RyanI’m in love with Sally Fletcher.My heart hasn’t stopped racing since I left her bed this morning. She was so cute when she nestled up to me like a little kitten searching for warmth. It was all purely sweet and innocent...until she groped my butt like the secret little pervert she is. Not that I mind. I honestly find her attraction to me adorable. There is just something about how she looks at my pectoral muscles that makes me smile.I stare up at the ceiling, smiling until the reality of the situation crashes over me. What am I doing thinking about a girl when I have so many plans I must set into motion? I still haven’t found my mother’s crypt. I’ve been slacking off, which is highly unlike me. I should be stalking Ashton right now, finding him alone in an alley, and threatening him to tell me where he buried my mother after piercing a magical dagger through her chest.My mother was one of the four original vampires. She led large armies back when the vampires reigned...until t
SallyWhat would Ashton say if he knew his evil brother was helping me with my shopping errands and holding his daughter in his arms?I silently push the empty stroller forward and glance up at Ryan. He feels so much taller than me now that I’m in flip-flops, and my heart races when I hear him talking to Gwyneth.“You want this elephant?” he asks her. When Gwyneth wrinkles her nose at the stuffed toy, he takes her to another shelf. “How about a wolf then? Would you like a stuffed animal that looks like a wolf?”Gwyneth laughs and Ryan kisses her forehead before picking down the toy. He is so gentle with her, something which hasn’t gone unnoticed. I swear every single lady in the store has stopped in their tracks more than once to check him out. I can’t say I blame them. My ovaries hurt from watching him with Gwyneth, tending to her like a perfect father figure. His smile, breaking now and then to reveal a dimple on his right cheek, only adds to his charm. He stows the stuffed wolf i
SallyWhen I come home with Gwyneth, Ashton is preparing dinner in the kitchen. It’s odd seeing him prepare food from scratch, but it’s not the strangest thing that has happened. Ever since Gwyneth was born, he has been trying to be more family-oriented.It’s actually admirable. I still hate what he forced me to do a year ago, but I like that he is trying to be the father Gwyneth deserves. Therefore, I will bottle up my resentment and encourage him to keep trying.“What’s for dinner?” I ask as I set down Gwyneth in the baby playground designed for werewolves. There are lots of toys she can chew on, and she immediately gets to work.“Pasta,” Ashton tosses me a look over his shoulder. “It will be just you and I. Blair is at a friend’s house.”I almost choke and wonder if I heard him correctly. “Y-you want me to eat by the table...with you?” It feels like it’s been years since Ashton treated me like an actual person, so color me surprised.“Yeah?” It almost looks like he is blushing, but
Sally“I’m going to get straight to the point, Sally,” Evelyn says and sets down her coffee cup on the table. “There will come a day when Ashton realizes that he is still in love with you, and eventually, he will leave Blair. For you.”Her words rattle me and awaken this sudden anger that I can’t quite explain. I guess it’s because I get the feeling Evelyn thinks this news will make me happy. But they don’t. Ashton threw me away as if I were nothing. He rejected me and got rid of our child, and for what? To be with a woman who neglects him and their child?“Why are you telling me this?” I ask her calmly, even though I’m far from calm on the inside.Evelyn widens her eyes to stare at me and had she not been wearing so much makeup, I would probably see her blushing. Her reaction baffles me. I’ve always liked Evelyn and considered her smart, so I find it so shocking that she doesn’t seem to understand my anger.“I...I don’t understand,” she says. “I thought this would make you happy?”“H
SallyAfter my little chat with Evelyn, I’m storming up the stairs to my room. My head is spinning, and my emotions are all over the place: hurt, confused, and burning. I need to calm the fuck down, and there are only two things that can help me right now: a bottle of strong tequila combined with an old episode of Grey’s Anatomy playing on my TV.I speed up my pace but stop in my tracks when the bathroom door swings out in front of me. Ashton comes out of the room, newly showered, with only a dark blue towel wrapped around his narrow waist.He stands there, his wet hair sticking to his forehead while droplets of water trail down his well-sculpted chest. My heart instantly begins to race as memories of our past flood back despite my best efforts to keep them at bay.“Sally,” he says quietly. There’s a different kind of weight to the way he says my name this time around. It carries a sense of familiarity, longing, and perhaps regret.I swallow hard, shaping my face into a reassuring smi
SallyPainful tears run down my face as Ashton’s confession plays on repeat inside my head: “I’m still in love with you, Sally.”I thought hearing those words would make me happy, but instead, all I feel is sadness.How could he say those words so easily and expect me to take him back? After everything he put me through?! I also don’t believe he was ever in love with me. Because if he loved me, then why did he leave me? How could he let such horrible things happen to me?TAP TAP TAPDespite my sadness, I turn around to glare over my shoulder at Ryan. He is standing on my balcony, and I roll my eyes. Can’t a girl be miserable in peace?!“Go away, Ryan,” I say and pick up another tissue to blow my nose with. There is a little pile in front of me. Disgusting, I know, but I’m too lazy to fetch the bin.“But you’re sad...” I can hear the pout in Ryan’s voice, and I almost crumble. Almost. “How could I just leave you?”“I don’t want you to see me like this.” I’m not lying. My eyes are puff
