Merry Christmas, everyone.
FinnThe small gasp that escaped Scarlett’s lips sent a wave of satisfaction through me. Even after all this year, I could still surprise her.My fingers remained gentle but firm around her wrist as I pulled her closer, letting her catch my scent – the crisp scent of my cologne and coffee from endless business meetings still clinging to my clothes.“Miss me, Luna?” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion after months apart.The silver glow of the moonlight filtered through her window, illuminating her face with a mix of shock and joy.“Finn, is that you?” Her free hand reached up to touch my face, fingers trembling slightly as they traced my jawline. “How... when did you get back?”I caught her exploring hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “About an hour ago. The company’s quarterly review finally wrapped up.”My wolf, Storm, stirred within me, desperate to reconnect with Ray after our long separation. Through our mate bond, I could feel Ray’s answering call, her presence warm and f
Finn Scarlett turned in my arms, pressing her forehead to mine. “I love you,” she breathed, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. “I love you too.” “Ah,” she screamed as my finger gently made its way inside her, beginning to pleasure her. She moaned with delight as my movements started, slow and deliberate, before gradually increasing in pressure and speed. Her moans grew louder and more insistent, filling the room with her desire. “Yes,” she gasped, her hips rising to meet my touch. “Right there.” I smirked, continuing, savoring every sound she made. I could feel her body tightening on the brink of release. But just as she was about to let go, I withdrew my finger and dropped to my knees. Her eyes fluttered open, surprise and frustration flashing across her face as a whimper escaped her lips. She reached out, tangling her fingers in my hair as I leaned forward and began to pleasure her with my mouth. Scarlett’s moans grew softer, yet more intense as my tongue explored her,
ScarlettI woke to an empty bed, the sheets still warm from where Finn had lain. The sound of running water from the bathroom told me where he’d gone. I stretched, feeling the pleasant ache in my muscles.My wolf, Ray, purred contentedly. “Our mate is home.”“Yes,” I agreed, smiling despite the weight of responsibilities that pressed at the edges of my mind. Having Finn back made everything feel more manageable, even if only temporarily.The bathroom door opened, and Finn emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his chest. My breath caught. No matter how many times I saw him, he still had this effect on me.“Morning, love,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. I caught the scent of his soap, clean and masculine.“I thought you might have left for pack business already,” I admitted, sitting up and letting the sheets pool around my waist.His eyes darkened with lust as they traced over my exposed skin. “Not without saying goodbye, honey.” He sat on th
FinnI lay in bed with my mate, savoring her warmth against me, when David’s voice echoed in my mind.‘What is it, David?’ I responded through our pack link.‘Alpha, I apologize for disturbing you. When I couldn’t find you in the office...’ His concern rippled through the mental connection.‘I’ll be there shortly,’ I assured him. ‘I needed time with my mate.’‘Understood, sir.’ With those words, David severed the mind-link, leaving me alone with my thoughts. In my arms, Scarlett shifted slightly, her breathing soft and steady.I gazed down at her peaceful face, drinking in every feature of my mate - the woman I’d ached for through all these long, empty months.Storm’s howl resonated through my mind, his joy echoing my own. My wolf couldn’t contain his elation at having her so close, her warmth pressed against us.We’d both yearned for this - man and beast united in our relief at finally having our mate in our embrace.“That happy, huh?” I asked, amused by Storm’s unrestrained joy, his
Finn“I’m so sorry, Alpha Damon!” The feminine voice carried a note of feigned distress that immediately set me on edge.Looking down, I found myself face-to-face with Nina, Scarlett’s sister.Her cheeks were flushed as she gazed up at me, her wide eyes sparkling with an innocence that didn’t quite reach their depths.This was only the second time I’d seen her, but being this close, I could sense something was off.“Alpha,” she purred, her tone dripping with an unwelcome sweetness. The way she looked at me disgusted me. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. My anger simmered just beneath the surface. What the heck was she trying to pull? “You’re back.”Storm growled low in my mind. ‘There’s darkness in her. Can’t you feel it?’I could. The pure connection I shared with Scarlett had heightened my ability to read others, and what I sensed in Nina troubled me deeply. Behind her carefully constructed facade lay something cold, calculated.“What are you doing here?” I asked, keeping m
Finn“Two injured, none fatal. But the rogues are growing bolder.” David passed me a detailed report. “They seem more organized than usual. Pack formation patterns have been observed.”This was concerning. Rogues typically operated alone or in pairs. Pack formation suggested leadership - and that meant trouble.“Continue,” I instructed, scanning the document.“The trade agreement with the Southern Pack needs renewal,” David continued. “Alpha Marcus has been particularly insistent about discussing new terms. He’s mentioned something about expanding the timber rights in the shared forest.”I fought back a sigh. Marcus had always been ambitious, and my absence had likely emboldened him.“Schedule a meeting, but not immediately. Let’s give him time to stew.”‘And give us time to strengthen our position,’ Storm added approvingly.“The training program for young wolves has shown impressive results,” David moved on, his tone lightening slightly. “Gabriel has proven to be an excellent instruc
