A growl rumbles from the back of Caleb’s throat. With his arm wrapped firmly around me, he leads me the rest of the way down the stairs where we approach Gladys directly.“Ah, the guests of the hour,” Gladys says with a humored smirk. “Please, make yourselves at home. Do the rounds, meet the other g
Even though Caleb is pretty adamant in his refusal, I won’t accept it until he fully hears me out.“No, no. It’s perfect. You can make sure the wolves stay away long enough that they won’t come back and find me. That will give me plenty of time to head into the library and find the secret passage.”
“You brought Bethany here, straight into the heart of danger,” Cameron accuses. “Everything that’s happening to her is all because you couldn’t leave her back in the capital where she would be safe.”Guilt tears through me, but beneath it, I hear and understand the regret in his own voice. He isn’t
The military servants with their guns come closer to us. Already, I can see Caleb sizing them up, along with everyone in the room.Caleb is the strongest werewolf in the pack. Maybe he can take them all. Maybe he can even win, while protecting me in the process.But the carnage would be immense.My
“Caleb…” I sigh, confused and frightened by pliant all at once. When he kisses me like he just did, like he’s trying to mark me down to my bones, it makes me weak in the knees. I’m not immune to his charms, not even here with the threats all around us.“If you die,” he says. “I will not be able to c
When we are deep into the forest, Caleb stops running. Turning toward me, he gently pushes me into the shadow of a tree. Reaching down, he grabs fistfuls of mud and rising again, begins to cover my arms in the muck.“Caleb?” I ask.“To disguise your scent,” he tells me. “Help me. Here.”He passes ov
I stand very still, not even breathing, as that unknown wolf comes closer, sniffing now around the tree. He’s off to the side from where I am, but if he continues circling, he will find me here. I have no defense, and in the hollow, I’m basically trapped.For a moment, I think maybe I should make a
Suddenly, Parker pounces, making his move. Clint jumps to meet him.Fur flies, growls and snarls permeate the air as teeth and paw dig into one another. When they separate again, they are both a little bloody and tattered-looking. They circle once more, Parker with a limp this time.Clint strikes in
At first, I saw Caleb as nothing more than a brute, a vicious, ruthless tyrant who valued power above all else.While Caleb continues to be independent and stubborn, he has also become more compassionate. He is proud and strong, and loves me deeply. I cannot imagine a more perfect mate.A mate that
As I’m moving into Caleb’s room after today, I feel a sense of bittersweet nostalgia standing in my own room in the palace. Caleb has told me that the room will remain unchanged, and that I can continue to use it however I wish, but what I want most is to move forward in my life with him.I’m standi
Knees in the dirt, Caleb still manages to look proud, even as he surrenders.“I will give you the crown, if that is your wish. I will easily give you my life,” he says. “But do not harm my mate.”Tears well in my eyes. Caleb, my brave mate, so strong and proud, willing to lower himself to this becau
His face is pale, his cheeks sallow. All of his limbs sag heavily, as if being dragged down toward the ground with more than just gravity. He seems to be giving great effort even to just keep his head upright.“What do you want, Gladys?” he asks. There’s anger in his voice, but there’s also defeat.
Behind Samuel, I see Caleb rise up from the ground. He heaves like it costs him great effort to do so, yet determination sparks like fire in his eyes. With clear exertion, he forces his massive werewolf body to take a step forward. And then another, approaching Samuel.Samuel, who had shifted to hum
Caleb doesn’t answer, but I suppose he doesn’t need to. I know what he said. The soft way he is looking at me, combined with the tender way he strokes my cheek tells me all that I need to know.He said I am his mate.As a human, I can’t feel the draw of the mate bond as well as a werewolf could. I’d
Samuel glances from me to Gladys and then finally to Caleb. “You agree to this challenge? You will fight me for Harper?”“And for the kingdom,” Gladys says.“I would, if in exchange you disappear and leave us all alone,” Caleb says.Per the rules of the kingdom, any alpha can challenge the Alpha Kin
“Are you in any such position to offer such a challenge?” Caleb asks.“With Harper as the prize, he will agree,” Gladys says with total confidence.“And what kind of benefit would this give you?” I counter, pushing forward. Tristan lets me past him but Caleb does not, stepping in front of me protect
I can’t see what is happening, but I can hear it. Bethany’s terrified shriek. Her thump against the ground. The slide of a sword leaving a sheath.“Drop that weapon,” Caleb commands.“Everyone here knew I had no intention of leaving these two alive,” Gladys says, ignoring Caleb’s demand. “These are