Upon entering the tea room, Kasia's eyes immediately locked on two unfamiliar women. Annoyance flared within her when she also spotted Miraya and Aimee seated with them. A pointed glare at Janet went unnoticed as she introduced the newcomers. "Kasia, meet Meranda and Deanna," Janet said. "Meranda is the mate of Alpha's Beta, and Deanna is the mate of Alpha's Delta." "It is a pleasure to meet you both," Kasia greeted them while ignoring Aimee and Miraya. Deanna, with honey-colored skin, exuded a relaxed demeanor. She had full lips, sharp cheekbones, and tightly curled chestnut hair, but a scar that ran from the bridge of her nose to her chin marred her appearance. Curiosity flickered in her chocolate-brown eyes, hinting at a keen interest in Kasia. Toned arms and wide shoulders revealed that she was trained in hand-to-hand combat, a fact not lost on Kasia. "You don't have to be so formal," Deanna said. "She definitely does," Meranda retorted. "When are you going to take anyt
Kasia hesitated at the door of Ethan's office, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The last time they'd spoken, they ended up passionately making out in his car, which left her breathless and confused. A shiver coursed through her body as she remembered the feel of his strong arms around her and the taste of his lips. 'You should just let him bend you over the desk. That's what you really want,' the voice within her mind taunted her. Kasia couldn't help but blush at the thought. What was she, a silly schoolgirl? With a deep breath, she forced her mind to focus on the present and pushed the door open. "Kasia," Ethan greeted her, his piercing eyes meeting hers as he straightened up from behind his desk. "Hey Ethan." Her voice was barely audible, betraying her unease. "You wanted to see me?" Ethan's gaze never wavered from Kasia's eyes, making her feel more exposed than ever before. She could almost feel his thoughts probing into her soul, searching for answers that neither of
Kasia kicked her door open as she stormed back to her room. 'How could I have let him do that again?' she scolded herself. Kasia paced her room, trying to forget the way he made her feel. She let out a frustrated scream. 'You should just go back there and get it out of your system,' the voice within her head said. 'You just shut up. You're not helping,' Kasia snapped. The voice laughed and said, 'When did I say I was going to help you? I remember specifically saying I was going to make you suffer.' "Got dammit!" Kasia groaned. She needed an outlet for the storm of emotions raging inside her, something to silence the questions that were threatening to drive her even more crazy than she was. Kasia rummaged through her drawers, hastily grabbing workout clothes. As she tugged the tank top over her head and pulled her hair up into a puff, she was reminded of the many times she had sought refuge in physical exertion. It had always helped her find a sense of peace and order when h
"Kasia, please come back!" Brian called out, but she was already down the hallway, her footsteps echoing off the walls. She didn't hear him. The only thing that was on Kasia's mind was getting as far away from Ethan as possible. "What is going on? Why do you need Kasia?" he asked as he waved Brian into the room as he fixed his shirt. Ethan took a deep breath, trying to get the lust he was feeling for Kasia under control. This had to be important for Brian to want to tell him information in person. "Because she needs to hear what I have to say," Brian replied gravely, closing the door to Ethan's office with an ominous click. "But maybe it is best that she doesn't find out now. It will give you time to decide what you want to do next. You should sit down for this." He gestured toward a chair. Ethan's heart hammered in his chest, but he remained standing, unwilling to yield even an inch. "You must have found out what the pills are made of. Is it worse than I originally expected?"
Aimee rushed towards him, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked up at him. "Ethan, Kasia...she's a monster! She shifted in the middle of our spar and attacked me!" Her words were hurried and desperate. Brian began tending to Aimee's arm. Ethan's gaze flickered between Aimee and the disheveled state of the gym, disbelief etched onto his features. He knew Kasia's capabilities, her strength, and her character, but he couldn't fathom her losing control like this without cause. She hadn't been taking the pills for over a week now. His instincts told him there was more to this story. "Enough!" he barked, silencing the murmurs of the gathered crowd. His voice reverberated through the room, commanding attention. "Janet, tell me what happened." Janet's voice trembled slightly as she began to recount the events. "Aimee challenged Kasia to a spar. Kasia defeated her fair and square, but Aimee refused to accept it. Then something changed in Kasia. She wasn't herself anymore. Aimee too
Kasia's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. The rogues were sizing her up like a piece of meat, their intentions clear in their hungry gazes. She knew that even in her Lycan form, she couldn't take them all on alone. But backing down was not an option for someone like Kasia Thorne. "Nice night for a swim, isn't it?" One of the men sneered. "You look like you could use some company." "Thanks, but I prefer swimming solo," Kasia replied, her voice laced with disdain. "Aw, don't be like that," another man chimed in. "We're just looking for a little fun, and you're exactly what we're looking for." "Find it elsewhere," Kasia growled. The burning sensation surged through her body again, causing her to almost double over in pain. What was happening to her? Why was she still feeling like this? Why did the rogues not smell as bad anymore? "Feisty, aren't you?" The third man taunted. "I like that in a woman. Let me quench that burn you're feeling." Kasia's heart raced as sh
Tony stumbled through the underbrush, his heart pounding in his chest. The gruesome scene he had just witnessed replayed in his mind: Ethan, the Alpha King, tearing apart the rogues with a ferocity that even Tony couldn't comprehend. He knew he had to get back to the hotel in Wulftree and report what had happened, but a part of him wanted nothing more than to forget it all and disappear into the shadows. It took him a few hours, but eventually, the familiar lights of Wulftree came into view. The hotel loomed before him, a beacon of safety in the darkness. The receptionist watched him as he stumbled into the lobby. "Sir? Are you okay?" she asked. "I'm fine," Tony hurriedly said as he got on the elevator. He went up to his floor and rushed down the hall. Tony fumbled with the key card before pushing the door open and stepping inside. "Tony? What are you doing here?" The voice belonged to Trey, his superior, who seemed surprised to see him back without the others. "Where's the r
'I didn't think you had it in you,' her wolf said. Kasia's lips left Ethan's neck as she pulled away, her eyes glinting with a hint of satisfaction that turned into horror. What had she done? She just moved and found herself biting him. 'I didn't know what I was doing,' Kasia responded. 'I would have never marked him.' 'Sure you didn't. I didn't make you bite him,' her wolf countered. Kasia's heart was pounding in her chest, and her breath came in short gasps as she began to back off of Ethan. She wanted to get away as far as possible from him. 'No, you started this. We are going to follow through,' her wolf said, and Kasia felt as if she no longer had control over her body again. She wanted to warn Ethan about what was going to happen, but the feeling she had felt before when touching Ethan had only intensified. Ethan watched her warily, his eyes darkening as he registered the change in her demeanor. He could see by her eyes changing colors that she was speaking with her wol
"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