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,