AMELIA For the first time since we arrived at Tahoe City, we finally got a chance to go out and see some tourist spots. The view from the gondola was spectacular.“Did you know Ryden came looking for me that night?” “Yes,” Ren answered with certainty. I stared in disbelief. So, Ryden was telling the truth. “Do you expect an apology from me for wiping off the trail and your scent?” “Hell no. Thanks.” I kissed him on the cheek. “This is actually amazing,” Theia said as she enjoyed the view. “Yup, it is.” “So, are you going to talk to Ryden and treat him nicely?” “I treat him like an alpha, Theia. He deserves it. He’s a good alpha and doesn’t take advantage of people.” “Except—” Ren elbowed her who was typing something on his phone. “What was that for, Kazeshi?” she complained. “If you’re referring to his wild nights with Nora, yes, I know. Honestly, it hurts knowing they had a thing before I can even kiss my mate.” “But you’re his forever, and that should count. You shoul
RYDEN “You know the rules. No weapons, no clawing, and this is a sport. No personal grudges. You only get one warning, or you lose. Understood?” Everyone, young and old, and all genders gathered at the ground for our fighting events. The area was a small football field with benches and lights, just located in the backyard of the pack house. I could feel the excitement and anxiousness coming from the fighters for tonight. I didn’t compete anymore since I became an alpha. It would be unfair to my opponent. “Now let’s welcome our guests from White Moon and Night Stalker tonight.” Everyone applauded. Amelia and her friends were also present. It was not new to her. In fact, she had seen her brother fight before, and she knew the rules. Women category had less time than men. “All fighters are posted on the board. Our first fighters for tonight. Reede and Landon.” The excitement and cheers were off the roof. “You can start betting before we start, guys. The bet is just for fun. This
AMELIA I’d been humiliated in the worst way possible, bullied for my features, and my body size, but I’d never let someone punch me on purpose just to hide who I was. One thing my Sensei taught me I wished he never did was not to show off what I was true. Let them be surprised, but right now, I still couldn’t surprise Nora. It was frustrating. One of the few rules of fights in this ring was not to use the power or shift and claw someone’s eyes out. So I took her punches. It hurt so fucking much. I heard gasps from the crowd and grunts of satisfaction that their betted fighter got the best of me. “Get this bitch.” Yes, we didn’t use a mouthguard because it wasn’t necessary. It could get bloody sometimes, but everyone knew when to stop unlike Nora here who expected me to lose tonight, which was not surprising because I barely threw punches and kicks. I was thrown down to the ground with a thud. Gasping, I arched my back. My wolf was in chaos inside me, urging me to wolf out. I kne
AMELIA“We’re having a party right now. Come on.” He gestured towards the door. “What? Really?” I asked in disbelief. “It’s Theia’s idea when she heard Nora was going to celebrate for punching you.” “Oh, I see. Be careful with her. She might be small, but she’s dangerous.” I walked out of the washroom. The party hadn’t started but the DJ had already assembled his equipment. “How did you pull this off?” “We got friends from the rage and free booze from Knight and Califf.” Within thirty minutes, the dance floor was filled with raging and horny werewolves. The music was too loud, but everyone seemed to have fun. “Am!” Theia called me from the center. She had Ren, Maddie, Seven, and Walker with her. “Come over here and dance with us!” “Look at her, she’s already making friends.” I couldn’t help but smile. “You owe me a dance, Amelia!” Walker yelled even if he didn’t have to. Werewolves had enhanced hearing than humans. “I’m gonna hang him to a tree,” Ryden said. I didn’t know if
