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
"My warriors can help reinforce the borders. With the rogues working with Hunters from time to time, this could be a play to push Lily where they want her," Garrett offered. Ethan nodded. He appreciated his friend's help but knew it wasn't just Lily at risk. However, that was a conversation for later. "Your offer is gratefully accepted, Garrett. We need all the help we can get." Turning his attention to Deanna, who stood near the window with her arms crossed over her chest, Ethan said, "Deanna, let me know if you receive any pushback from Garrett's warriors. They're here to help, not hinder our efforts." Deanna's gaze met Ethan's, and she nodded in understanding. "Understood, Alpha. But while we're on the subject, I recommend we intensify our training. I think we need to push ourselves even harder." Ethan considered her words. The balance between protecting his people and keeping them prepared was a delicate one, but he trusted Deanna's judgment. "Very well," he agreed, his t
The steam from Milo's coffee rose lazily, twirling and dissipating like the thoughts that haunted him. He sat, hunching over his cup, lost in the memory of Kasia's face. It had been three weeks since he'd seen her with the Alpha King. The sight of them together only slightly exceeded the shock of finding her alive. Why was she with him? Didn't she know that being around him would put her in danger? Clearly, she didn't know or she didn't care. Milo wanted to tell her more about the situation instead of leaving it on such a bad note, but Milo knew not to linger. His gut twisted at the thought, but he knew he wasn't the only Hunter lurking around at the time. If they saw him talking to her, it would have blown his cover. He had to get away as quickly as possible, hoping she heeded his warning. "Coward," Milo muttered. He remembered watching from a distance when she almost fell off the rollercoaster. Milo knew it was going to happen but could do nothing about it. Thankfully, the Alph
Kasia stumbled backward, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth as it trickled from her nose. Gritting her teeth, she wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand and glared. The young man had a cocky grin on his face, clearly pleased with himself for landing a blow. "Let me at him," Deva, the wolf inside her, urged, her voice low and primal. Kasia could feel her anger within her as she approached the young man, her hazel eyes locked on his. "No. Remember, I'm supposed to be a lycan. They can't know about you," Kasia answered. "Hit him back harder, then," Deva growled. "Alright, come on then," he taunted, raising his fists and preparing for another attack. With a snarl, Kasia deftly dodged his attacks, moving with a grace and speed that only a werewolf could possess. She swiftly delivered a kidney shot, causing him to double over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, she pinned him to the ground, her knee pressing firmly against his chest. "Enough!" he ga
"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