FinnAs David left my office, the evening shadows grew longer. I stood by the window, observing the wolves in the pack grounds below, lost in my troubled thoughts. Somewhere out there, Nina was plotting, and Scarlett remained blind to the danger.“We need to be careful,” Storm cautioned in our mind. “One wrong move, and we could lose Scarlett’s trust entirely.”I growled softly, frustration building. My wolf had a point, but the urge to act, to eliminate the threat immediately, was almost overwhelming.The memory of Nina’s calculated seduction attempt made my skin crawl, but it was the darkness I’d glimpsed in her thoughts that truly concerned me.A knock at the door interrupted my brooding. “Enter,” I called, turning to find Gabriel, our training master, standing in the doorway.“Alpha,” he greeted me with a respectful nod. “I have the detailed training reports you requested.”“Good. Tell me about our newest warriors.” I gestured for him to sit, grateful for the distraction from my d
Finn“You’re back, Damon.” My mate’s voice trembled with relief as she spotted me. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her face against my chest. The familiar scent of her hair washed over me.“Yes," I muttered, feeling Nina’s intense gaze on us from across the room. Her anger was palpable in her tense stance and clenched fists.I didn’t fucking care.Pulling Scarlett closer, I leaned in and kissed her deeply. She melted against me with a soft moan, her hands clutching my shirt as if grounding herself.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nina’s bitter glare slicing through the air like a dagger. Her venom only made me hold Scarlett tighter.Nina’s loud cough shattered the moment, drawing my mate’s attention. Scarlett pulled back from our kiss with gentle reluctance, and though irritation flared in my chest, I forced myself to stay calm.The last thing I wanted was to damage what Scarlett and I had, especially over Nina’s petty interruption.“Sister.” N
Lucy“You mean...” Scarlett leaned forward, her brow furrowed as she processed this revelation. “You were the real heir to the pack?”“Yes, I was.” I nodded, remembering my father’s disappointment, his warnings that I chose to ignore. “My father disapproved of our relationship, but fate had other plans. We were fated mates, so my father had no choice but to accept him. He introduced him to the pack as his friend’s son and my mate.” I paused, memories rushing back with painful clarity. “No one in the pack knew the truth—except Diana.”“This is… shocking, Mother.”“Yes, it is," I replied, my throat tight with emotion. The bitter taste of past betrayal lingered on my tongue as I continued, “I loved him. I loved him enough to relinquish my position as Alpha so he could take over after my father passed away.”The pain of betrayal resurfaced, causing my chest to constrict. “But he... he repaid my love with treachery. He poisoned me, weakened me, and drove a knife through my heart with his o
Lucy“Mother,” she called softly. “Is that you?”My throat tightened, preventing me from speaking. Despite rehearsing my speeches and explanations during the journey, they vanished.Tears streamed down my cheeks, carrying the weight of twelve years of absence, loss, and irretrievable moments. Each sob released the pent-up emotions within me.I had missed wiping away her tears after nightmares, missed teaching her to hunt, missed seeing her eyes light up when she found her mate. I had missed everything that made a mother.I wasn’t a mother. I didn’t deserve to be called one. What right did I have to see her now? I broke down in tears.“What right do I have to be called a mother?" I whispered, my voice broken and filled with self-loathing. I stumbled back, overwhelmed by the weight of my own failure.Then, something miraculous happened. Instead of turning away in disgust, instead of rejecting me as I deserved, Scarlett rushed forward.Her strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me close
LucyWithout blinking or hesitation, Diana launched an attack. “How dare you! How dare you talk to Lucy like that?”“Diana, please stop,” I pleaded, reaching for her arm. The last thing I wanted was violence against those who protected my daughter. “They’re Scarlett’s people.”She whirled to face me, eyes blazing. “But they are treating you rudely,” she spat. “I won’t stand and watch you being treated like that.”With lightning speed, she spun and delivered a powerful kick to one of the guards. He flew backward, landing hard with a pained cry that made me wince.“You...” The remaining guards growled in unison, closing ranks. They launched themselves at Diana, who moved with the fluid grace of a skilled fighter, evading their attacks effortlessly.A smirk played across her lips. “You’re not worth it,” she taunted.She was about to strike again when a howl—deeper, more powerful than anything we’d heard yet—reverberated through the clearing.The very air seemed to vibrate with its author
