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 I can’t help but watch Callan as he drives us to a mysterious destination. The way the sun catches in his hair makes him look heavenly. Excitement bubbles in my stomach at the idea of spending another day with this extraordinary man. He undid the top button of his shirt, rolling his head, and stretching his neck before pulling his tie loose. Did I make him just as nervous as he made me? “So I know this might sound childish, but there’s a kite festival I thought we could go to.” He turned to look at me, making my cheeks blush at being caught watching him, his lips curled up into a seductive smile that, if I were standing, would have made my knees weak. “That sounds fun.” We drove along the prom toward the town next to ours, turning toward the Victorian promenade there and parking. I got out of the car, zipping my coat up as the wind whipped around me. “Let’s go pick a kite,” Callan said as he wrapped his arm around my neck. I loved how he always held my hand or wrapped
Callan POV I could feel the pit in my stomach grow heavy as I watched Ayla walk into the bar, it was getting harder to leave her. Each time I had to say goodbye to her, she took a piece of my heart with her. It took all of my strength to drive away, and the drive back home seemed to be the longest journey I had ever taken. I had a deep longing for Ayla and knew now that there was no going back, not for me, she was my everything now. I just hoped she could accept me once she found out who I really was. “Where’s Ayla?” Eric asked as I walked through the door alone. “She agreed to help out that friend of hers. What time do we have to meet Minister Robert?” “He’s coming here in an hour,” Micha announced as he looked at his watch. He held a beer out to me as he walked past, but I held my hand up and shook my head. I was seeing Ayla again at 9, and I wouldn’t jeopardise the chance to see her by drinking and not being able to drive, plus I wanted to make sure I had a clear head from no
Callan POV *No, I wouldn’t tell him that Callan.* my mother answered. “Do you mind if I take a look at this fairy circle, maybe there’s something we are missing?” The Minister asked. “Of course. I have an archaeologist there who specialises in ancient structures. She also happens to be a wolf, so she can help you.” “Thank you, Alpha Callan,” Minister Robert said. Alister’s lips pinched together, his eyes narrowed as he glared at the Minister. I glanced at my watch, noticing it was almost time to collect Ayla. “If we’re done here, we have somewhere we need to be.” Micha and Eric both stood up, knowing I needed them to go with me now so Alister wouldn’t become suspicious. He stormed toward the door, crashing his shoulder into me as he passed. *I'm sorry son, I love you.* Mum said as she gently cupped my cheek. I didn’t blame her for telling Alister, he would have beat the shit out of Freya if she hadn’t, and I would never wish that on my baby sister. *It's OK mum, I understan
Ayla POV The air in the room was so intense it was stifling, I could feel the electricity brushing against my skin from the built-up sexual tension between me and the god sitting beside me. All I could think about was how I wanted to run my tongue along his delectable body and let him ravish me, but even now, after what just happened between us in that bar, he was still a gentleman and insisted we take this thing between us slowly instead of letting me live out all my fantasies involving him, which just made me love him all the more, and that scared me, I was falling hard and fast for this man. “Are you sure you're not going to get fired?” I asked Nicola one more time. “As much as my boss is a scumbag, he also knows that what that guy did was bang out of order. He’s just glad your boyfriend didn’t kick the shit out of him.” I glanced up at Callan, who had a smirk slapped across his face. I shook my head at him, but even when he was cocky, he was still breathtakingly handsome. I le
Ayla POV The sound of birds singing outside drifts through the open window, which allows a cool breeze to flow through the room. Callan's skin feels warm beneath my cheek as I lay on his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating. “Good morning, beautiful.” He grumbles; his fingers brush through my hair. His arm tightens around my body as he holds me close against him. “Good morning,” “How are you feeling today?” He asks. His hand travels down my back, his fingers trailing up and down my spine; sparks of excitement flick across my skin. “I feel better.” And I did; lying like this with Callan made me feel good, amazing even. My skin didn’t feel like it was on fire, and I no longer felt lightheaded. I felt full of energy. Callan gently sat up, pulling me up with him. “I have to go to training; are you sure you're ok?” “I’m fine. I need a shower, though; is that ok?” His eyes flashed black, and I felt my lips curling up. “You make this so hard.” He grumbled. Callan
Ayla POV Callan’s aftershave wrapped around me in a cocoon of safety; tingles ran across my lips as I felt him pressing his lips against mine. My eyes fluttered open, relieved at seeing his handsome face hovering above me, safe and untouched by Runduc. As I swung my legs out of the bed, it felt like my brain was spinning around inside my skull. I stood up wanting to get some of the food Callan had brought me, but the floor felt strange; my feet felt so heavy, like I had two bricks connected to my legs, which felt like two strands of spaghetti. My knees buckled, but thankfully I fell back onto the soft mattress, but that worry that was etched into Callan’s eyes earlier today hit me hard in my head like a train had crashed into my brain, my throat felt tight, and my chest began to burn. I didn’t want Callan to worry; he already carried the weight of the world on his shoulders because of me, and I didn’t want to burden him more than I already had, but as I leaned down to give him a kiss
