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
SallyI find myself humming a tune softly to myself. “Well... I must admit, I have quite the fondness for ice cream, especially when there’s a whole year’s supply at stake,” I try to lighten the mood with a joke, but it falls flat even to my own ears. Ashton responds with a casual shrug, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.“Well then, it looks like we can’t afford to lose,” he remarks.As I glance up at him, a wave of nervousness washes over me. It’s almost ridiculous how strongly it affects me. I mentally scold myself and wish I could physically smack some sense into myself, maybe with a baseball bat to the face. My heart really needs to calm down—Ashton is my ex, for crying out loud.“Let’s go this way,” I say, taking the lead towards the pool.Ashton snickers quietly behind me, likely because he’s been here countless times before. He doesn’t comment on that, though, and silently follows my lead. I can feel his gaze fixed on my back, and I wonder if he is trying t
SallyThe further I walk away from the party and the loud music, the easier it gets to breathe. I have no desire to be around Ashton or Lara since I have no idea if she is a real friend or if Ashton told her to befriend me.Lydia and Andie, however, are talking to me out of their own free will...well, Andie is really shy, while her sister, Lydia, is very bubbly and energetic. She hasn’t stopped talking about clothes this entire time and only falls silent when the guy leading us hushes her.“Shh!” He turns around and grins, meeting everyone’s eyes before whispering in a spooky tone, “We are here.”He steps aside, revealing a hidden entrance that’s covered with overgrown vines and shrubs. It looks like an old metal door, rusted at the corners, nearly camouflaged amongst the flora. His hand reaches out to noisily push it open, and we are greeted by musty air that makes some people cough.People wave with their hands in front of their faces while I take a step forward. There’s a set of na
SallyAs I stare up at the vampiric woman, I’m hit with both a sense of dread and admiration. She is truly a sight to behold, beautiful and perfect, with blonde hair and a face that looks like it could belong in a magazine.What truly haunts me, however, is her uncanny resemblance to Ryan. They both possess an unsettling level of perfection, and I silently gasp.Could this be his mother?!“So thirsty...” The woman croaks. “Why are there only werewolves here? I want real food…human blood… you’re all useless to me…but I suppose it’s still fun to watch you die.”She releases a wicked chuckle before her body contorts and cracks as she lunges at her next victim: a helpless guy who can do nothing but scream in terror.“N-no, please!”He tries to fight back, but her supernatural strength pushes him against the cold brick wall, her fangs sinking into his neck for a fresh feeding.There is nothing he can do.He might be a werewolf, but his desperate struggles do nothing, and his screams are si
SallyAs I struggle to breathe, I notice something odd—something is running through the forest at an incredible speed. It runs faster and faster until I hear it snarl like a werewolf. Then, without a trace of hesitation, it jumps at the woman and tackles her to the ground, forcing her to release me.Gasping, I clutch my throat, coughing and sputtering for air. My vision gradually returns as I watch the figure wrestle with the vampire woman. It’s a werewolf, but not just any werewolf—it’s Ryan.“My, oh, my, isn’t this perfect?!” The vampire woman laughs wickedly as she easily kicks Ryan into a nearby tree. “Mother and son reunited. Have you missed me, Ryan?”The malicious glee in her voice is terrifying, yet she doesn’t even bat an eye when Ryan grits his teeth and lunges at her again. His strikes are vicious, claws extended like deadly knives, but she is far too strong. Her laughter echoes through the night as she dodges and parries each of his attempts to harm her.“Shame,” she says.
SallyA low rumble shakes the very ground underneath me, causing me to fall flat on my butt. I’m unsure what Lydia is doing in the background, but I can’t take my eyes off Ryan. His red, inhuman eyes dig into mine as his massive head lowers. I’m perfectly calm...until I can no longer handle it and make a sniffing sound out of pure fear.I’ve never seen a dragon before, and Ryan truly looks like a beast. I’m shaking to the core, but when Ryan notices this, any trace of amusement is replaced with concern as he stalks over to me like an oversized dog.‘Don’t be afraid of me,’ his voice is louder than usual inside my head, and it feels like an earthquake has hit the forest when he lies down on his stomach. His snout is mere inches away from me now, and there is a sad look in his eyes. ‘Never me...I would never hurt you.’Even though I’m still scared, I scoot closer to his snout with a small smile on my lips. “I know... I’m just being silly,” I whisper, reaching out a shaky hand to touch h
RyanWhen I wake up and see Jackson’s ugly mug grinning down at me, I wish I had never opened my eyes to begin with. Everything hurts, and the worst part is that I have a feeling my roommate is the one who carried me back home after that vicious fight I had against my own mother.I sigh heavily. “Don’t tell me you were the one that carried me home. I don’t think my pride can handle it.”Jackson chuckles. “I wish it were, but no...the one who carried you is the same snoring little thing glued to your side.”My eyes travel to the slight weight on top of me, and I’m surprised to see Sally’s dark, tousled hair spread over my naked chest. She has one leg draped over my waist, and I have to fight a chuckle at how tight she is holding me. Her fingers are digging into my skin with such determination its as if she is scared I will run away.“Fierce little thing,” Jackson comments. “She stood up against her own Alpha to protect you until me and the rest of our friend group arrived.”I arch an e
SallyAwakening as a werewolf comes with a lot of consequences. Never in my entire life have I been in heat, but when I wake up, I can’t deny the pulsating need between my legs. It feels like I’m about to die. My skin is burning, and what makes everything worse is that I’m lying on top of Ryan.“Fuck...” I hiss, not knowing what to do.My handsome crush is fast asleep in the bed that we are sharing, but he isn’t wearing any clothes, and I groan when my palms stroke over his chiseled abs. His body is a work of art…damn. How am I supposed to ignore my dripping wet pussy? I need sex!As I pull away, my eyes roam over him. His chest rises and falls peacefully, oblivious to the raging storm inside me. He is so handsome and perfect—a Greek god carved from marble. The sunlight cast on his golden skin only makes him look even more irresistible, and I bite my lower lip. Is it possible to resist him? His sculpted jawline, the stubble on his cheeks, his thick, dark lashes resting against his che
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