SallyThe next morning, I wake up in an empty bed. There is no sign of Ryan, but I’m not sad about that. He must have decided to leave before the guard shift, and instead of compelling the new guards, I guess he just went home.KNOCK KNOCKI look at my door with an arched eyebrow. “Yes?”“It’s me,” Ashton says, sounding awkward. An image of him staring down at the floor crosses my mind. “I was wondering if you...if you wanted to come and train with the young werewolves this morning?”I turn to stone. Out of all the things he could say to me, this isn’t what I expected. I’m the pack’s Omega, and I can’t shape-shift. Therefore, I’ve never been allowed to train with the other wolves. Ashton’s father himself said it would be a waste of time to let me practice combat. So why is Ashton giving me the option now? Does he think this will somehow win me over?Regardless of what my ex-mate is up to, I’m not about to turn down his offer. Even if I can’t shape-shift, I might be able to pick up on
SallyIt’s dark when Lara and I arrive at Eric’s house, and I’m actually shocked at how many people there are. But I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. The Claw pack controls a massive territory, so these parties are one of the only ways for everyone to get together outside of training.“Are you excited?” Lara asks.I give her a shy smile. “I actually am.”I don’t tell her this is my first time being invited to a party. I’m sure she can already guess since I’m not exactly popular as the pack’s weak, little Omega.“I don’t know what we should do first!” Lara looks around excitedly. “What do you wanna do?”I’m as lost as she is. The air is filled with the smell of hot dogs grilling, music is blaring from hidden speakers, and the occasional splash from people jumping into the massive swimming pool hits my ears.“Ooh, I have an idea,” Lara grins. “We should find some guys to flirt with so that they will team up with us for the chicken fight tournament later.”“The chicken fight tournamen
LaraMere minutes before my ceremony is about to start, I’m grimacing at my appearance in the mirror. My strawberry blonde hair is gathered in a braid that cascades over one shoulder. It gives me a tame look that I’m not sure if I like. I’m a warrior, not a beautiful and laidback Luna.“You’re so gorgeous,” Lydia says from behind me. She is the one who did my hair and makeup. It’s been done skillfully, and I’m grateful, but I can’t help but feel like I’m looking at a stranger in the mirror. A stranger who is too beautiful and pretty to be me. Even my otherwise wild, green eyes look tame, and I’m not sure if I like that. Everyone knows I’m a wild card, not a dainty damsel. Yet, the look is appealing in its own way. It’s a version of me I never thought I’d see - a version I must embrace for the sake of today’s ceremony.“I look...not like myself,” I comment, tracing my fingers over the smooth line of my cheekbone, over the glittering rogue or whatever it’s called that Lydia has expertl
LaraTelling Ashton that I’m willing to become his Luna made him so happy that he kissed me in front of Ryan and Sally without a care in the world. It’s wild how he has evolved from a cold-hearted Alpha to the sweet and loving mate that he is today. And in such a short time!“I’m going to shower,” Ashton announces as I’m brushing my hair in front of the big mirror inside of his room. I don’t even turn his way. “Okay.”He doesn’t move. “Don’t you want to…join me?”I finally look his way and take in his more than desirable body. He is dirty from the war, but the blood and grime somehow only end up making him look sexier. I smirk at him, admiring the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Maybe,” I tease. “If you promise not to get too handsy with me.”He chuckles. “Too handsy? Since when is that a problem? You like being worshipped.”“I do, don’t I?”“Mhm, so what’s the real issue?”I grimace. “I guess I’m nervous about tomorrow.”“Don’t be. The ceremony will be fun and more like a party th
Lara“I can’t believe it’s over,” Ryan says as we follow him inside Ashton’s mansion. “Yeah, it sure feels surreal,” Ashton agrees as he grabs a towel from one of the shelves in the hallway. We are all still naked, but that isn’t the reason for the knot on my belly.I’m actually more nervous about meeting Sally than I was about facing Parisa and her army. She is my best friend, yet I haven’t told her that Ashton and I are together. “Hey, you,” Ryan places a hand on my shoulder as if reading my mind. “Don’t worry about my mate. She already knows that you and Ashton are mates, and she isn’t angry.”I blink up at him. “She’s not?”“No,” he grins. “Sally and I are happily mated, and we have a newborn son now—she sure as hell doesn’t love Ashton anymore and is probably happy that he has found his mate.” Ryan’s words make me feel more at ease, and I shiver when I feel Ashton hugging me from behind. He nibbles at my neck before whispering, “You did good out there.”I smile and lean back i
