SallyI observe Ryan’s motionless figure from the doorway, taking in his peaceful appearance. He looks so sweet. But I know that beneath his calm exterior, he is in agony. I can sense his pain through our mate bond. He needs blood, and I know it’s my responsibility to provide it for him, even if things are tense between us at the moment.A hand lands on my shoulder, and I whirl around to look down at Lydia. “Please don’t be mad at him,” her eyes dart to Ryan and then back to mine. “I know that he left you for an entire month, but...I think he made that decision only because he thought it was right.”“Agreed,” Lara says. She is leaning her back against the wall and shoots me a grin. “I hate to say it, Sally, but that man deeply loves you.”I frown. “If Ryan loved me, he wouldn’t have left me.”She laughs and shakes her head. “You’re so oblivious that it isn’t even funny anymore...”“I’m not oblivious,” I growl. “And what makes you so sure that he loves me?!”Lydia and Lara exchange a l
SallyFear that mirrors my own passes over Ryan’s face, and I hear him inhale. There is so much pain behind that sound, so much emotion in his eyes that it breaks me further.“You’re not dying, are you?” he asks in a low voice, scanning my face as though I’ve suddenly developed a deadly disease.It makes my smile grow. “No, I’m not dying,” I whisper, touching his pretty face. It’s a painful realization that it won’t change for years while my face will. I will growl old. I will develop wrinkles. I will die.Ryan wet his lips. “Then why are you telling me this?”“Because it’s an important conversation to have.”“It’s a painful one, too...” Ryan mutters.“I know,” I whisper, stroking the pad of my thumb over his cheekbones. “To live forever and never changing...I wonder if that’s a curse or a blessing?”“A curse,” Ryan answers without hesitation and leans in close enough so that we are nose-to-nose, forehead-to-forehead. His breath is hot on my skin. “I would rather die with you tomorrow
SallyMy neck stings a little when Ryan bites me, but his toxins soon wash the pain away. It feels...wonderful. I go entirely limp, breathing slowly while he drinks from me to regain his strength.After feeding, he kisses the spot and whispers, “I really needed that. Thank you.”I grin and scoot closer, snuggling into his chest. He smells just like my favorite shower gel, making me giggle. “You smell just like me. I wonder why?” I tease playfully.Ryan sighs. “I know! But it was the only option I had. You didn’t have any manlier options in your bathroom.”Another giggle slips out from my lips. “You’re so silly...”Ryan cuddles me back and kisses me on the top of my head. Everything feels fantastic...until I hear someone running up the stairs.“Sally?!”My eyes widen. “M-mom?!”The door to my room is opened without my mom bothering to give it a knock. I haven’t seen her or my dad in years, and I gape like a goldfish when they pause in the doorway.I don’t know who looks more shocked. M
SallyAfter breakfast, my parents decided to use one of the guestrooms to get some sleep. I’m grateful for that since another minute around, my mom would kill me. She has always been old-school and bad at adapting, but I didn’t think she would be THAT shocked to learn my mate is a hybrid and that our baby might be one, too.Ryan yawns behind me while I dump all of the dishes in the sink. “I’m so tired…”I laugh at his pretend problems. “Then go and take a nap.”“Hmm…”I roll my eyes at my mate and begin scrubbing. That’s when he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. His chin rests on my shoulder, and he murmurs in my ear, “Don’t you want to go upstairs and pick up where we left off? I still need to mark you so that you’re mine. Forever.”A shiver races down my spine, but I manage to reel in my excitement. “Give me five minutes.”He chuckles. “Five minutes? Ouch. I thought you would be in more of a hurry.”My lips curl into a smirk. “Oh, I am, but if I give you five
SallyHis eyes widen, but he doesn’t protest. Instead, he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. I feel a rush of power at his reaction, and a tingle spreads across my skin.I feel beautiful with the way he gazes at me. I might be pregnant and huge, but that somehow only makes me feel even more like a sexy, hot woman. My smile widens and I slowly place my hands on his chest, tracing them down his abs. His eyelashes flutter closed as a small groan escapes his lips, encouraging me to explore more.And I’m going to.My fingers dance along the waistband of his pants, and then I tug them down. Ryan lifts himself off the bed just enough to help me. Once they join my clothes on the floor, I straddle him again, feeling exposed in both my body and soul.“Sally,” Ryan says in a voice that tells me just how much he wants me. His red eyes are dark with desire; it’s an intoxicating sight.“Yes?” I whisper back and stand up from the couch. He looks surprised—until I’m between his legs and
Lara After a sweaty practice with the other warrior wolves in my pack, I wipe some sweat from my forehead with a towel. I’m glad that I’m not as tired as yesterday. It means my body is getting used to this, and that’s exactly what my pack needs. Parisa is a real threat, and Ashton has been training us every single day. So, yeah, getting stronger is the goal. “Oh my god, you’re burning up, Lara! Here, have some water,” Daphne says as she hands me my bottle. “Thanks.” I smile at the red-haired werewolf, swing my towel over my shoulder, and drink from the bottle. Daphne smiles back, and when my thirst is quenched, I’m so grateful for our newfound friendship. She is younger than me, but that doesn’t matter. We train well together, which is needed since Sally is too pregnant to fight, and Lydia…well, I don’t know where she is. “Ashton sure worked us to the bone today, huh?” Daphne asks. I chuckle. “He sure did.” Her smile widens, but not a word leaves her lips. I expect this to be
Lara“Can you give me another pillow?” Sally asks. Her pregnant belly looks ready to burst, and I quickly hand her another pillow for her poor back.“Here.”“Thank you,” she slides it behind her and then gives me a thoughtful look. “No offense, but you’ve had this wide-eyed look ever since you came home. Did something happen at the warrior practice?”An image of Alpha Ashton stroking my upper thigh flashes across my mind, and my cheeks turn molten hot. Sally is my best friend, but I couldn’t possibly tell her that her rotten ex-mate made me wet after practice. She would never forgive me, so I should keep it to myself.“N-no…”She laughs. “Lara, you’re terrible at lying, and is that a blush? Wow. I’ve never seen you blush before.”“No, I’m just…angry,” I’m not exactly lying. I still feel mortified about how my own body betrayed me earlier.“About?”Crap. What do I tell her? A half-truth?Sally is looking up at me with her big, doe-eyes, and I sigh heavily. “Your ex-mate is a jerk.”Her
Lara I inhale the smell of the bar. It stinks like sweat and alcohol, but I love it! The mood is great, and there are only thirty minutes left until I officially turn eighteen! Daphne raises her beer in a toast, calling out “To Lara!” and the rest of our group joins in with cheers and hoots. I can’t help but laugh as we clink glasses together. Celebrating my birthday with the pack girls is nice, but damn, I wish Sally weren’t pregnant so she could be here. Oh well, I can eat cake with her tomorrow and party tonight. The other girls from the pack are all here—even Daphne and a few others who had to use fake IDs to get in. Just as I take another sip of my beer, the entrance of the bar swings wide open, letting in a drift of cool air. Everyone’s heads turn to see who just walked in. I squint through the haze and dim lighting to spot a group of guys from our pack, their eyes scanning the room. My heart skips a beat as I recognize Edwin among them, the usually stoic werewolf now wearing
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