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
Lara I keep my gaze locked on Ashton, waiting for him to break the silence. When he doesn’t, I take the initiative and ask, “So, where’s my rejection?” He stares at me with a look of confusion. “Rejection?” “Yeah,” I reply, growing frustrated. Is he seriously going to act like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about? Why is he pretending to be so clueless? “We clearly don’t get along, so where’s my rejection? Just spit it out already.” His eyes wander over my face, and I hate how my heart somersaults in response. Even though I dislike Ashton as a person, I can’t deny how attractive he is. He is wearing a simple black shirt, but it hugs his muscular physique and leaves little room to fantasize about what he might look like naked. I gulp at that and lift my eyes to his, but that doesn’t make the situation any easier. His blue eyes are scanning me with an inscrutable look so intense that breathing becomes harder. “Who said I was going to reject you?” His question hangs in the air, ma
LaraWe exit the bar, the noise of laughter and clinking glasses slowly replaced by the quiet hum of the city nightlife. The air is cool against my skin, but I can still feel the heat from Ashton’s hand on my lower back, guiding me towards the sleek black limousine parked on the curb. The street lights cast an eerie glow on everything, turning ordinary things into shadows and silhouettes. I can see our reflection in the car’s tinted windows as we move closer.The driver opens the door for us with a polite nod. Ashton climbs in first, then reaches out his hand to help me inside.I don’t take it.I step into the limousine without his assistance, putting some distance between Ashton and myself. I need to keep things under control; I can’t let him think he has won me over completely.Ashton gives me an amused look as he stretches out his long legs, arms resting casually on the backrest. His glinting eyes never leave mine as he leans back in his seat.“Feeling nervous?” He teases lightly,
LaraHis fingers pause in their exploration, and for a moment, an uncomfortable silence descends between us. Then he chuckles softly - not a derisive laugh, but one full of understanding and perhaps even tenderness.“Good,” he says simply. His lips kiss my neck once more as he places his hand over my heart, feeling its erratic rhythm. “I will take care of you.”With that said, there’s no turning back. The seductive promise behind his words fuels the flame burning within me into an inferno. My need for him is all-consuming, overpowering any hesitation or anxiety that plagued me before.His touch dives deeper, eliciting gasps from me that turn into moans as pleasure sears through me in white-hot waves.“This is what you want?” He asks huskily in my ear as another wave crashes over me.It isn’t a question that needs answering, though. He already knows I’m in deeper pleasure—I’m squirming in his lap, and my wetness is all over his hands and his expensive, black jeans. I’m vulnerable, nake
LaraWhen I step out of the car, I almost stumble over my own feet, which isn’t surprising. After Ashton made me come with only the help of his hand, I downed an entire bottle of wine all by myself. And since werewolves don’t stay drunk for long, I also had a few ciders to maintain the buzz.“Need my help?”I glance up at Ashton as he exits the car. Unlike me, he didn’t indulge in more alcohol during our ride to his mansion. However, this doesn’t mean he is a saint. The bastard didn’t stop me from drinking more. If anything, he watched with intense curiosity, much like how he is looking at me now.“I’m fine,” I tell him as I try to stand straight. I’m wearing high heels so it isn’t easy, though. My arms are spread on either side of me for balance, so I probably look like a penguin.Ashton chuckles with his hands deep in his pockets. I kind of hate the look he is giving me, like he wants to devour me. It honestly frightens me. This man is done with romance. He is done with trying to ge
LaraAshton’s lips curl by the corners. “Is that an invitation?”“What do you think?”He chuckles. “There she is—the girl without a filter, but don’t worry—” he gets up from the chair. “Your words will be replaced by moans soon enough.”With a smirk, he walks over to the edge of my bed, pulling his shirt over his head in one swift motion. His tattooed torso is on display for me, and I can’t help but admire how his muscles flex with each movement. He crawls over my legs, his hot gaze never leaving mine. The look of desire in his eyes has me gasping for air. I’m captivated by him, and my heart beats like a war drum when his face is between my legs.“Take off your panties and get rid of the covers, Lara. If you want this, you can’t keep hiding from me.”With trembling fingers, I pull my underwear down, the cotton fabric sliding over my knees and down to my feet. I kick it away, feeling bare and exposed under his intense gaze. The duvet is next, and as I push it away, a cool rush of air m
LaraI’m trembling as I walk down the staircase. I can hear Sally and Ryan laughing inside the kitchen. They have probably made breakfast for me already, and guilt gnaws at me.What happened on the night of my birthday has changed everything. I’m a slut now. No matter how hot and handsome he was in my room yesterday, I shouldn’t have slept with my best friend’s ex-mate. It was wrong.…or was it?Sally is perfectly happy with Ryan. He is her second chance mate, just like I’m Ashton’s second chance mate. So, is it really a crime for me to be drawn to him? He is also my Alpha—I’m naturally drawn to him.“Lara?” Sally calls my name. “Do you want pancakes? There are some left.”I walk inside the kitchen, and my heart thuds inside my chest. Sally isn’t a mind-reader, so she won’t figure out what’s going on unless I tell her, but her mate…My eyes meet the red ones belonging to Ryan. He shoots me a friendly smile, and under normal circumstances, I would grin like the Cheshire Cat himself. I’
Ashton I don’t know who I am anymore. Karma has eaten me up and spit me out alive, and the person left is a stranger, even in my own eyes. I used to be so strong and confident—now I’m a ghost of the man I used to be. If I ever were a man at all... I sigh and rub my eyes under the shower jet. I’ve made so many mistakes this year. I rejected my first mate and forced her to have an abortion. My reason is so stupid. I thought it was what my father would have wanted—it probably was, but that shouldn’t have mattered. Sally’s position as the pack’s Omega shouldn’t have mattered. I shouldn’t have destroyed everything we had simply because I thought our child wasn’t worthy of becoming the next Alpha. I’m such a coward… Then, as if those mistakes weren’t enough, I found Blair—a strong werewolf my father would have liked. We had a baby, and even though she drank and was busy destroying herself during our last time together, it was fine because I loved our baby, Gwyneth. She changed me and ma
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