to his sharp eyes.When I look up, I see Olivera, in the same strangling spot as me in a cell across from my own. There's no rogue in his cell, though, only in mine, t
AlysonI fall asleep in his arms. On one hand, it feels comfortable, almost familiar, but definitely safe. On the other hand, if Ryan were to see me in Olivera's arms like this he would be furious. I can't help it, though. I am ripe with fear. I tremble in his arms for what feels like forever, my legs and arms covered in bruises, my eyes replaying the moment of the rogue ready to defile me.I sniffle a cry, turning into Olivera's bare chest as his arms squeeze around me tighter."Do you think Ryan will find us soon?" I ask, needing to hear some kind of reassurance."I don't care," the rogue Alpha growls under his breath. "I will get us out of here, sweetheart." He pulls his lips near my ear, breathing low into my hair while both of us sneak a look over to the dead rogue that has been laid out, bleeding and lifeless for what feels like forever. "I will rescue you, princess."I shiver, hearing a noise down the hall but not being able to see who, or what, it is. Instead I hear the steps
AlysonI aim to push away from Olivera, my wolf coming forward finally to try and break us from his hold, but he doesn't budge. He keeps me pinned against his body, against his pleasuring noise of approval, kissing me wholly. I squirm slightly, not wanting to enjoy this affectionate moment, no matter how much I dare to sink into his arms more."No," I pant, breathless and frustrated. "No, no, no…""No is right," a new voice says suddenly, somewhere in the dark.Olivera yanks me into his side, a single arm hooped around my back and pinning me to his body. "Show yourself!"The darkness is snatched away instantly, pouring in light from all around, showing us a vast room, almost like a dining hall or ballroom for a kingdom palace. Instead it's flooded with rogues, a number of enemies too much to count that I can't even take in the sight of them all."Looks like no one can keep their hands off the little Luna," one of the rouges taunts.Olivera looks less that surprised. "Mattox? What is g
Alyson The pain is insurmountable. I fight through it, thinking of the pups that need me, that are clinging to the hope that I will always fight for them, and I won't disappoint them now. I turn over, laid out on the floor of the bathroom, the healer working at the cramps in my spine. I grab the towels, grab my own shirt, desperate to get through this sooner than later. My wolf whines and my heart hurts. "RYAN!" I need him, I want him, and I fear I can't do this ordeal without him beside me. I lay out, exhausted from the agony, crying inconsolably until I hear heavy steps parading through the bedroom. Soon, they find the healer and I in the bathroom, my eyes dizzy as I spot Ryan, naked and drenched in rainwater. My breath catches, curious if I am dreaming. "Right here, Alpha, come help me with this," the healer grunts. I feel my mate hold my head, pushing deep into my spine as I straighten my back out in reflex, feeling th
Ryan "Damn this weather," I mutter. The storm has yet to let up and in fact, I believe it's started pouring down harder, with more vigor, and still shows no signs of slowing for my benefit. "Have you tried linking to the healer?" Olivera asks, his antsy attitude not helping my worried state right now. "I mean, if you can't reach through the link to her, she might just be asleep and everything is okay—that could be possible, right? I mean, if you think about—" "Hush," I beg. "You're rambling again." "I'm sorry that I'm flustered," he grovels. "I'm just trying to keep calm." I raise my brow, trying to stay focused on my mate but I can't seem to shake this infatuation Olivera has had for my mate. I should ignore it, as I have in the past weeks, but something about being stuck in this small cave with him has my mind tethering off too many emotions at once. "Enlighten me, please," I sigh, shaking my head out at the storm. "What is this weirdly possessive, sympathetic binding you thi
Ryan I fight through the winds, the rain cascading over my warriors and me. It wasn't the best idea coming out during this type of storm but we lacked one natural ingredient that grows just south of the waterfall trail and then the cure would be complete for the last facility of rogues. I have healed slowly in my weeks of developing the cure, but I could use a dose myself. Thankfully it hasn't affected my poorly mate, spending most of her days passed out in bed until I force her to get up and move around a bit. It's been exhausting for her, but she is the patriarchy of a new family, the strongest she-wolf I know who is capable of carrying these pups. "Dammit, lover boy! Where are you?!" I barge out of the mouth of the cave where my warriors have been taking shelter from the monsoon outside. I see that rogue alpha in the distance, throwing his hands up in a small fit of rage. It's almost amusing if he didn't also sport a petrified look of angst as well. "Over here," I call out. H
