Callan POV Alister was good at hiding his emotions, or he just didn’t have any, but I saw his eyes widen ever so slightly, giving me the satisfaction of knowing I had pissed him off. It was one of the things that gave me immense joy. His footsteps thundered behind me and his foul stench of cheap whiskey drifted up my nose, making my stomach twist. Trust him to attack a man from behind. I spun around and saw him storming toward me, his strides wide and menacing and his face red, the vein at the side of his forehead throbbed, and I couldn’t stop the corner of my lip from curling up with satisfaction. “What did you say to me, you insolent little fuck!” “Boys, I need a word with you all once we have finished with training,” Pedro shouted. Alister's jaw clenched as he glared deeply into my eyes, waiting for me to back down. I pushed my shoulders back and stepped closer to the arsehole but Ron and Eric both stepped between us, defusing the situation. *Not now Callan.* Eric said, lo
Ayla POV The sun floods through the large windows in the living room of the flat and I can feel it warming my face. Small particles of dust float around in the streaks of light, but it looks so pretty and magical. I close my eyes, enjoying the warmth and thinking of that delectable smell I just can’t get out of my mind. “Do you fancy helping me out today?” Mum asked, startling me from my daydream. Since I walked through that front door a few days ago, all I have wanted to do is find out where that appetising smell is coming from, it seems to be everywhere, and it is driving me crazy, every time I get a whiff of it my mouth fills with saliva and I know that whatever it is going to be just as delicious as it smells. I asked Mum if she knew where the smell was coming from in the hopes she could help me out, but she insisted that it was all in my head and that she could not smell a thing. “What do you need help with?” I asked, happy about something to do. I had been applying for jo
Ayla POV “Iris, Ayla fancy seeing you both here,” Micha said as he approached our table. “We are present shopping for Wyatt, but I couldn’t find anything.” Mum smiled. “It looks like you bought plenty of stuff though.” He chuckled. “I was actually going to stop by and see you later. My old man is having a party tomorrow. You should come, and bring that friend of yours.” Micha added whilst giving me one of his boyish smiles I found irresistible. “Oh she would love to go, we were just talking about how she needs to get out more,” Mum answered. I glared at my mum, annoyed at how she just threw me under the bus in front of one of the most good-looking guys I had ever met, but something deep in my gut was telling me I should go to that party. That it was the right thing for me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, sending a chill down my spine. It felt like someone was watching me. I have been feeling that way a lot lately, but I think it was just because I had way too muc
Callan POV “So what is it?” Micha asked as he stood looking down at the spiral Graham and his team had discovered yesterday. “It’s a fairy circle,” Rosie answered. Rosie was someone we worked with occasionally but also a good friend of ours, plus she was a witch who had an extensive knowledge of all things supernatural. She walked back and forth looking at the stones, her long blonde hair was pulled up on top of her head in a messy bun, tendrils ran down and blew gently in the breeze, and her skirt and blouse looked crinkled from a full day of sitting down in the office. “Someone has been here. When did you unearth it?” “Yesterday,” Eric answered. “What do you mean someone has been here?” I asked. Rosie turned to look at me, her deep blue eyes locked with mine in an intense gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly as I stared straight back into her eyes. I could hear her heartbeat quicken. Rosie was a beautiful woman, and normally I would have been flattered, but she has ruined women
Callan POV “Thank you for coming, boys,” Pedro said as he greeted us at the door. “Happy retirement old man!” Micha cheered, hugging his father. I had watched Micha and Eric with their fathers growing up and wondered why Alister was never like that with me, but I came to realise I didn’t need him. I had everything I needed already. I had my mother and sister and my two best friends. I didn’t need anyone else. “First round is on you!” Eric smiled, patting my back. I nodded my head and made my way to the bar to order the drinks. As I walked through the room, a few pack members stopped me to say hello, but my focus was off, it was like I could see their lips moving, but I couldn’t hear them, and all of my senses seemed to be amplified, I could smell every single person's perfume or aftershave, and my wolf just wouldn’t rest, his constant pacing in my head was causing me a killer headache, but it was like he was anticipating something tonight, something he was excited about. As I
Ayla POV My stomach feels queasy, it has for most of the day. But I’m not letting it stop me from going to Micha’s father's party tonight, even though that is the reason for my nauseous belly, it’s not from nerves, it’s the excitement of what tonight will hold. My phone begins to ring, and I can’t help rolling my eyes when I see no caller ID blinking across my screen. Marcus had not stopped calling me since I left him, and no matter how many times I declined the call he just wouldn’t stop. I grab my phone off the dressing table and grind my teeth together as I answer the cheating rat. “Marcus, I don’t want to see you or hear from you, stop calling me!’ I hung up, not giving him a chance to talk. I didn’t want to hear his pathetic excuses as to why he had cheated. Maybe if he had fought this much for me before, our relationship would have worked, but he didn’t. He only wanted me so much now, because I didn’t want him. I threw my phone down onto the bed as I walked over to my wardr
