"I was on a mission on my own for the first time and I hunted down the target. I tracked him to an abandoned building. What I found was not a bloodthirsty beast that had been murdering women, it was a woman and her child," Lana explained. "No, you're lying," Kasia countered. "If I'm lying, I'm flying," Lana said. "The orders were clear. That's when I realized the hunters were lying to us. A mother and her child were no threat to us. They were rogues, malnourished, on the brink of death." Kasia shook her head, the pain in her heart too great to bear. "Nadia wouldn't have lied to us." "And why wouldn't she, Kasia? We were grunts. We didn't need to think. We just needed to do what we were told," Lana said bitterly. "She wouldn't have done that. You must have gotten it wrong, tracked the wrong one," Kasia argued. She refused to believe that Nadia would do something like that. Nadia was the one to find Kasia and Lana struggling to survive. Nadia slowly morphed into.a mentor
Brian watched from the doorway as Lana rushed out of the room. "Are you?" Brian started. "I'm fine," Lana interrupted. "Just leave me alone, okay?" Brian watched as Lana stormed away, wiping the tears from her face. He hesitated for a moment, knowing the tension in the room and the extent of Kasia's anger. Nevertheless, he couldn't delay this. Kasia was awake now. So much for trying to do it while she was unconscious. He stepped into the dimly lit room. Kasia watched him without saying a word. The way her eyes followed him reminded him of an herbivore waiting for the predator's next move. Her expression was blank, but he could smell the fear and anger rolling off her in waves. Brian's heart went out to her, but he had a job to do. "Kasia," Brian began, trying to keep his voice as calm and reassuring as possible. "I'm here to help you. I have no intention of hurting you, but I need to draw some blood for testing." Kasia's eyes narrowed as she looked at him, distrust emanat
The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains as Ethan approached Kasia's room, a tray laden with breakfast in hand. He rapped gently on the door, announcing his presence, before pushing it open. The scent of warm pastries and freshly brewed coffee wafted into the room, filling the air with an inviting aroma. "Breakfast is served," Ethan declared, a wry smile playing on his lips as he entered. His eyes locked onto Kasia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her posture tense. She looked as if she had not slept the entire night. Her scent filled the room, reminding him that she was his mate. He gripped the tray tightly in an effort to maintain his composure. Kasia's gaze flickered to the tray, then back to Ethan. Ethan wore a form-fighting short-sleeved orange shirt and blue jeans. He was absolutely massive, far more in shape than Austin. 'Stop it! What are you thinking? He's a monster!' Kasia scolded herself. Her eyes met his, and she noticed the smirk on his face.
Ethan's lips curled into a cocky smirk as Kasia agreed. Without hesitation, he reached down and peeled his shirt up over his head, revealing his chiseled torso. Kasia's eyes involuntarily traced over the defined muscles of his chest and abs. She cursed internally at her momentary distraction. 'Good goddess, this man must bench press trucks,' she thought. As much as she hated to admit it, she found Ethan incredibly attractive. There was an undeniable magnetism about him that made it difficult to look away. Ethan noticed Kasia's lingering gaze, and a sly grin spread across his face. "If you keep staring like that, you're going to make me think there is another way I can make you stay," he teased. Kasia felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at being caught. "I don't know what you are talking about," Kasia said as she quickly averted her eyes and busied herself with unzipping her pants. Kasia refocused her mind on the task at hand. Ethan's attractiveness would not sway her.