RYDEN My heart jackhammered in my chest. My eyes started glowing, and I almost shifted. “What the fuck!” I jolted up to the loud siren in my ears. Then my bed shook as if someone jumped on it. I groaned in annoyance as the sweet fruity scent assaulted my senses. “Wakey wakey, Alpha! Your masters are here!” “What the hell are you doing, Amelia?” I growled, covering my sensitive ears with the pillow as the siren continued. It must be coming from her phone. “Shut that fucking thing off.” Everyone knew I could be aggressive and feral if I didn’t get enough sleep, and nobody had ever tried to piss me off by waking me up unless it was a matter of a life-and-death situation. “Hey! Your training starts now. Do you want to save the world? Then get up and start with your punctuality, Alpha!” She raised her voice, clearly annoyed. “Fuck! I barely slept.” “Everyone didn’t get enough sleep after the party you threw. So do I, but here I am. Ren and I woke up an hour earlier than you. So you
AMELIA “Son, what’s this rumor I heard that you and Nora have broken up?” I instantly recognized that voice. This couldn’t be. I stopped behind Ryden’s office’s door before I could knock. I was supposed to ask him if he had updates on Zarah’s research of a mystery burned page, but it seemed that I was the one who was getting updates on his relationship. “I don’t mean to be rude, but Nora and I had an understanding before we got into that brief relationship. We both knew we were not mates and what we had was going to end,” Ryden said calmly. I knew it was bad to eavesdrop, but I was curious about the man with Ryden, now that he mentioned Nora, it verified my initial hunch. Alec Webster, Nora’s father owned a big company in the city. “Look, son. I like you. I like you to be my future son-in-law, always has been before you even became an alpha. Nora loves you, Ryden. If you’re not ready to settle down, it’s fine. You can fool around with that girl who just returned, I don’t know her n
RYDEN “Amelia!” The line cut off. I looked down at Ren’s phone screen for a second trying to process what had just happened, who attacked her, and why. “Ryden, what did she say?” I stared at Ren, looking for the right word to say. I couldn’t find any. I gave his phone back. “Amelia is in trouble.” “I’ll go and find her. Where is she?” “She’s on her way back.” He left before I could stop him. Theia followed suit, and I felt so stupid and useless. “Zeph?” I scanned the living room where the guys watched football. “Hey, are you looking for me?” Zeph came quickly. “Yeah.” I went to the back of the staircase and pushed the lockdown button. Since I lost men in that black virus, I spent a huge amount of money on security, including CCTV around the parameters. I would find out who attacked Amelia. It was only a matter of time, and he would pay for it, severely. “What’s going on?” Zeph asked when everyone stopped what they were doing. When the entire house went silent, I went into a
AMELIA “What the hell is wrong with you? He offered you to join back his pack, why aren’t you jumping into it?” Theia was more excited than me to be back in the pack, but she didn’t know why I didn’t want to. I blew out a breath and sipped my water. “I have reasons.” “Wow. That must be more important than being with Ryden. I’m actually beginning to like that guy. He’s hot and cool. He may want to spread you and eat you for his dinner, but he’s patient for an alpha.” She smiled wickedly. “Geez, T.” I rolled my eyes as I continued jabbing against the pad. It may sound ridiculous, but I felt my heart just pumped hard. “I have eyes and ears and I put them to good use. You should do it sometimes. He’s definitely hard on you, Am. The mating bond must have been driving him insane. You’re a lucky gal that he hasn’t grabbed you, thrown you over his shoulder like a potato sack, and taken you home with him, and Goddess knows what he could do to you when it’s just the two of you.” “You’re i
AMELIAThree years laterEnochian Institute “Okay, bud. Are you ready?” Ryden towered at his son as he tried to prepare him for his first day of school. “No, Dad. Please, don’t call me buddy or bud anymore. I’m six years old. Alex is fine.” I looked at them and tried hard not to grin. When Ryden saw my smile, I looked away. “You will always be my boy, so I can call you bud or buddy until you get a girlfriend or have kids on your own.” “Mom, I need help here. I want to be like every kid at the institute.” When he gave me this puppy-eyes look, the same look he gave me when he wanted to be with his Uncle Ren or Uncle Drak. I knelt before him as I fixed his coat. Alex was carrying a blue backpack. I looked right into his blue-green eyes. Every time I looked at him, he always reminded me of his father. “My love, listen to me. You grow up so fast. Me and your dad still see you like our two-year-old boy. That’s why Dad still calls you buddy, and it’s actually cool that you and Dad ar
