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
Kasia made an effort to concentrate on the food that the omegas were offering her. She pushed her eggs around her plate while Janet stirred her coffee. The snickering of the women was making it hard for her to focus on the food. "Stop frowning," Janet scolded, her disapproving tone like a sharp slap to Kasia's psyche. Her expression tightened into a scowl, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. She felt as though she were in a pressure cooker, ready to explode at any moment. But Janet's warning rang true- if she kept this up, they would surely come over to investigate. Kasia took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumultuous emotions swirling inside her. She forced her features into a neutral mask, but her fists remained clenched at her sides, ready for action. "Tell me, Janet," Kasia said. "Why is Lana being bullied? What is going on?" Janet hesitated, her gaze shifting away from Kasia's intense stare. "It's not for me to tell you. Lana should be the on