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
Aimee stood in the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest, as she watched Janet saunter into the dining hall with Kasia. After listening to Janet introduce Kasia to Miraya, Aimee frowned. So, it was true. This was the woman Ethan had been seen with. Aimee frowned, as Kasia was beautiful, so it didn't surprise her that she captured the Alpha King's attention. A bitter taste filled Aimee's mouth as she realized her chance to be the Alpha Queen was fading away. "Damn her," Aimee muttered under her breath, clenching her fists at her sides. She couldn't stand by and watch this unfold any longer. 'No. We just need to put her in her place,' Aimee's wolf, Lial, said within her. Determination fueled her actions as she waited for the opportune moment to confront Kasia, away from the prying eyes of their peers. When Kasia excused herself from the table and headed towards the restroom, Aimee followed close behind, careful not to draw attention to herself. The restroom door creaked op
Ethan couldn't focus as he felt a sharp pain on his left side. Resisting the urge to yelp, he wondered, 'What the hell was that?' As the pain subsided, thoughts of Kasia flooded his mind. Was this connected to her somehow? Quickly opening a telepathic link with Janet, Ethan's attempt to speak was abruptly interrupted. Janet lashed out at him. "As your advisor, I should be made aware of everything, yes?" she said. "Yes, Janet, what's..." Ethan began. "So, why wasn't I informed that Kasia is not a normal human? Is she even human?" Janet questioned. "She's human. What's happening?" Ethan answered. "She fought Aimee and won," Janet explained. "No, that's impossible," Ethan protested. "Are you sure that's what happened?" "Tell that to Aimee. They were the only two in the restroom. I intervened before it escalated, but you can see for yourself. I am sure she is on her way to complain to you," Janet explained. Without warning, the heavy doors to Ethan's office were forcefull
Kasia sat on a weathered bench, watching the lively children as they frolicked and played. A deep unease settled in her stomach, twisting and churning like a trapped animal. They were nothing like how they were explained to her. The longer she stayed here, the more and more she realized that what she was told were lies, and it had only been three days. 'Now, you're starting to understand,' the voice echoed through Kasia's mind, its mocking tone replaced with something softer. Kasia couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on reality, or perhaps this was simply her guilty conscience manifesting itself. 'So, what if I believe all of this, then that would mean they've been lying to me all these years?' Kasia's thoughts were frantic, trying to make sense of the new information. 'Of course they have. You were a vulnerable child, desperate to protect your sister at any cost,' the voice replied. 'But why? Why would they deceive me like this?' 'Why is the grass green
Kasia stood outside the pack house, her fingers smoothing over the green fabric of her dress. The early evening air held a brisk chill, raising goosebumps along her bare arms. Shivering, she rubbed her hands over the sleeves of her black leggings. This was a mistake. Going anywhere with him, especially tonight, would only lead to heartache. Denying it felt futile; this outing felt dangerously close to something she couldn't—wouldn't—put a name to. 'It's not a date,' she sternly reminded herself. But the voice in her mind mocked her naivety. 'Oh really? Then why are you dressed up and waiting for him like a smitten schoolgirl?' Kasia scowled, even as warmth flushed her cheeks. She wasn't smitten. Ethan was the enemy, and her traitorous heart fluttered at the thought of spending time alone with him. He was the Alpha King, a monster like the rest of them, and she was a hunter sworn to destroy his kind. This wasn't a date; it was a mistake. 'Keep telling yourself that, suga,'