Alyson It's hard to feel not included in the cure development, but I watch Ryan and Olivera get along for many consecutive weeks. At least I have that peaceful energy around, watching them work with the palace pack healers to help the rogues locked up in the facilities, still sick. Thankfully there wasn't an enormous outbreak and everything seems to have worked out. I can't help the feeling of doom, though, thinking about every time things were perfect, something horrible happened. I thought once we defeated Jacob and sent away Jennifer, everything would have worked out forever. I was wrong, but if none of that bad stuff happened, I wouldn't be pregnant. I fear these pups won't be okay, the healer making a daily visit, sometimes twice a day, at least to check on my progress. I worry everyday he will say something bad has happened and they're hurt, or worse. I would give my life for these two pups but I hope I don't have to. "Morning, sweeth
Alyson "Relax," Ryan coos, brushing my hair back. He has finally come to my side, forcing my eyes to stay on his, even as he paces his attention back and forth between me and the healer. I squeeze my mate's hand, feeling pressure build in my abdomen. "There you go, he's done." The healer removes his gloves, my eyes catching a glimpse of Olivera in the hall, seeing him pace frantically fast back and forth in the hallway. I look at my mate now, glimmering with sadness as he peers down at me. I know he feels like I've grown feelings for the rogue Alpha, and I haven't, but I can be sympathetic to the wolf who lost everything; just like I had. "Are the pups okay?" I breathe. Ryan flinches. "More than—more than one?" He watches the healer as though waiting to hear so magical, good news. "What is going on? Are they okay? How many are there? I—" The healer settles his hands together before his body, like a man with bad news. "It's hard to tell
Alyson Whatever causes the fight, I'm not exactly sure, but it breaks out anyways. Every single wolf in the courtyard has shifted, the movements so fast that I don't even release that I've been thrown out of the hecticness, my side slamming against the brick wall and my head smacking right up against it until I feel the blood flow from a cut on my temple. I curl into a ball, my hands instinctively curling to my stomach, so dazed that instead of being able to see what has caused this fight to break out, I only spot wolves tearing into one another, biting into flesh and blood being poured. Ryan, I reach through the mind link, not capable of spotting him through the haze in my eyesight. What the hell is going on? Rouges came from the pack lands; they must have been waiting to ambush. Where are you, mate? Get out of here! Go inside, now! I aim to sit up, my head so discombobulated that I can't even dictate which direction would take me bac
Alyson It only takes a moment for me to catch my breath, and another for me to sprint across the hall, watching Olivera struggle to stand, instead melting to the floor where he slams his fist against the tile floor—it cracks instantly under his bold knuckles. I dare flinch, seeing him so angry almost a warning for me to be careful, but I instead charge forward anyways. I grab his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes, and he relaxes ever so slightly. When he does, I drag my palm across his face in a single, sharp slap. He jolts upright, standing suddenly and staring me down with a pure look of surprise written across his face. "What the hell was that for?" "That's for doing something so stupid," I growl, my fists trembling at my sides. "You could have died from that cure, Olivera, how dare you try something that risky in my palace?" "You might be the Luna, but you're not my Luna," he says, snide. "I am free to make any decision I want if
Alyson I find myself sitting in the hallway between office and bedroom. In one, my mate suffers with an ill mark on his shoulder and back, and in the other sits an enigma of a wolf. He has kissed me, he has fondled me, and unknown to us both, he has poisoned me while I was newly pregnant. If anything, I should hate the rogue Alpha, but I don't have it in me to leave him completely. So I sit in the hall between them both, curled up with my hands resting on my stomach as if I have already blossomed outward, waiting for one of my favorite Alpha's to wake up. If I leave here to be with one, and the other wakes, I'll feel guilty forever. For now, I wait, hearing steps breach my silent mediation between Alphas. "My Luna, why are you out of bed?" I hear Fritz hum, my eyes watered and wide, shocked to see him here of all places. We didn't exactly part on the most amicable of terms. "You're still looking pale." I wave off his words and
Alyson I try to fight Olivera from going into the office, but he easily grabs my wrist, twists it, and nudges me out the doorway. He's too smart and too strong for me right now, my head blotted with the sleepiness that I can't seem to shake. I grab at his arm, at his shirt sleeve, and dig my heals against the ground. He drags me a few paces before finally stopping. "You're a persistent little bug," he snaps, releasing my hands off of his shirt and giving me a stern look. "We have to find out what this cure does to an Alpha and as it stands, I'm the one best capable here of verbalizing the aftermath of taking this cure. If it makes things worse, so be it." I feel my heart patter to a screeching halt. "What does worse contain?" He looks to the healer, the vial on the desk nearby, and then back to meet my eyes. "I could die, of course, or I could only loose my wolf. I'm happy to put both on the line to see if this stuff is worthy of fixing Ryan, fi