Ayla POV Fire covered my skin, burning me from the inside out. My body felt drained of all its energy after today, and the fight to keep my eyes open was like fighting against a cyclone, useless. I climbed into Callan’s bed, grabbing his pillow and pulling it close to my body so I could smell him. God, I was so needy, but his aftershave made me feel calmer; it made my body uncoil, and all my muscles felt relaxed instead of tense and sore. I curled my legs up as an icy chill began to creep over my burning limbs, making my body quiver. My lips began to tremble as my teeth began to clang together. I pulled the duvet up, spinning around so it wrapped around my body like a burrito. As the coldness dissipated from my body and Callan’s aftershave settled my anxiety from not being near him, I soon drifted off into a restless sleep. My dreams feel so real once again; I can almost taste the fresh air on my lips and feel the breeze against my face. I look around to see I’m standing in the cle
Callan POV I could hear Micha behind me, following me back up into the pack house. I glanced back, noticing his brow wrinkled with worry. My phone began to vibrate against my chest. I slipped my hand into the inside pocket of my jacket, pulling my phone out and seeing John’s name. With everything that had happened today with Alister and his band of rogues, I had forgotten I had arranged for him to come and help upgrade the security of the pack house and the territory. But I was glad he hadn’t; I needed to make sure Ayla was safe from Runduc, especially now that he was recruiting wolves, and that if the witch's magic failed, I could still keep her safe. “John, are you here?” “Yeah, your guards won’t let me in, though.” He answered. “I’m on my way now.” I hung up the phone, stopping when Micha said my name. He lingered on the top step, unwilling to cross the threshold into the foyer of the pack house. “Cal, I’m gonna stay here and watch Alister; I don’t trust the slimy wanker. One
Callan POV I walked down the steep steps of the narrow hidden passage that connected the private quarters of the higher ranks upstairs to the foyer of the pack house downstairs; the exit to the hidden passage was concealed by the wall; on the outside, you couldn’t even see the join where the door was. My shoulders brushed against the stone walls, and I had to duck down so I didn’t bang my head on the ceiling. Most of the hidden passages are just as narrow and low as this one, but it makes moving around the pack house without being seen so easy. All the pack knows we have secret passages throughout the house, or at least they have heard stories about the secret passages, but only my family, closest friends, and most trusted guards know where they are exactly. I slip out without being seen; the door is hidden behind the stairs, making it harder to find and less likely to be spotted. I walk around the grand staircase, my footsteps echoing on the sandstone tiles that line the floor of
Callan POV An oppressive silence filled the room; the air felt heavy, and I could feel the weight of it pushing against me as I waited for the high priestess to explain her remark, my anger bubbling beneath my skin more and more with each silent second that ticked past. Good, what kind of an answer is that to her question? Of course I would give anything to save Ayla; if I had to move the fires of hell to make sure no harm would come to her, I would do it in a heartbeat, but the high priestess’s one-worded answer and her silence afterwards make all my alarm bells ring; it is like a siren going off inside my head, with a red flashing light and all. Rosie shifted on her feet, also feeling the heaviness of my fury that filled the room at the witch's blasé attitude; the material of her pants rustled loudly as she moved from one foot to the other. It was the only sound I could hear other than the witch’s heavy breathing. “Are you going to tell us how to protect her or not?” Eric asked th
Callan POV The banquet hall is warm, with all the bodies crammed inside, waiting for the pack meeting to begin; chatter from the pack fills the room. I stand at the front where the alphas from the past have, the housemaids had set up Alister’s throne on the small stage, probably from habit, but I refused to sit in it; all it stood for was tyranny and hate; as soon as this was over, I was burning it. I look to my right and see my mother standing proud with Freya, Eric, and Ron. And to my left are Micha, Pedro, Minister Robert, and my beautiful mate, the other half of my heart. Today had started amazingly; she had told me she loved me, but then Runduc and Alister soured my happiness. At least I could take comfort in knowing I had Alister locked up, and there was no way he was getting out this time. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice; this meeting has been a long time coming. I have a few things I would like to say. First of all, I want to pay everyone who works in the pack
Callan POV My heart stops beating, and time slows down as I watch a filthy fucking rogue dragging my beloved mate toward the forest, and I am powerless to stop him, unable to rip his throat out for touching my sweet Ayla, unable to kill him where he stands for scaring her half to death. My supposed half-brother stands in front of me, a red orb of magic hovering above his hand; he’s blocking my way to Ayla, mocking me for not being able to save her. If it weren’t for the 9 rogues holding me down, I would tear him limb from limb along with everyone else here; the stench of the rogues is overbearing; they smell like death, but their horrid smell doesn’t hide the smell of fear that is coming from Ayla. I don’t look at the man who shares the same blood as me; I don’t listen to his mocking words; I look at Ayla. If I die today, I want her to be the last thing I see. Her eyes go wide as she turns toward me; the beautiful purple flower that surrounds her pupil begins to glow, engulfing her b
Ayla POV My body froze as fear seized me. Callan walked toward the group of men; each one seemed feral and unstable. A few of them bared their teeth toward Callan, and some just glared at him, but the one thing all of them had in common was their hatred for Callan; I could feel it coming off them in waves of nauseating repulsion, and the feelings surged toward me, making my body burn. “He’s ordered me to stay in the car with you!” Micha growled. He punched the steering wheel, making me flinch, but I wasn’t afraid of Micha, just startled and thankful; his outburst seemed to help me shake off the feelings of the men standing in front of Callan; now I could focus on Callan and the situation. “Micha, who are all those men?” I asked. “Pack warriors, rogues, and Callan’s half-brother, who happens to be a witch.” My heart stopped beating as all the blood rushed to my ears. I finally managed to unbuckle my seatbelt, and before I could even think, I opened the car door. I heard Micha’s d