Ethan sat by the bank, eyeing the fish that swam lazily in the shallow waters. His senses were heightened, and he knew exactly which one would be the perfect meal for the night. He plunged his hand in and snagged it quickly, feeling the slippery skin against his fingers. He pulled it out of the water, the fish thrashing wildly in his grip. With a swift motion, he slit its throat, letting it bleed out on the river rocks before cleaning it thoroughly. The scent of blood filled the air, mixing with the earthy smell of the forest and the cool water. Kasia watched from a distance, her heart racing at the sight of the large fish he'd caught. She couldn't help but feel a surge of fear at the thought of what could have happened if it had attacked her while swimming. "You weren't lying," she murmured, looking at the fish. It was massive, its scales glinting in the moonlight. The forest was eerily quiet; only the sound of the rushing water and their heavy breathing filled the air. She took
Kasia sank down beside him, still tracing the line of his jaw. Her brown eyes were dark, and her pupils dilated. Ethan's breath caught at her nearness. Slowly, giving her time to pull away, he put his arms around her and drew her against his chest. She fit perfectly in his embrace, her body molding itself to his. "You're doing something. I know you are. You did this yesterday," Kasia asserted. "But this time it is different. Less angry." "I don't know what you're talking about," Ethan replied, his denial accompanied by a low, resonant rumble that emanated from his chest. Even though Ethan denied it, Kasia could feel the rumble in Ethan's chest. Kasia knew she should be afraid of this, but she didn't feel fear. She simply wanted to get closer to him. The rumble carried an almost primal quality, like the hum of a contented feline. Did Lycans purr? In her training, Kasia never came across this information. 'Does it matter if he is doing something? You should give into it,' the s
Aimee slammed her glass down on the table. She gritted her teeth, anger boiling in her veins. Ethan had arrived at the pack house last night with some unknown female, the audacity after everything they had been through together. After all the late nights and secret rendezvous, the way he refused to show her affection in public, keeping her hidden like his dirty secret, Aimee's nails dug into her palms. How dare he parade another woman around when she has been loyal for so long? Thelina appeared beside her, her eyebrows raised knowingly. "Let it go, girl. Ethan isn't worth your tears." Aimee whirled at her friend, her eyes flashing. "You don't get it. I've given that man everything. years of my life!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "And he tosses me aside for the first pretty face that catches his eye?" Thelina clucked her tongue sympathetically. "I know it hurts, but you can't let him treat you like this." She placed a hand on Aimee's shoulder. "It's time you staked
Kasia's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. She was lying in a large four-poster bed with silk sheets instead of the stiff hospital cot she last remembered. As she slowly sat up, a pounding headache throbbed behind her eyes. She pressed a hand to her temple, trying to rub away the pain as fragmented memories from the night before surfaced. She had been with Ethan. He had come to her hospital room, his piercing blue eyes full of concern as he asked her to take a walk with him. She had resisted at first, but something in his gentle voice and warm smile had lowered her guard. What happened after they left her room was a blur. She remembered his hand on hers, his woodsy scent enveloping her as they walked outside under the moonlight. Then nothing, just waking up here in this lavish bedroom that was clearly not her own. Kasia's fist clenched around the silk sheets. Had Ethan done something to her? Drugged her? She trembled with anger at the thought, cursing herself for letti
"No, I know who you are," Amdis said firmly. "You are my mate. I would recognize you anywhere." The sincerity in his words made her heart skip a beat. Kasia's heart thundered in her chest, its pulse thudding through her veins as if attempting to escape her very being. The room itself seemed to press in on her from all sides, suffocating her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. The crackle of thunder from outside caused her to jump in surprise. Her mind reeled as she struggled to process his claim. How could this be? Alpha King Ethan was her mate; there was no doubt in her mind about that. Panic bubbled up inside her, and she fought to maintain control over her emotions. "I keep telling you that you're wrong. You have me confused with someone else. I don't know how many times I must tell you this," she said firmly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "My mate is Alpha King Ethan, not you." The mere mention of Ethan's name caused Amdis' features to contort into a frown
Kasia awoke with a start, her heart pounding. Her body felt cocooned in silk, the fabric clinging to her like an unwelcome lover. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, memories of Amdis, the vampire who had taken her away, flooded back. She glanced down at herself, noticing for the first time that she wore nothing but a sheer camisole. Anger flared within her, and she clenched her fists, cursing silently. "Who does he think he is?" Kasia muttered under her breath as she threw off the silk sheets and slid out of bed. For a moment, she considered tearing the offensive garment from her body, but practicality won out. She needed to find a way out of this place, and she couldn't do that naked. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings. Kasia's instincts kicked in, and she moved cautiously towards the window, scanning the room for any potential threats. As her eyes adjusted to the fading light, she realized tha
