Ayla POV Callan sat beside me, his hand reached across the small space and grabbed mine. His thumb ran across my knuckles, sending pleasant tingles up and down my arm. I stretched my neck out trying to get some focus, but his touch was distracting, all I wanted to do was pounce on him. Callan knew what he was doing to me. I could see his sly smile as his fingers trailed along my skin. I reached across and grabbed him by his shirt and smashed my lips onto his, his hands grabbed a hold of my face and I could feel his fingers moving through my hair. His tongue pushed into my mouth and danced against my tongue. I felt him pulling me up off my chair and sitting me down on his lap. I wrapped my hand around his neck as I deepened the kiss. My whole body felt like it was on fire. I pulled away panting. “You drive me crazy.” He whispered as he rested his forehead against mine. I knew exactly how he felt, all I wanted was him, he had only just come into my life, but I was consumed by him,
Ayla POV “I am so disappointed in you, Ayla.” I stop, frozen in fear as the man I now know as Runduc strolls out of my bedroom as if he owns the place. “Do you like the flowers?” He asked, glancing at the bluebells sitting on the counter. “I picked them especially for you.” I took a step back, freeing my body from its shock. My legs felt weak as if my body was too heavy for them to support any longer, but I knew I had to run. I spun around, darting for the door, but Runduc was unnaturally fast. He stood in front of me, blocking my only way of escaping, making me yelp in surprise at his sudden appearance. “What do you want?” I asked as I backed away from the tall man, moving closer to the kitchen. “I told you what I want, Ayla. I want your magic. I am going to drain every single drop of it from your body.” “I don’t know what you mean, I don’t have any magic,” I cried. “Yet, but you will soon.” I felt the kitchen drawer handle dig into my back, and knew I was close to
Callan POV I knew life was too good for me at the moment, I had been sucked into an Ayla-sized bubble and was excited to wake up every day just so I could see her. My life now had a purpose other than becoming Alpha. I could see a future full of happiness and love, I could see myself and Ayla with a little family and I couldn’t wait. I should have known that at any given moment my happiness would come crashing down around me. When Minister Robert told me of Alister's plans to marry Freya to the Alpha of The Rabidcrest Pack, I never thought it would be so soon, plans had to be made, deals and pacts had to be made and everyone involved had to agree. I thought I had more time to stop Alister’s seeded little plan, but I had never been more wrong in my life. “I’m glad to see so many faces today, I have an important announcement to make.” The tosser declared as he stood at the front of the house looking at all of the pack's warriors as they gathered ready for training. He emitted an extr
Callan POV My mouth felt dry as I looked at all the heads of the pack warriors who were now looking to me to lead them. A dull thump began to drum against my temple as a heaviness settled on my stomach. “Stand up. You can all go home for the day, we will begin training again tomorrow.” I declared. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” I whispered to the Minister and my mother. The warriors of the pack were leaving the field. Some of them left in the direction of the forest, but most went into the pack house to get ready for the day. I could hear the minister and my mother following behind me. I made my way into one of the private studies my grandfather used. I knew that it was safe here to speak freely. Most of the rooms were made of solid brick and stone but also soundproofed so no one could eavesdrop. “What is it?” My mum asked. “I can’t be the Alpha yet, I have to make sure I stay close to.” I stopped realising the Minister didn’t know. “Who?” He asked. “He has a mate, a tr
Callan POV A heaviness settled in my stomach trying to pull me down, Micha turned to look at me, his eyes wide with disbelief at what Pedro had just told us. Alister had escaped his cell, and he would be coming for me and everything I loved. “We’re on our way back now!” I ground out, this morning just kept going from bad to worse. The forest around the pack house was swarming with wolves, all looking for the bastard I called father. I found myself scanning every inch of the wooded area hoping to find the son of a bitch. A guard opened the side gate, letting us inside the territory. As I walked past the guard I stopped as it occurred to me that maybe he had helped Alister escape. He could have slipped down into the dungeon and helped Alister out of his cell, then let him out of this very gate. The guard lowered his head, baring his neck to me. *Callan cool it.* Micha grunted. I felt myself being pushed gently on the back. I stepped past the guard, pulling back all the rage I had
Ayla POV “Hurry up Callan, we’re gonna be late!” Eric shouted, making me look over toward the house. I glance at my watch and see it’s only 5.20 am. Callan walks out of the house and his head snaps up and over to me. I duck down so he doesn’t see me, but it’s too late. “Ayla, what are you doing out here at this time?” He asked as he walked over the small wooden bridge toward me. “I had a bad dream and I like it here. It feels calm and peaceful.” “What happened to your head?” He gently lifts my head and looks at the small cut, those pleasant tingles ripple across my skin. “It was nothing. I banged it whilst I was asleep.” His eyes connect with mine and I feel my heart race, his rich brown eyes seem alive. “You should go inside, it’s not safe out here.” “Why?” I asked. “You don’t know who could be lurking around watching you.” I stand up to make my way inside when I notice his clothes, he has some jogging pants on and a vest that clings to his body, the muscles on his arms ar
Freya POV I can’t breathe, I feel like I have been smothered with a blanket of loose dirt. The more I move, the more it engulfs me, pushing me deeper into a deep pit with no way out, and my chest feels tight. Every time I try to suck in some air, the invisible bindings that are wrapped around my body pull tighter. Alison passed me a glass of water. The condensation from the ice runs down the glass. I lifted my hand to take the glass from my friend, noticing the slight tremble. The ice clangs against the glass as I lift it to my mouth. “What happened, Freya? I have never seen you like this?” She says as she sits down opposite me. Alison is a friend from college. She lives in the next town over, which is perfect. My father would never think to look for me here. In fact, he doesn’t even know Alison exists, which is exactly how I wanted it. As far as he’s concerned, I have no friends, I’m a loner who’s scared of her own shadow. “It’s my dad, we got into a huge fight.” “What about?”
Callan POV I waited for Rosie to say more, but the phone remained deathly silent. “Would anyone help Alister?” Rosie, like so many others, despised Alister. He was a narrow-minded man who thought of witches as fleas, but he had used the witches in the past. That’s how I know Rosie and her coven, so what's to say he isn’t using them once again? “Honestly, I don’t know Callan, my coven has cut all ties with your father, they aren’t too happy I’m helping you, but they know you're a good man, so they don’t say anything. Why, what’s wrong?” “It’s nothing. Look, can we talk tomorrow? I have some things I have to deal with.” “Sure.” I didn’t wait for pleasantries like goodbye. I hung up and immediately called Pedro, noticing a message from Eric saying he had Freya. At least I had one less thing to worry about. “He could have had the help of a witch,” I said as soon as Pedro answered. “I was thinking the same, we have 15 warriors missing as well, everyone your father favoured. I th
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