Ayla POV The day seems to drag by, Nicola is dying and refuses to leave her bed and the only other people I know are Callan, Micha and Eric. I ponder to myself if I’m brave enough to go up and see if they would like to do something when three loud bangs pull me from my thoughts. I open the door and see Micha and Eric both standing there with some board games in their hands. “We figured you were just about competitive enough for a game of Monopoly?” Eric said with his cheeky smile. “Sure, come on in.” I opened the door, holding it open so they could both walk in. “Just a sec,” Micha said, walking back down the hallway with his phone to his ear. I left the front door open for Micha and went to help Eric set up the board. Luckily, my parents had a large coffee table that we could play on, and we could all sit around. “OK, I'll take the car before Callan gets here and takes it,” Micha said as he walked into the flat, closing the door behind him. I felt my cheeks flush at the mentio
Callan POV Last night being so close to Ayla like that, all I wanted to do was to take her in my arms and never let her go, my body subconsciously did it and fuck did it feel amazing holding her so close to me. I felt so refreshed and energised, who knew having your mate sleep soundly in your arms would make you feel so good. It took all the strength I had to not kiss her plump lips because I knew as soon as I did kiss Ayla, that would be it for me, I would never be able to let her go again, I would want my day to start and end with her and what I needed right now was to keep a clear head. I needed to think of what my mother had said after Ayla had left and how I was going to take the pack back to ensure her safety. *What the fuck was that Callan? Ayla looked really upset.* *I can’t risk her, Micha, she’s too precious to me.* *Where are you?* *I had to let my wolf out. He's raging. Please watch over her for me.* *We will. You know we will, but you can’t keep leading her on like
Callan POV I couldn’t fight against myself any longer, the internal battle that was raging inside me came to an abrupt stop as I leaned down and seized her lips. The world stood still as her arm slid up my chest and wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. Her tongue swept against mine, and it was like an explosion of colours in my mind, she tasted sweeter than I ever imagined, like freshly picked strawberries with a sprinkling of sugar. I wanted the world to know Ayla was mine and only mine. My wolf began to howl with delight in my head as she pulled my body closer to hers and kissed me deeply and passionately, her fingers combed through my hair sending sparks of pleasure rushing through my body. It was like I had lived my entire life for this moment, and now I had tasted how sweet she really was, I was never letting her go. “I thought you hated me.” She whispered breathlessly as I pulled away. I ran my fingers across her cheek, brushing a strand of hair away from her eyes as I
Callan POVThe air felt fresher here, and the wind felt colder. Ayla pulled her jacket around herself, but her smile was big and bright. “Let’s go this way,” I said as I pulled her along through the tall grass.The forest of Bowland wasn’t too far away from where we lived but far enough that I could relax with Ayla and not worry about anyone from the pack seeing us. Yes, I had accepted Ayla as my mate, but she was still at risk from Alister, so I wanted to take precautions. I could hear the river up ahead and smiled. Ayla kept her hand locked in mine as we walked. Even though this place was called a forest, it was more of a natural landscape showcasing the beauty of nature. Sheep freely roamed the grassy area, but there was not a single person out here which is exactly what I wanted. I wanted Ayla to myself. The river was wide. Ayla looked at it and smiled.“We have to keep walking,” I said, pulling her along the river bank.I could see the waterfall just ahead of us. The sound of it
Ayla POV “I will see you tomorrow,” Callan whispered as he kissed me goodbye once more. I closed my eyes as his lips brushed against mine softly. The world seemed to come to life when his lips touched mine. It was like I was in the darkness before I had known his touch, and now I had been brought into the light, I wanted more. My hand slid up his chest and wrapped around his neck as his arm pulled me closer, and he deepened the kiss. Sparks of electricity hummed across my body as he slipped his tongue into my mouth, making my brain explode with lust and desire. I wanted this man more than I needed my next breath. He pulled away but never took his eyes off mine. I could feel myself panting for breath. I had never been kissed the way Callan kissed me and I never wanted to feel another person's lips against mine again. He consumed me. “Goodnight Callan.” I slipped inside and closed the door, resting my back against it with the biggest, goofiest smile you could imagine. Today has bee
Ayla POV “We will leave you two lovebirds to ride alone,” Eric shouts as he climbs into the sporty-looking car he’s always driving. Callan opens the door of his very fancy Range Rover. As I step closer to the open door, he holds his large strong hand out to help me climb inside. Those electrical currents I only feel when I touch Callan run through my body and I feel like I’m floating above the world. He opens the back door and puts our bags on the back seat. As he climbs into the front, he leans across the space, making me turn to look at him, but his lips slap against mine as his hand cups my face. He pulls away, leaving me breathless. “I was wondering if I could see you again tonight. I have some things I have to do after work, but maybe after that, if you're free?” “I said I would help Nicola out tonight, but it ends at 9 if that’s not too late.” His brow furrowed, but his face softened as he held my hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of my hand sending a rush
Callan POV I watched as Victoria led Ayla over to the circle, never taking my eyes off my mate and the wolf that Rosie had called in to help with the site. “She will be fine, Callan. I take it that Ayla is more than just your office girl?” “What did you want, Rosie?” “I was right, Runduc has been here.” I watch Ayla bending down ever so elegantly so she can see the carvings on the rocks. I felt Rosie’s body tense. Her heart began to pound and all the hairs on my body stood on end, telling me I needed to get to Ayla fast. “Callan wait!” Rosie shouted from behind. I grabbed Ayla and pulled her up off the floor just as her fingers grazed against the rock. As her face turns to me, her eyes are completely white, but they soon return to the beautiful purple flower floating on top of the bluest ocean. “Are you OK?” I whispered as my eyes scanned across her face. Her lashes flutter, making my heart follow their lead. I gently brush some of her soft hair away from her face, making
Callan POV Ayla’s eyes watched me as I walked across the field back to her. She looked pale, all the colour had drained from her cheeks. “What happened before Ayla?” I asked as soon as I got back into the car. She had been sitting inside of it waiting for me for the last 10 minutes and her scent had completely filled the place, making my mind go hazy and my wolf wild. All I wanted to do was inhale the delicious smell until there was nothing left. “I think I’m just overtired. I’ve not been sleeping properly.” I could see the cogs in her head turning, but she wasn’t going to tell me what had just happened, but I knew something had. Her eyes were completely white when I turned her around after her fingers grazed the rock, and she asked where he had gone. Had she seen that fucker Runduc? “I have to go back to the office, so I can speak to Micha and Eric, but how about we skip work today?” Her eyes squinted together, but she gave me a half smile which made her look devilish. “We c
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,
Ayla POV My eyes snapped away from the man poking Callan’s side to Micha and Eric, who were both looking back at me. Micha’s lips pressed together and Eric held his arm across his stomach, holding his elbow with one hand whilst the other made a fist that covered his mouth. “What do you mean?” I asked. Micha took a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks as he let it out. “Runduc, the man you have been dreaming of isn’t just a dream, Ayla, but an ancient elf, who for some reason is after you. Callan has already scared him away once before but-” “What do you mean Callan scared him away once before?” “The night you thought you had a nightmare and Callan stayed with you. It wasn’t a nightmare. That was real Ayla. Callan has been doing everything he can to protect you.” Eric answered. My head began to spin, I leaned back perching myself against the windowsill while trying to piece together what Micha and Eric had just said. “You mean that Runduc isn’t just in my head. When he a