Callan POV All the muscles in my body went tense as I soaked up the image of the pure beauty before me. My dream girl wore a tight red dress that clung to her beautiful body, letting me see all her curves. Micha placed his hand on her back and I felt a vortex of anger swirl inside of me. I didn’t like him being so close to her. In fact, I didn’t like anyone being close to her. “Ayla, this is Callan. He’s my other roommate.” “Hi, I just moved in with my parents, in the flat below you.” Her voice was like music, full of melody and warmth. I opened my mouth to respond to her but lost the words. I couldn’t believe it. It really was the girl from my dreams. Her light brown hair framed her beautiful face, it looked just as soft as I imagined it to be, her eyes locked onto mine, making my stomach somersault. I could see the purple flower swimming in the ocean that was the blue of her eyes. I felt mesmerised by her lips, the shapes they made as she spoke were so captivating, they l
Ayla POV I looked at the handsome man once again and felt my heart beat harder than it ever had before. He was the most beautiful person I had ever laid my eyes on. His hair is dark brown, and it looks so soft I can picture myself running my fingers through it. His eyes were a deep, rich brown that made my knees turn to mush. His skin looked tanned, and his jaw had a dark stubble covering it, making him look roguish. You could tell that he took great care of his body, his shoulders are broad, and they look strong. He wore a white T-shirt with a brown leather jacket. I could see the T-shirt clinging to his body, hugging it and showing the outline of his defined muscles. I imagined myself running my tongue across his beautiful skin as I explored every inch of his body. My breath caught in my throat as his eyes connected with mine. It was like the world stood still, and it was only me and him. I could feel a surge inside myself and I knew this man was special, and I wanted him for mysel
Callan POV I lay in bed, but sleep eludes me tonight, not because I’m worried about something and my brain just won’t switch off, but because my mate is sleeping soundly beside me, and I don’t want to miss a moment with her even if it’s just watching her sleep. I love the way her eyes flutter as she dreams and the soft snore that escapes her sweet lips. But what I love most is the way she mumbles my name as she dreams about me. I can’t imagine ever closing my eyes at the end of the day and not having her beside me, and it kills me knowing I’m going to have to leave her here, but I need to think of my pack now as well; I need to step up and be the alpha they deserve. Plus, I won’t be leaving Ayla alone here; Eric and Micha have offered to stay at the penthouse until Ayla takes her place by my side. I’m just not sure how I will manage having the forest between us. “Good morning.” She mumbles as she stretches her arm above her head. She looks adorable with sleep still filling her eyes.
Ayla POV “Because Ayla, you are my mate. I would die for you.” A warmth spread through my chest, and my heart drummed wildly as Callan spoke. I searched his eyes, trying to see if he was joking, but all I saw was love and truth. He really would die for me. Thinking of Callan dying caused a sharp pain right through my heart. I never wanted any harm to come to Callan, literally or figuratively. “I like you too, Callan.” He chuckled and shook his head. He let go of me, letting his hand slide down my arm and clasped my hand so he could lead me up the stairs. “Let’s talk up here.” I relished the tingles that ran up my arm from his touch; I loved how he affected my body. As we walked into the penthouse, his mother stood up from the couch; her eyes went down seeing us holding hands, and her lips curled up into a bright smile that made my heart feel light. “Your sister is waiting for me; we are going to go back to the pack house to take care of things. But you will have to come back t
Callan POV Ron stumbled out of the pack house and collapsed onto the floor with a clamorous thud. Eric was already halfway across the garden before I could register what was happening, shifting back to his human form as he reached his father's side. “I need the doctor!” Eric screamed, his voice thick with panic. I bolted toward Eric and Ron, pushing my wolf back so I could help one of the men who treated me as his own. A deep gash oozed blood on the back of Ron’s head; the air smelled like copper and sweat. “I’m here; let’s get him inside.” Doctor Whitelock said as he ran past us into the pack house carrying his black medical bag with him. Eric gently picked his father up and carried him inside, placing him down on the sofa in the common room that the whole pack used. The doctor pushed Eric aside as he examined Ron’s head wound. “Will you be OK if I go and see what happened in the cells?” I asked, not wanting to leave Eric and Ron, but knowing something terrible had to have h
Callan POV *Rogues at the pack house!* Eric screams through the mind link. I look at Ayla, who is watching me. Her eyes sparkle as they catch the light that streams through the large stained glass window that floods the hallway with colour; her lips are pressed tightly together, and I can see the tension in her shoulders. I want to stay here with Ayla more than anything, but my pack needs me, and I refuse to let them down the way Alister did. “I have to go; can we talk again later?” She begins to shake her head whilst stepping back away from me; my chest starts to tighten, and my heart feels heavy. “Callan, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I nod my head as I step back, putting more space between us as I reel from her words; her eyes narrow and her brow pulled down, but I turn before she can utter another devastating word and head down the stairs and toward the forest. As soon as I’m hidden by the cover of the trees, I let my wolf burst forward, letting him take control. His ra
Ayla POV The man was lanky, but his shoulders were broad. He stepped closer, allowing me to smell the mouldy smell that seemed to surround him. He reached for my arm, grabbing it and squeezing it tight, making me cry out. “Get off me!” I cried. I snatched my arm back and out of his vice-like grip and slapped him across the face, feeling the sting across my palm as it connected with his cheek. The lanky man’s lips twitched, making my blood run cold. I slowly stepped back as his body began to shake, his legs bent backwards, making him fall to the ground. I could hear the echo of his bones as they snapped all around me. His face stretched, and as the skin pulled tight clumps of fur began to grow, covering a large snout. His hands dug into the mud beneath him, and as his hand clenched, his fingers disappeared and a large paw took its place. The man’s body twitched and jerked, his clothes shredded around him, and he was replaced with a dull grey and brown fur that seemed to stick toge
Ayla POV “I have to go; can we talk again later?” His voice makes my stomach flutter, and I’m finding it hard to resist him, but I still need time to think about this. I’ve just had an overload of information dumped on me, and I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around everything. I mean, how the hell can I be a nymph, although my dreams do kind of make sense now, or should I say the visitations I received regularly? And not only is Callan a werewolf, but he’s an Alpha; his friends and family are all werewolves, as are probably most of the people I work with, but again, it makes sense why I always felt like an outsider. Then there’s the fact I have an evil elf wanting to drain me of my blood all so he can free his evil imps from some prison realm, and because of that, Callan was seriously hurt; if he wasn’t found by Micha and Eric, then he would have died, and I couldn’t live in a world without Callan. Maybe it’s better that he stays away from me completely; then at least that way h
Callan POV All I can remember from Runduc’s attack is the searing pain that ripped through my side as his sword pierced my skin. And then nothing. Nothing until I felt her touch. It pushed warmth into my body and pulled me back from the brink of nothingness. Her voice called out to me in the darkness, guiding me home. I forced my eyes to open so I could see the face of the angel that had pulled me back from the oblivion that was going to engulf me, but all I saw was worry etched into her beautiful eyes as I briefly gained consciousness. I didn’t know how long I had been outside close to my demise, but I was eternally thankful that I had friends like Micha and Eric. It was them that found me. My room feels cold, but Ayla’s galvanising scent drifts toward me, igniting the fire that burns deeply for her. My bedroom door is wide open, so I have the perfect view of Ayla sitting on the sofa, but the distance between us feels like a chasm filled with falsity and trepidity. “What are you d
Ayla POV I scurried out of his room, leaving the door open so I could keep an eye on him or hear him if he called me. I just couldn’t be around him at the moment. My mind was working overtime; every time I saw his chiselled abs or firm pecs, I couldn’t think of anything other than running my tongue across every inch of his skin. I sat on the sofa, but I kept glancing back into the room. Callan was still sitting up against the pillow I had placed behind his back, his eyes were locked on me. I reached into my pocket, pulling out the card that Rosie had given me, and put her number into my phone before calling her. “Hello.” “Hi Rosie, it's Ayla. Are you free to talk?” “I am indeed. What would you like to know?” She sounded so cheery and preppy, I could picture her full red lips smiling as she spoke to me. “What am I? I always knew I was different, but I just thought I was an empath, just more tuned into people's feelings.” “You are a nymph, the last nymph, to be exact.” “How? Wo
Ayla POV “I’m what?” I asked. “The last nymph, that is why Runduc is after you, he wants you so he can harness your power. If he succeeds he will use it to bring his elves back from Dearrotara, the dark realm they were imprisoned in and if he does that, war will soon be on our doorstep, and every supernatural creature will be killed so they will be the supreme beings on this earth and once they have killed us all they will enslave mankind and turn our world into their new utopia, destroying life as we know it.” “That’s ridiculous.” “Ayla?” Callan’s voice made me stop talking. All the muscles in my back went stiff, I was unsure what to do. I turned to look at him but he looked so weak still, his cheeks had more colour to them and his skin wasn’t as pale as he was this morning but it broke my heart to see him that way. I stepped closer to the bed and leaned down so I was closer to his face. I placed my hand against his chest and felt those sparks run up my arm. “Yes it’s me,