Garrett's hungry kisses and eager touches stopped suddenly, only for him to take off his shredded shirt. Lily sighed dreamily at the sight of his large, muscular, tanned chest. She noticed the claw marks and frowned. "He hurt you," Lily said. "Worth it," Garrett said, allowing Lily to caress his chest only briefly before Garrett was on her again. There was a sense of need in the way he looked at Lily, in the way he kissed her and then her throat, almost as if he wanted to devour her. His passion was nothing like it was before. 'He's not holding back anymore. He and Berric are aligned as we are,' Dina chimed in briefly, taking Lily out of the moment. A light nip to her nipple brought her back and Garrett growled, "Tell Dina she'll have her chance with Berric but right now it's you and me." Garrett captured her lips again before Lily could respond. She couldn't help but smile. A part of her wanted this domination, possession. Lily wanted the taint of losing a mate off her. She
In the dimly lit hallways of his castle, Ethan's heavy steps echoed menacingly as he made his way to the war council room. He experienced a whirlwind of feelings, his rage over Adrian's betrayal simmering just below the surface. He was both perplexed and furious at the brazenness of the assault on Lily. Garrett was fortunate to arrive when he did, but it still enraged him. He wasn't as impenetrable as he thought. One of his most dependable and devoted warriors, Adrian had frequently stood by his side and guarded him and his family. Ethan was deeply confused as well as outraged to witness him turn against his own, especially to target Lily. The warriors he had called were already gathered in the council room as he entered, their faces a picture of worry and disbelief. Despite being skilled fighters who had faced danger numerous times, they felt helpless and lost in the current situation. It was impossible to miss the intensity on Ethan's face as he took his usual seat at the hea
"My Lord," Debra greeted as she entered Ethan's private chambers. He was engrossed in reviewing paperwork for the upcoming trial. Debra felt a mix of apprehension and determination. She had expected to meet with Lily before Ethan, so she was surprised when Ethan requested to speak with her first. Ethan's brow was furrowed in concentration, but he looked up as she approached. His expression softened at the sight of her, and a warm smile touched his lips. "Luna Debra," Ethan greeted her warmly, standing to welcome her. "Thank you for coming. I know that you really want to see your granddaughter first, but I need to take precautions before I allow you to do that." "Completely understandable," Debra responded, returning his smile. Her presence carried weight, and she couldn't ignore the unease that had been gnawing at her since she'd heard troubling rumors about Kenneth's plans for the day of Lily and Garrett's trial. "Then, in a show of good faith, I wish to tell you what I have hea
Matthew sat alone in the dimly lit corner of a shady bar, nursing his drink. His mind was in turmoil, and the bitter taste of jealousy gnawed at his heart. He knew what he felt was wrong, but he couldn't help it. The weak mate bond he shared with Lily had been causing him unbearable pain since the day he felt the unmistakable pull of Garrett's mark on her. It should have been him, and the realization that Lily was now Garrett's mate fueled a rage he could hardly contain. 'Yes, all of this is your fault. I hate that the Moon Goddess bonded us together. I wish for, I pray that I would just die,' Baldur growled within him. His voice had become fainter and fainter. Maintaining the mate bond was killing him, and Matthew knew that was what Baldur was trying to do, but his wolf's death would make Matthew less than a human. He couldn't allow it. He had to get Lily back. He had tried to accept it and reason with himself that this was fate, but every fiber of his being rebelled
"How did I get here? Lily thought to herself after opening her eyes to see the night sky. She knew that she was no longer in bed with Garrett but was lying on her back outside in a forest. Even though she was naked and exposed to the outside air, she felt oddly warm, comfortable, and at ease in her surroundings. The earthy smell of trees and leaves permeated the air like a thick blanket. A gentle, silvery light illuminated everything and cast a glow over the surroundings that appeared to be from another planet. Lily realized as she looked down that she was no longer in her adult form but had instead regressed to that of an infant, and she was currently being swaddled in a cozy bundle of blankets. "Am I dreaming? Dina?" Lily thought again, hoping Dina would respond, but she heard nothing. As she looked up, her eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion and wonder. A massive red wolf with fur the color of a deep, flaming crimson that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight stood in
Garrett listened intently, his fingers gently brushing her hair as she recounted the fragments of her dream, her voice quivering with emotion. When she had finished, he sighed, his gaze distant as if lost in thought. "Lily, that sounds like a deeply buried memory from your childhood. But why would it resurface now?" She shook her head, her mind still a whirlwind of emotions. "I don't know, Garrett. It's like something triggered it." "Do you think me marking you had something to do with it?" Garrett asked. "No, never. This felt like an outside force caused this to happen," Lily replied. "I can't believe my father lied about this. Why would he lie about this?" 'What else did he lie about it? What else is that man lying about? Is he even our father?' Dina growled within Lily. Garrett tried to keep his emotions from overwhelming him. This was supposed to be their moment. As soon as he marked Lily, he felt the mate's bond. All those feelings, his skin humming—the Moon Goddess
"I should punch you in the face for making me wait so long to make things right with her," Garrett growled as he walked into Ethan's office, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes crinkling with amusement. The history between him and Garrett was complex, a mixture of mentorship and friendship as he was part of the reason that Garrett had the confidence to walk out of the shadow of his father. "And risk everyone knowing about our relationship? No. That would've been an idiotic move, my friend." Their friendship had deepened after Garrett severed ties with his father's pack, seeking refuge and guidance from Ethan. It helped that most of their encounters in Garrett's youth had been positive. "You could've told me what you were planning to do, and don't act like you didn't want or didn't try to get Lily to choose you instead of me," Garrett sulked. "Of course, why wouldn't I? It would be stupid for me not to make a move on an unmar
"Are you sure?" Garrett asked. He didn't want to believe it to be so but Brandy did have wolfsbane. No sane werewolf or werefeline would ever grow any plant that would negatively impact their own kind. "I saw that curse carved into my father's chest. No one but them would say anything so horrid." The memory of that vile message etched into his father's lifeless body haunted his dreams for years. The memory of it made his jaw clench in anger. Garrett contemplated Ethan's words for a moment. "Not unless someone is trying to make us think it's hunters to get us off their trail." Before they could delve deeper into their discussion, there was a sharp knock at Ethan's door, breaking their concentration. Ethan's irritation was evident as he slammed his glass down on the counter. "Who the hell is it now?" His private doctor entered the room, his expression grave, and concern etched into his features. He handed Ethan a report, his voice laden with unease. "I've examined Adrian again,
"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