Ethan's heart raced in his chest, pounding like the drums of war as he crouched protectively over Kasia's unconscious form. Her dark hair fanned out around her head like a raven's wing against the cold stone floor. Ethan expected her to awaken by now, but she was still in a deep sleep. "Kasia," Ethan said, shaking her lightly. Kasia's breathing was shallow and ragged, her skin clammy beneath his fingertips. He could feel the power within her- a new and pulsating energy that made him both excited and afraid. "Kasia," he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. "Please, wake up." A sudden gasp echoed behind him, and Ethan tensed, his gaze snapping as he turned around. Janet stood there, her dark eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene before her. Her nostrils flared, no doubt picking up the mingling scents of blood, sweat, and something else- something different. "Janet," he growled, feeling a flush of embarrassment and dismay wash over him at her unexpected arrival. He ha
Kasia's eyelids fluttered open, the dim light of the room slowly coming into focus. The scent of Ethan lingered in the air, a cocktail of cedar and musk that sent shivers down her spine. She was clearly wearing one of his oversized t-shirts as it was a long as a night gown on her. As she moved to get up, a dull ache spread throughout her body, reminding her that the wet dream that she had about Ethan wasn't actually a dream. 'Did we really have sex like wild animals in the woods?' she thought. "Girl, we rode him like a rodeo last night," the voice in her head chuckled, clearly amused by the situation. "You don't have to remind me," Kasia groaned, her irritation momentarily overriding any lingering embarrassment. "So, you're my wolf. That is still odd to say. Who are you? What is your name?" The voice paused for a moment before answering, a hint of sadness creeping into her tone. "I don't remember my name or anything about my previous life. All I know is that I was angry, in
"My mate," Kasia whispered, her voice barely audible even to her own ears. Everything makes perfect sense now. How touching him made her react the way she did. Did Ethan know this the entire time? "Kasia," Deva responded almost hesitantly. "I know it's a shock, but you need to go and apologize to him." "Apologize?" Kasia snapped. She wrapped her arms around her bare torso, trying to steady her frantic heart. "What do I have to apologize to him for? He kept this from me! He should have rejected me. Why would he let me mark him? What the hell was he thinking?" "Rejecting your mate is not the easiest thing, as some would think," Deva said softly. "You need to go after him. Apologize for how you reacted earlier. You said almost the worst thing you could have ever said to your fated mate." Kasia scoffed. "He needs to apologize to me. He has ruined my life. If he had just let Lana and me leave, if he had never kidnapped Lana in the first place, none of this would be happening." "
Ethan sighed quietly, his breath stirring the strands of her hair, as he watched Kasia's sleeping form. Her dark hair fanned out over the pillow. Her eyelids fluttered with dreams. Ethan studied her face, the delicate curve of her cheekbones, and the sharp cut of her jaw. She was beautiful, fierce, and, against all odds, lying next to him. Due to his response to her heat, he had dominated her in every way for hours. He had made sure she was utterly satisfied before allowing himself to come down from the high. But now, as she lay exhausted beside him, he knew they needed to have a real conversation about what would come next for her. Easing his body away from Kasia, Ethan sat up against the headboard and focused his thoughts on Janet, opening a mind link. "Janet," he said in his mind, "have you made contact?" "Indeed," Janet replied through the link. "They will be here within the hour." She paused before asking, "Have you spoken to Kasia about her marking you and wha
"No, no, it's too early for drinking for me. Maybe later," Janet insisted to her pack member as she left the impromptu celebratory gathering of a new pack member as well as a potential Luna for the pack. With each step through the winding corridors towards Ethan's suite, Janet felt a heavy weight in her chest. The mingled scents of excitement and uncertainty only added to the tension in the air. On one hand, she should be ecstatic; part of her job was complete, and Ethan finally had a Luna to complete their pack, and a fated Luna at that. But on the other hand, Janet couldn't shake the feeling that everything was happening too fast. Kasia being revealed as Ethan's mate coincided with the sudden appearance of rogue wolves breaching their defenses. It all seemed too convenient, too perfect. And now the once-human huntress who once threatened to destroy their kind is now a Lycan who is suddenly going to become their Luna. Janet had to admit that Kasia was more than capable of standi
"I am confused. Why would you want to help me?" Kasia demanded. "Why are you the one who has to be my advocate? Why not Janet?" She glanced at the closed door behind her, remembering how just moments before, Janet had warned her that people would be watching her every move. Trust didn't come easily to Kasia, especially now when the stakes were higher than ever. Lily's eyes softened, her gaze searching Kasia's face. "Janet is not a Luna. She wouldn't be able to relate to your unique situation the way I can." "Unique situation?" Kasia echoed, her confusion only deepening. "Wait, were you human too?" Lily laughed softly, shaking her head. "No, I've never been human. But as a red wolf myself, I understand how overwhelming this information can be." Kasia's brow furrowed in confusion. She felt like she was missing a crucial piece of information. "Okay. I have no idea what you're talking about. What does being a red wolf have to do with anything? What even is that? Are you sure y
Ethan's office door creaked open, the heavy wood announcing his arrival as he stepped into the dimly lit room. His eyes swept over the waiting faces of Deanna, his Delta's mate, Janet, and Garrett. "Took you long enough," Garrett said with a smirk as he stood up. "Having too much fun?" "That's none of your business," Ethan countered before pulling Ethan into a hug. "It's good to see you. Are you settling in alright?" "Are we settling in alright?! We owe you our lives, Ethan. No other pack was willing to help us in fear of them being affected too," Garrett responded. Ethan frowned slightly. He knew that Garrett's pack was suffering, but he didn't think it was that bad. The rogues were getting out of control, and he would eventually have to make a move to either recognize the rogue pack or get rid of them altogether. "I understand," Ethan said softly. "But there's no reason to thank me; I'm simply doing what any Alpha would do in this situation. We'll figure everything out an
"Alright," Lily said, pulling out her planner. "I went through an expedited course due to my own situation, but you have a little more time to prepare." "Prepare? Time for what? What are you talking about?" Kasia asked. Lily looked up from her planner, meeting Kasia's gaze with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "In order for the Council to test you…" "Back up, back up, the Council? Like the Council, the werewolf council?" Kasia asked, interrupting her. "Yes, who else? Why did you think you were going through Luna training? All Lunas that don't have a sponsor have to be tested," Lily explained. Kasia's brow furrowed. "Can't you be my sponsor?" "No. A pack has to sponsor a Luna-in-training," Lily answered. The very idea of becoming a Luna was just unbelievable for her to wrap her mind around, yet there was something about the prospect that piqued her curiosity. It was like touching a hot stove; she knew it would burn her, but the temptation was too great. "Normally, a Lun