'Go back there and rip her throat out!' Deva snarled. 'No, he made his decision. We will not fight over him,' Kasia responded as she continued walking away. How could he have done this to her? She should've known better. This was all just part of the plan. He just wanted her close because she is a blessed blood. That's all it was. "Kasia, stop!" Lily said, grabbing her wrist. "Calm down. It's not what you think it is." "I saw what I saw. He was with that b****! I know what I saw," Kasia growled. "That's not what I saw," Lily responded, causing Kasia to squint at her. "What do you mean that's not what you saw? He was humping Aimee," Kasia retorted. "Yes, but when I first saw them, she looked a lot like you," Lily explained. "That…that doesn't make any sense," Kasia said. "How could Aimee have gotten to him so fast? We had just seen her. I don't know. I think something else is going on," Lily argued. "It doesn't matter," Kasia replied, her voice strained. She tried to
'You didn't have to be so mean,' Kasia scolded Deva. 'And he didn't have to have females all over him like he doesn't have a mate for WEEKS,' Deva growled back. Kasia watched as Ethan walked away and sighed. She regretted being coy with him. Perhaps he would have been able to tell her what he needed to say before he got pulled away. The mood was ruined, and Kasia didn't feel like dancing anymore. She moved away from the stage where the live music was playing. "This is only temporary," Lily said, surprising Kasia as she looped arms with her. "Let's get something to eat. Have you ever had fairy pastries before?" "That's a thing?!" Kasia asked, causing Lily to laugh. Lily and Kasia sampled mouthwatering dishes at one of the many food stalls. The scent of spiced meats and vegetables filled the air, mingling with laughter and chatter from the crowd. Kasia's hazel eyes twinkled with delight as she savored a bite of grilled meat skewer, not caring what she was eating because it was
The sun blazed high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the city as the Summer Solstice festival commenced. Colorful banners and streamers adorned the buildings, while stalls lined the bustling streets, offering food, games, and trinkets to the celebrating crowd. Laughter and lively music filled the air, setting a jovial atmosphere that reached every corner of the city. At the heart of it all, Ethan scanned the festive scene before him. "Relax, Ethan," Garrett encouraged with a knowing smile. "This isn't something you haven't hosted before." Ethan let out a strained chuckle, doing his best to maintain a calm facade. "Easier said than done," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Kasia, who had been avoiding him for days. The uncertainty gnawed at him. "You're still worrying about Kasia, aren't you? Lily says she has been super busy with Kasia to get her prepared for today. She's not avoiding you on purpose," Garrett stated. "She
"Are you sure about telling him now before finding out anything else?" As they neared the door, Lana asked nervously. "We haven't even done any research on the paperwork." "Positive," Janet replied, her voice steady. "We need to tell Alpha Ethan what we found immediately, so we can figure out our next moves." Deanna nodded in agreement as they stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. With a deep breath, Lana knocked firmly, and after a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Ethan seated behind his desk and the pack doctor, Brian, with him. "Come in," Ethan said calmly. "I am happy to see that we didn't have casualties." "Thanks to Lana. She was right about those traps," Deanna said as she entered the room, followed by Janet and Lana. "We have a report on the base we found." "Go on," Ethan prompted. "What did you find out?" "Not much. The base was pretty much destroyed," Deanna answered. "What do you mean?" Ethan asked. "It's not just us that have a problem with th
The moon cast an eerie glow on the ground as Deanna, Janet, Lana, and a few warriors made their way through the dense forest. The air was thick with tension, and Lana led them with quiet determination. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she focused on the task at hand. "Remember," she whispered to the others, "the closer we get to the hunters' base, the more traps there'll be. Stay alert." An impatient warrior, his face contorted in frustration, grumbled under his breath. He'd grown tired of following Lana's slow pace, and he decided to speed forward. Lana's hazel eyes flashed a warning, and she called out to him. "Don't! You don't know where the traps are." But her words fell on deaf ears. Just as the warrior was about to step into a well-hidden pit filled with sharp spikes, Lana lunged at him, pushing him aside. In doing so, her arm grazed one of the silver-tipped spikes, and she winced, silver oozing from the wound. "Idiot!" Lana hissed as she clutched her injured arm. "You could
Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore." "Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny. "Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?" Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it." "About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color—black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation. Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of make
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup