Ayla POV I can feel his fingers trailing up my body through the duvet, but I can’t move. My body is frozen. The tall dark figure stands above me looking down as I lay paralysed. He runs his fingers down my hair, brushing it away from my face as he leans in closer. “You are quite remarkable.” He whispers as he leans closer to my face. I can’t make out any features other than his yellow glowing eyes, but they aren’t like normal eyes, they are slanted, like the eyes of a cat, beautiful and elegant, his iris and pupils seemed oval in shape. I feel pressure on the bed as he places his hands on either side of me, trapping me between my mattress and duvet. He tries to press his lips against mine, but I manage to turn my head, as his lips touch my cheek and a bitter chill runs through my body. He grabs my face, squeezing it and leans in once again. “No please no!” I cry. He backs away slightly, his eyes boring into mine. “You don’t have to be afraid of my Ayla, at least not yet anyway
Callan POV “I believe the girl he is after is a fated mate!” My body was cold as fear thundered down on me. My scalp prickled as the fear swelled inside my heart. Alister knew. He had found out Ayla was my mate. “So, is she Eric’s mate?” Alister asked. “What?” I asked, my fear now gone, now all I felt was rage heating my blood making it bubble beneath my skin. “Leon has told me how much you all dote on the girl, how you are at her beck and call, so one can only assume she is the mate of one of you. Eric isn’t here this morning, making me think she is his mate.” “No!” Micha placed his hand on my chest and pushed me back. I could see a sickening smile curling across his lips. “Yes, she is Eric’s mate, and we have sworn to help him protect her from the elf.” My chest began to vibrate as I suppressed the rage at everyone’s words and bit back the growl that was threatening to rip from my throat. Alister’s eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed together. *Shut the fuck up Callan.* Mi
Callan POV The garage had a few cars still parked inside but Ayla’s red Mini Cooper had gone. Time seemed to slow down knowing she wasn’t here. I needed to get to the office, so I could see her with my own eyes. I needed to know she was safe. I could smell her sweet scent in the elevator as it reached the seventh floor and the heaviness on my chest lifted. But something Micha said screamed at me, and as much as it was going to kill me, I was going to have to avoid Ayla as much as possible. I didn’t trust all of the wolves in my pack, which was sad, and what was sadder was that I couldn’t trust the wolves I worked with. Now that he knew Ayla was mated to one of us, he would have upped his game watching us and if he got the slightest suspicion we had lied about who Ayla really was to me, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. I stepped off the elevator and gave Ayla a small nod of my head, but I walked right past her, shutting my office door and locking out her scent. She stood up from her
Ayla POV The group of men dispersed from the desk and either sat down to do some work or left to go and manage one of the sites. Usually, Callan would stay in the office, but today it was Micha and Eric who stayed behind. I could see them both glancing over at me as the day went on. It felt like there was something they weren't telling me, that they were whispering among themselves. “What is up with you two?” I asked, not liking the tension that had built up in the room. Micha sat down in front of my desk and Eric came out of his office leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Nothing, why?” Micha asked. “I feel like I’ve grown a second head, and you don’t know how to tell me. Was it because of last night, did I wake you up as well?” Micha smiled and nodded his head whilst Eric moved out into the room and toward the coffee pot. “It’s fine Ayla, we were worried about you.” “I fixed the lock for you. I didn’t know where you had gone though. I
Ayla POV “Ladies, come on, let's go!” Jack shouted up the stairs. I was already feeling tipsy after we had drunk a full bottle of wine, but as I looked in Nicolas' mirror one last time, I had to admit I looked good. I was wearing a pair of tight black jeans that had a hole above each knee, a sheer lace black top with a dipped neckline, meaning I couldn’t wear a bra, with long lace sleeves, a pair of black high-heeled sandals and a black belt wrapped around my waist. Nicola had done my makeup dark and smoky and my hair was waved and hung down over my shoulder. “Wow!” Jack said as I made my way down the stairs. Thanks to the bottle of wine I had helped finish off, I was feeling brazen. “Thanks, Jack.” I smiled as I walked past him and climbed into the taxi waiting for us. We bounced around a few of the bars, but my cheeks were starting to hurt from all the laughing I had been doing. Jack seemed like a fun guy and I found myself flirting with him. I couldn’t remember the last time
Callan POV My body quivered with anger, I had left Ayla in Micha and Eric’s capable hands, but she had somehow slipped through their fingers. Instead of coming home after work, she disappeared into thin air, but I had to trust she was safe and that she would be home soon, because if I didn’t, I would lose my mind and the hold I had on my wolf. The penthouse was silent, Eric was on pack house patrol tonight and Micha had a date, so I paced the floor waiting to hear her car pulling into the garage, or her footsteps as she ran up the stairs to her parents' flat, but waiting for that to happen seemed to be taking forever. RING RING RING “What!” I snarl. I’m still annoyed with Micha for losing Ayla, but it’s more with myself for not trusting my gut and keeping her close to me. “I found her, she’s in a bar. I think you need to get down here, Cal, she is getting a lot of male attention.” “Where?” I growled. My wolf didn’t like that Ayla was getting attention from other men and I didn’
Callan POV I wanted to stop her from leaving and keep her locked in here with me whilst I worshipped her body, but I could see she was confused. I had made her feel that way, my hot and cold attitude toward her had made her doubt herself, but that was the last thing I wanted. I just thought I was doing what was best to keep her safe. I let my body drop back onto the bed as I waited to hear her walk into her bedroom. I heard her door open and close and the sound of something buzzing. I sat up intrigued when I heard her soft moans drifting up through the floor. “Fuck.” I groaned as I realised what was going on. I leapt out of bed and quickly made my way downstairs and outside. I couldn’t sit and listen to her as she pleasured herself, it would drive me wild. I ran to the forest letting my wolf take control. We ran hard and fast, going deeper into the forest. I found myself heading toward the pack house. I felt it the moment I crossed the border into our pack territory, I ran throug
Ayla POVI felt like I was having the most amazing dream, I felt warm and safe, like I was wrapped in a blanket of love. But then, when I realised I was wrapped in someone’s arms, I panicked. My eyes flew open and landed on his sweet face. It was so close to mine. My stomach danced, and my heart raced as his grip around my waist tightened, pulling me closer to his body. He felt so warm and the urge to run my fingers across his skin just so I could feel it was too much. As much as I wanted to stay in this moment for the rest of my life, I couldn’t be here when Callan woke up. That would just be awkward. I gently slipped my fingers under his hunky arm and tried to lift it, but his grip became tighter. I held my breath as he pulled me closer and my heart pounded in my ears. The skin on his face looked smooth, but his jaw was peppered with stubble. God, he was beautiful. I tried to pull out of his hold carefully, but he had a firm grip on me. His eyes fluttered open and for a moment I got
Callan POV A fresh swell of fury pulsed through me, racing through my veins, making my blood boil, and causing my skin to sizzle. Alister stood smiling at me while the stranger he called son began to pace in front of me. His hand flicked forward, sending the red spark that flickered across his fingers just a second ago toward me, but because Minister Robert had spent the last month training us how to defend against magical attacks, I expected that and slid to the left, letting the red spark skim past my body. I could feel the heat from it grazing against my fur, and the smell of burning plastic stung my nose. “Enough. No one will be fighting today. I just wanted to come and see how my pack was doing and to return something to you.” Alister interrupted. I didn’t take my eyes off Alister’s other son; the corner of his lip twitched into a half-smirk, and his eyes had an inner glow that screamed wickedness. I bolted toward him, crashing my large frame into his skinny one, sending him
Ayla POV The large man's hands gripped my arms firmly, but he didn’t squeeze as he pulled me away; he was quite delicate, which surprised me. We began our walk back toward the house, the smell of the wildflowers and the woodsy scent of the trees becoming fainter the closer we got, and as the trees began to thin out, replaced with the smell of freshly cut grass and roses. I glanced over my shoulder hoping to get a glimpse of Callan but instead saw the hulking black wolf I had met once before when Callan’s father had made him turn to stop him from hurting me. That ferocious beast flashed through my mind, but the fear I felt that night no longer accompanied the memories; now I felt awe when I gazed upon it. Callan’s wolf was enormous; his paws looked bigger than my head, and the muscles on his legs showed that Callan was powerful, but I had heard all about Callan’s father, and the fear that had been pushed deep down into my stomach because Callan had chased it all away by being with me,
Callan POV My stomach dropped as a chill ran up my spine, making goosebumps prickle across my skin. Alister was here, and so was Ayla. “Take Ayla to my mother and sister and get the beta to meet me outside the boundary wall.” “Yes, Alpha.” I stepped forward but felt a tug on my arm, stopping me from taking another step toward Alister. “No, Callan, don't go,” Ayla begged. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears; all I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms and make everything better for her, but the urge to keep her safe from Alister was stronger than my need to hold her. Not only did I have the elf to worry about, but Alister was also a threat to Ayla; he knew Ayla was my mate, and if he wanted to hurt me, he knew all he had to do was hurt Ayla, but I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe from both of them. I cupped her cheek and ran my thumb across her soft skin. “Ayla, I have to. He will kill everyone here if I don't stop him.” Her face paled; I nodded to the guard who had