LaraInstinct takes over, and I dart to the left, watching as the arrow streaks past and buries itself into a tree behind me. Now, who the hell is the bastard behind that attack? I could have fucking died!With my heart drumming inside my chest, I lock eyes with Harri. He is wearing his mask, yet I can tell he is grinning behind it as he pulls out another arrow from his quiver. My eyes narrow. I can’t let this crazy idiot shoot again. I’m convinced the first shot was only to play around with me, while the second is going to be one meant to kill me. ‘Lydia!’ I shout through the mind-link. ‘Can I get a little help with this pureblood over here?’Lydia’s response is immediate. ‘Hold on, I’m coming!’In the next moment, she joins the fray. In a blur of fur and deadly grace, Lydia launches herself at Harri. Her claws flash in the dark as she aims for Harri’s bow. In a fluid movement, Lydia knocks it from his grasp with a growl that shakes the very air around them.Harri retaliates quickl
LaraEven after an hour has passed, I’m still bathing in the afterglow of the sex I had with Ashton. We are both naked in the field, careless and free. I’ve long forgotten about Parisa and her vampire army marching in on our pack’s territory, but I’m about to get a wake-up call. Soon, I hear wolves howling in the background—wolves from our pack that are telling us enemies are approaching. Ashton immediately stands up. “Fucking shit. Parisa and Harri are here and…fuck…what do I do? I want to fight alongside my pack, but they still haven’t seen the new me.”I stand up with him. “Don’t worry. They will accept you as their Alpha, even if you’re a dragon now.”“Are you sure about that?”I shrug. “Well, dragon fire is able to melt vampires, and I think we could both agree that your pack wants to live, so…yeah. I think they will be fine with your new self.”He nods before asking, “And what about you? I know that we have marked each other and all that, but… you’re not freaked out about me be
AshtonI wake up in a field, disoriented and bloated. It looks like my eight-pack is trying to push its way from my stomach. And wait, why the hell am I naked? What happened yesterday?"Oh great, you're finally awake," Lara comments from the ground. She looks extremely tired and is practically plastered to the ground."What the hell happened to you?" I ask, half amused by how her eyes trail up my body in pure appreciation. "I fought with a very stubborn and massive dragon," she replies and sighs. "He wanted to eat every burger inside of McDonald's, and I couldn't stop him."Is she high or something?I snort. "A dragon?""Uh-huh, you.""Me?""You were the dragon…you are the dragon.""What are you talking about?"Her eyes narrow, and I'm baffled when her expression turns into pure irritation. "Wow. You really don't remember?" "Remember what?" I'm lost…"You died, Ashton. You were murdered by Parisa and her vampire army, but somehow, you came back to life as a dragon. I've been taking c
LaraAfter Sally and Ryan has taken a look at Ashton, we are sent to a barn. Ashton is way too big to sleep anywhere else and according to Ryan, he needs to fully grow before he can take the shape of a human again. If he did it now, he would be a child, and that would be awkward, so I won't force him to shape-shift until he is ready. "Alright, big guy," I flick on the light in the barn and gesture at the big empty space. "You won't be cramped in here, and look, there is plenty of space for you to grow!"'This is home?' Ashton's voice echoes in my head, filled with innocent curiosity."Not quite, but it's going to be our temporary home until you are fully grown and ready to shift back," I explain, ruffling the scales on his snout. "Plus, I don't think you'd fit through the front door of the mansion."He gives a grunt of agreement and swivels his head around inspecting the barn. High ceilings supported by dark wooden beams extend above us. There is hay everywhere and Ashton circles arou
Lara After managing to convince my dragon friend to stay behind, I shift back into my wolf form and follow the scent of a nearby herd of deer. Their smell is fresh in the air and it doesn’t take long to find them. The hunt is swift. With the enhanced speed and strength of a wolf, I manage to quickly take down a large buck, biting deep into its side. After making sure the deer has passed, I drag it back towards my dragon friend, leaving a trail of scattered leaves in my wake. When I return, I see the dragon shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. His eyes light up as he sees me dragging the deer. ‘Food!’ I shape-shift back into a human. “Yup, feel free to dig in—” The dragon rushes past me without warning, gobbling down the entire thing at the speed of light. His tail moves from side to side after he is done, and I see his back muscles expanding as he grows larger. “Um... Did you even taste that?” I ask him, baffled at the speed at which he devoured the deer. ‘More?’ He
LaraLater the same evening, my dragon friend is eating some fish I caught in the river. He is tiny and I doubt he will finish everything I caught, but at least he won’t go starving.“Easy there, little guy,” I tell him while wandering deeper into the cave we found. “I don’t want you to eat too much and explode.”The dragon doesn’t even look up from the fish, and I giggle before shape-shifting back into a wolf. Since I don’t have any clothes, it’s more comfortable sleeping as a wolf, and this way, I can also keep my new friend warm.I find a place in the corner and close my eyes. I’m sure my dragon friend will join me soon…When I awake, the first thing I note is how peculiarly snug I am. The cave that was once hollow and vast now feels oddly close, as though the walls have folded inwards to encroach upon us during our slumber. Bewildered, I raise my head and look around, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering in from the entrance of the cave. It takes me a moment to comprehend