“My people!” Samuel calls, his voice hushing the crowd in a way that Tristan would have never expected from an Alpha as weak-willed as Samuel. He never impressed Tristan much at the capital. Has he been hiding this charismatic side of himself all this time? “My people!” he calls again. “Together,
Even though I don’t want to be permanently confined to my room, I can recognize that a bit of caution would go a long way given the current political climate. For that reason, I stay in my room more than I have before, even though I often grow bored. To stifle my latest bout with anger, I head int
Written at the bottom of the note, under the message was a time, date, and location, as well as an extra addition: Come alone. Safely back in my room, I tuck the note into my pocket with the intention of hiding it from everyone. Bethany would undoubtedly try to talk me out of going, and Caleb migh
So, it’s unlikely he would recognize me if I were to, say, dress up as a servant. Donning my servants disguise – or at least the parts of it that Caleb didn’t shred, I check myself in the mirror. My pants are nicer than servant pants, but hopefully the guard wouldn’t look too closely. With my hair
Caleb stays hidden while we go to the meeting location. He trails me, hiding somewhere I can’t see, but I know he’s there. It’s a feeling deep within me, a certainty, perhaps cultivated by my trust in Caleb. Or maybe I simply sense the weight of his familiar gaze on me, as I’ve grown so accustomed t
Two of the rebels step forward to grab me. The last thing they see is the pavement, as Caleb lands on them, smashing their faces down to the ground. Caleb is in his werewolf form, massive and deadly. Standing in front of me, he’s ready to protect me. The three remaining rebels take an unsteady ste
Caleb drags me back toward the palace. After giving the location of the killed and unconscious rebels to his guards, he tugs me against him more fully, lifting me up into his arms, and carries me all the way to his room. Once there, with the door safely behind us, he starts to pace back and forth in
That night, after thoroughly showing his appreciation by ravishing Harper’s body, Caleb lies awake in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Harper is tucked against him, breathing gently in her slumber. Her hand is on Caleb’s chest, her cheek pressed to his shoulder. One of her legs is hooked around
Caleb reads the threat before I can think to hide it. As he does, a red hue begins to swirl in his eyes swallowing all other color there.“Caleb,” I whisper, hoping the softness in my voice might help calm him, when he seems so very much like he might shift at any moment.The fingers of his free ha
The next morning, though I wake without Caleb, I still feel as though I am in some kind of beautiful dream. The evidence of Caleb’s being here the night before remains all around me, and on me.In the mirror, I spy several live bites running up and down the column of my throat. They continue over my
In the early morning hours, Caleb holds Harper tightly against him. They’ve made love several times throughout the afternoon and evening before Harper finally passed out from exhaustion. She’s so strong, so passionate, that Caleb sometimes forgets she’s only human.He pushed her too hard, but even i
At once, I card my fingers through his hair. Back bowing, I try to give him more room.One of his hands slides under my ass, pulling me up against his body, lifting my feet from the floor. I wrap my legs around him.He laps and suckles my nipple, then pops off to kiss his way to the other breast. He
“You…” I’m certain I’m hallucinating now. After all my pleading, all my hoping, it doesn’t seem real that my wishes could all come true now in the final hour – the final minute. I try again to question it. “You…?” Once more, my voice falls flat.“I made it the entire way to the vows,” Caleb says. “I
“Very well,” Caleb replies.“Please, repeat after me. I take you, Annabelle…”Caleb opens his mouth, but the words do not come.Whispers begin in the gathered crowd.Caleb wishes he could bring himself to care. About them. About Annabelle. About any of this.The chaplain clears his throat. “I take y
Caleb goes through the motions of the ceremony. There’s a lot of talking. The chaplain does a lot of talking, and then members of the court get to all say their peace.Caleb blocks most of it out, focusing instead on this unfamiliar, unsettled feeling inside of him. Yes, he wants Harper to be here i
Looking at her, Caleb tries to stir up some feelings. If he could just feel something. It doesn’t have to be as strong as how he feels for Harper, but something in the same vein. He can admit she’s beautiful. He can admit she will likely be a good Luna.But that’s where his affections for her end.
I run all the way back to my room, trembling with shock and upset. Bethany turns to me the moment I come rushing through the door.“There you are! Where did you go?” she says. She seems angry for a moment, until she fully takes in the state of me. “What happened?”Shakily, I tell her what I can, abo