Callan POV “How old is the house?” Ayla asked as she walked around the banquet hall looking at the carvings in the wooden beams that ran up the walls. “My pack has owned the land since the 14th century; over the years, more and more has been added to it, and renovations to preserve the building have brought it into the 21st century. This part of the building dates back to the Tudor period. Each Alpha has added to the house over the centuries, making it what it is today.” She ran her hands across the dark wood, intrigue filling her eyes as she leaned in closer to admire the craftsmanship. “And through here is my favourite part of the house.” She walked toward me, but her head rolled back to admire the beautiful arched beams that created a stunning masterpiece above us. “What’s up there?” She asked, pointing up to the balcony that ran across the room. “That is where the Alpha would stand and address his pack; it has a hidden door that leads to the Alpha’s quarters.” “Really? Ar
Callan POV “Ayla, you don’t know how happy I am that you accepted Callan.” Freya squealed as she threw the car door open. Ayla looked at me and smiled as she took her seatbelt off and climbed out of the car. Freya threw her arms around Ayla, and Ayla wrapped her arms around my sister in a loving embrace that made my heart feel full. “Welcome to the family, sunshine.” Micha winked; he threw his arm over Ayla’s shoulder and began to walk with her toward the house; my chest buzzed as a growl rumbled in my throat. “Callan, enough!” My mother scolded as she scooped her arm through Ayla’s and led her inside, followed by the entourage that had come to greet my new mate. “Your room is getting redecorated at the moment, sweetheart, but Callan’s old room should be comfortable enough,” I could hear her saying as the door closed behind them all. I grabbed Ayla’s bag from the boot of the car, but I couldn’t help the wide smile that filled my face. My family had fully accepted Ayla, and I c
Callan POV Driving back home to the pack house felt different now that Ayla was sitting next to me; that feeling of impending doom had vanished; now I felt light; I could literally feel Alister’s iron fist unclasping from around my throat. The sun was still low in the sky, but it warmed my skin as it shone through the car windows. I turned toward Ayla, admiring how her hair glistened as the sun shone on her, golden streaks illuminated like slivers of silky ribbon. She looked so beautiful and so pure. When I looked at Ayla, all my problems seemed to fade away, and when she touched me, all my troubles vanished, and only her beauty remained. The feeling of dread raced through my mind, and I couldn’t have felt happier about it; feeling her emotions as if they were my own created a fullness in my heart. All that was left to do now was for Ayla to mark me and complete the bond; then I would be able to hear her sweet voice in my mind and find her wherever she went. But I wasn’t entirely sur
Ayla POV Callan’s voice was like velvet. I never thought of a man’s voice as being soothing, but his voice was just that; just one word from him and my whole body uncoiled, and his touch ignited a wildfire of warmth that smouldered throughout my body. Every nerve felt like it had been caressed with pure ecstasy. “I saw Queen Duscellis; she said I have to save the nymphs.” His arms around me loosened, but they remained wrapped around me, which I was glad of. I enjoyed being tangled up in Callan. “Queen Duscellis?” He asked. His brows pulled together, making his forehead furrow, and the urge to protect myself suddenly overwhelmed my thoughts, but Queen Duscellis wasn’t a threat to me. I quickly shook those thoughts out of my head and looked up into Callan’s eyes. “She is the queen of the dryads. She told me I would come into my power now and that Runduc would feel it. She said wolves and nymphs have always protected each other and that you are my protector. She told me that she
Ayla POV Excruciating pain shot through my neck, burning my skin and seeping into my veins. With every pump of my heart, it felt like acid moving through my body, scalding my body from the inside. My skin felt itchy, and all I wanted to do was scratch until I was a bloody mess and free from the painful prickle. I squeezed my eyes closed, silently praying for the pain to ease when suddenly I felt nothing. My body felt weightless, like I was floating above the world. I opened my eyes so I could look at Callan and reassure him I was ok; his voice sounded panicked. As my eyes blinked open, I glanced around confused. I was standing in front of the tree, the mystical tree with the twisted trunk in the forest beside the flats. The grass felt soft beneath my bare feet, and I could feel a soft breeze brushing against my skin, bringing with it the sweet scent of flowers. Above me, I could hear the wind blowing through the large leaves of the magnificent tree, creating a soft rustle that mad
Callan POV This was supposed to be a moment in time that I would cherish for the rest of my life. I had a true mate, chosen by the moon goddess herself, and she wanted to be mine just as much as I wanted her. She chose to entwine her life with mine, making me feel complete; she had chosen to stay with me until our hearts beat as one for the last time, and I couldn’t have been happier. I had spent hours picturing the moment when I finally got to place my mark on Ayla’s neck; even when I tried to fight against our bond, I still couldn’t stop the fantasies of the moment I officially made her mine. This was supposed to be special. A magical moment when our souls connected as one. This is supposed to be one of the most memorable moments of our lives, but I never thought it would be memorable for this reason. She let out a chilling scream as my teeth pierced her neck. Her body went limp, and her head rolled forward, resting against my shoulder. “Ayla! AYLA!” I shouted, shaking her slightl