Lucy“Where is my daughter?” The question burst from my lips, raw and desperate.My hands trembled as I clutched Diana’s arm, my fingers digging into her flesh. “Do you perhaps know where she is?”Diana’s eyes softened with understanding. She nodded slowly, her expression gentle. “Yes. She is the Luna of the Crescent Pack,” she replied, watching me carefully for my reaction.I should have felt relief—my daughter alive, safe, respected, powerful even.But the ache in my chest only deepened, a cavernous emptiness that throbbed with each heartbeat.My beautiful baby. The memory of her infant face swam before my eyes—those wide, trusting eyes, the tiny fingers that had once curled around mine.I swallowed hard against the burning in my throat, my body physically aching with the need to hold her.“Let’s go there,” I pleaded, seizing Diana’s hand. My fingers interlaced with hers, squeezing so tightly I saw her wince. “Please.”Diana’s face creased with concern. “Okay. Okay. We will do that,
LucyRemembering Dalma’s warnings about those who had tried to kill me, I disguised myself, binding my breasts and cutting my hair, adopting the persona of a male healer.The disguise became a second skin as I traveled from village to village, offering my healing skills to any who needed them.While exploring, I met a strong Alpha who saw my skills and wanted me to be the healer for his pack.I hesitated, valuing my freedom and fearing being tied down. I also worried about my enemies tracking me if I stayed in one place for too long.After much negotiation, we reached a compromise—I would serve as his pack’s healer, but maintain my independence, coming and going as I pleased. This arrangement satisfied us both, and for a time, all was well.Years passed, and then, like a bolt from the blue, my memories returned.The shock of it brought me to my knees, the truth of who I was crashing over me in merciless waves.Every moment of my former life played before my eyes in vivid detail—my lov
Lucy (Scarlett’s mother)Many years ago.I tried to open my eyes, but they were impossibly heavy, as if sealed with lead.Every nerve in my body was on fire, the searing pain washing over me like molten metal. Not just pain—this was torment, the kind that makes you pray for death as relief.“Are you okay?” A voice penetrated the darkness, distant and muffled, like someone calling through thick fog. “Can you hear me?”I battled the heavy pull of my eyelids, feeling desperate to escape this fleshly prison. My mind was screaming in frustration, unable to control a body that wouldn’t respond.The voice spoke again, breaking through the darkness with crystal-clear clarity. “Can you hear me?”Of course I can hear you! The words burned in my throat, desperate to escape, but remained trapped inside me. Some invisible force held me down, like being buried alive.Panic surged through me as I gathered every fragment of strength left in my broken body—channeling it into one desperate attempt. Fin
LucasThe blood drained from my face so rapidly I nearly lost consciousness.Even before he stepped into view, I knew exactly who that voice belonged to—the head healer.A wave of betrayal crashed through me, leaving nothing but bitter disbelief in its wake.Why? I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached. Had his word meant nothing?He had sworn to keep my secret, had looked me in the eyes and promised. So why was he doing this to me now?“Who speaks?” the elder demanded. “Show yourself.”“It is I,” came the measured response as he stepped into the circle of judgment.The elders’ expressions changed instantly, their impartial masks falling away to reveal raw curiosity. Their pretense was stripped off.“What evidence do you have that he is unfit to rule us, Healer?” The eldest leaned forward, eyes gleaming with anticipation.“He...” the healer faltered, his gaze meeting mine across the hall.I silently pleaded with him—my eyes begging what my pride would not allow my lips to form. If he s
LucasI remained on my knees for a moment longer, relief and suspicion warring within me.Why would he help me? What game was he playing? But I dared not question this unexpected mercy.Rising to my feet, I backed toward the door, unwilling to turn my back on him. Only when I reached the threshold did I realize I was holding my breath, as if I’d been in the presence of something that might devour me at any moment.As I entered my room, a surge of elation washed over me. A wild joy filled me, bubbling up and overflowing. I danced around my chambers, pumping my fists in triumph.For once, that intimidating figure had listened to me and yielded. Power coursed through my veins like lightning, intoxicating and fierce.I needed to celebrate this... of course, with a juicy pussy.I was still thinking about this when a maid walked in.“Alpha.”“Come closer,” I winked, my tone filled with joy.The shy maid came closer. I pulled her hand, making her scream before pressing my lips on hers.In a
LucasI sat alone in my chamber, drenched in silence so thick it pressed against my skin. The shadows seemed to watch me, judging, knowing what I had done.The healer hadn’t shouted. He hadn’t threatened. He just looked at me, as if peeling my soul apart one layer at a time.And that single word—killer—still rang in my ears like a curse etched into my bones, a brand I could never wash away.I had tried to laugh it off, to scoff at him like I always did with those who challenged me. But my voice had cracked, betraying the fear that coursed through me.He saw it. I know he did.I poured myself a drink with shaking hands, amber liquid sloshing over the rim. I never planned for this—not for him to return, and certainly not for him to know. I had rehearsed every lie, every excuse, and yet I stood there like a child caught stealing sweets.He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t accuse me in front of others.And now I had a choice—convince him, bribe him, or bury him six feet beneath the earth