Callan POV “Callan, is everything OK?” Rosie asked as she answered her phone. “Far from it. Could you tell me more about the last nymph? How would I know who she was and why Runduc is desperate to get her?” I could hear her let out a big sigh, but she didn't hang up. “She won't know who she is. She has lived her life as a human. When she finds out, she will be scared and afraid, but she will accept it faster because she will notice things first. She will love being outside surrounded by nature. That is where she will feel safe. She will have the powers of the old, meaning she could heal, and command the plants and the water. Animals will feel safe around her, and men will find her irresistible. That is where the name nymphomaniac comes from; the power of attraction that the nymphs hold. All of that is what he wants. Her power. We believe the nymph will be drawn here. This is where the queen took her last breath, so she will be drawn to the magic that resides here.” “And why are y
Ayla POV It felt like all the walls were beginning to close in on me. The air in the flat felt stale, but I couldn’t open up any windows to let any fresh air inside. God knows how high they can jump. I tried to keep my mind busy by reading or watching TV. I even cleaned the flat from top to bottom, but I couldn’t stop replaying that scene over and over in my head. I could still hear the sound of his bones cracking in my ears, as I watched in horror as Callan changed from a man to a wolf. A large fearsome wolf that would only need to take one swipe at me and I would be dead. My parents' flat had once felt like a sanctuary to me, but now it felt like a prison. I had been locked inside for the last 24 hours, and I was beginning to go stir-crazy. I couldn’t go to work because they were there, and in all honesty, I didn’t trust myself to be around Callan, no matter how afraid I was, just one glimpse of his beautiful face and I would be putty in his hands. I couldn’t stay here anymore beca
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
Ayla POV Callan leaned over me, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. This kiss was harder than before; it made my head spin and my heart race. He pulled me up off the bed and abruptly pulled his lips away from mine; my chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. His lips curled up into a sulty smile as he ran his hand up my arms, sending pleasant shivers through me as he skilfully slipped his T-shirt up and over my head. “You are so beautiful.” He whispered as he cupped my cheek and tilted my head to the side, his lips pressed against my neck, and Callan moved down, leaving a trail of soft kisses and small explosions of pleasure. I let my head roll to the side as I bit down on my lip again to stop my moan. His hand grazed across my cheek, his thumb gently tugging on my lip, freeing it from my teeth. I opened my eyes to find his rich brown eyes staring into mine. “I want to hear every moan you have for me.” He grunted before kissing my lips hard. My head began to spin, but I di
Ayla POV I hated feeling so needy as I watched Callan leave the room, but I needed him more than I needed my next breath. The front door clicked shut, and as soon as I was alone, the walls around me began to close in. My breathing became laboured as all the air began to leave the room, and I found myself hyperventilating, desperately trying to suck air into my mouth. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and began to count to 10 slowly in my head, but I became distracted by the mouthwatering smell of Callan’s aftershave that filled the air in his bedroom. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now the smell was overpowering and so calming. I knew I was safe in here, but I couldn’t help but feel safer when Callan was with me, when his hand was touching mine or when his arms were wrapped around me, shielding me from the world, his touch seemed to calm all the raging storms that flurried around inside my head. When my eyes fluttered open, they landed on his T-shirt, which was lying on the f
Micha’s POV The penthouse is eerily quiet without Callan or Eric; growing up in a pack, I was used to being surrounded by people, and as soon as Ayla becomes Luna, I will move back into the pack house and say goodbye to this sweet bachelor pad and the quiet life I was still unaccustomed to. Waking up every morning without the hustle and bustle of the pack getting ready for the day was still taking some getting used to, but I will miss the peace of not being needed and my late-night booty calls. *I’m almost there.* Callan informs me just as the toaster pops up, filling the penthouse with the first sound I've heard all morning other than myself. I grab my toast and shove it into my mouth while grabbing my phone, keys, and wallet and shove them into my pocket. The door below me slams shut, and I know Ayla has just left for work. *Ayla is on the move; I’m right behind her though.* *Thank you, Micha.* I bounce down the steps, chewing on the toast, when the bottom door opens and Mr
Ayla POV “Marcus, what are you doing here?” My stomach felt like it was plummeting to the earth; chills ran down my spine as Marcus emerged from the shadows; the darkness seemed to shroud him, and the air in the garage felt cold, making goosebumps ripple across my skin. His usual perfect hair was dishevelled, and his bright blue eyes looked dark and demented; large dark circles encased his eyes, making them look sunken into his face; his smooth, clean-shaven jaw was coated with a dark beard that looked scraggly and unkempt; and his expensive clothes that he took great pride in keeping pristine looked wrinkled with ketchup and gravy stains down his front. If I saw him down the street and I didn’t know how vein he was, I would have thought he had been sleeping in them for a few days. A sour taste filled my mouth as my eyes darted around the garage and the dread of knowing we were alone hit me. “Ayla, I miss you; please come back.” I had never been afraid of Marcus, but right no
Ayla POV I felt paralysed; fear had taken hold of my body, and I was unable to move. The room was dark, so dark I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face, but I could see his eyes; they peered out from the darkness burning into my soul. His raspy breathing echoed all around me, and my heart pounded hard against my chest. I could hear the sound of his bones creaking as he stepped out of the darkness, the ceiling stretched up or I shrunk in size, because Runduc looked like a giant now; his face was gaunt and his skin a deathly white, but his eyes glowed brightly, like searchlights seeking me out. His bony fingers reached out toward me; they moved like vines as they weaved their way toward me. All I could do was watch as his vine-like fingers coiled around my feet, tightening as they moved up my body, engulfing me. “Hey, it’s ok. It was just a bad dream. I’m here.” As I jumped up, I felt his arms wrapping around me. I had never felt as safe as I did in his arms in my entire life