AMELIA I still cried whenever I felt alone. I still cried to sleep knowing he was gone because he wanted me to live. The feeling of losing someone I loved hit differently. It felt like I lost a part of me, a part of my soul. I woke up to the blinding light streaming from the opened window. Or at least I felt like I just woke up when the image of my father appeared before me. “Dad?” I sat up on the bed. I was still sleeping in the same bed I shared with Lucius. “Why did you let it happen? Why did you accept his deal? Now I’m all alone.” “You’re not alone, Amelia.” I wiped the first tear that fell on my cheek. “I died twice. You should have let me die. I can’t. I can’t take it anymore. Lucius was a good man. He had a lot of things to live for.” “And you don’t?” he asked me calmly. “I know life isn’t fair, but I don’t deserve another chance. I would have swapped places with him. These people need their alpha.” “Amelia.” He stood before me. “He accomplished his mission in life. H
RYDEN The moment I received a call from Drak, I knew something terrible had happened. He couldn’t hide the sadness in his voice. I quickly asked help from Zarah to send me to the Blood Moon Pack. Every last member of Lucius’ pack was around. His compound was crowded with the people who loved him, who believed in his cause, and the people he saved and had given a second chance. As I entered the house, a howl of mourning echoed from the forest. It was heart-wrenching. I didn’t only feel extremely sad about losing a great alpha, but he was also a savior and a hero, and I was proud to call him a friend. “This is so unfair.” Amelia ran into me. She looked like she’d been crying. She really looked like a mess, with wet cheeks, and red eyes and nose. “This can’t be happening.” “I’m so sorry, my love.” I took her in my arms. I knew my presence wouldn’t help the fact that Lucius was gone, but I was hoping I could somehow help ease the pain in her chest. “He’s gone, Ryden. He’s gone.” She
AMELIAIf this was the last day we had together, then I would make the best of it. I couldn’t fathom a life without him, my hero, who sacrificed everything so I could live another day. He was the true savior, not me. He was the true leader, the greatest alpha I’d ever met. He deserved that recognition, yet, here he was, waiting until he let go of his last breath and succumbed to death.It was unfair. Life was so fucked up and unfair. “Maybe you should give me an heir. I wanna have a mini you, please?” I wiped my tears away. “For that, I might be able to forgive myself. Then I’m going to tell him the story of how amazing and brave his father was, his sacrifices for this world, and how much we love each other, and show him our photos together.” “I will give you everything, my love. If we have a son, I want you to teach him to be a good man and respect and treat Ryden as his father. If we have a girl, tell her, that her father will always be watching her. Tell them their father loves t
AMELIA Lucius pulled away, looking right into my eyes. “We’re not doing it again, Amelia. I’ve accepted my fate.” “Well, I’m not! You should have told me. I could have done something other than keeping me in the dark. I have every right to know, Lucius. Have you forgotten that?” “I know that, my love, and I’m so sorry.” “Save it,” I said as I faced Ryden and pointed a finger at his face. “You, I trusted you. Are you happy now? Lucius had sacrificed his life twice for me so I could be with you. And I only asked one thing. Just one thing from you, and you couldn’t do it. You can’t be honest with me. Why should I stay with you if you don’t value honesty?” Ryden looked away as pain and agony laced in his eyes. “Amelia, don’t say that,” Lucius said. “Oh, so now you’re his best friend because you’re peas in a pod?” “Amelia, I know this is hard, but Lucius made his decision. You would have been dead by now and the rest of the werewolves who had fallen that day.” Shit. Zarah was right
AMELIA It had been three months since that war against The Director ended, and our lives had finally returned back to normal. The pack was going strong. No more sightings of demons and wraiths. No more threats other than rogues on occasion. The mother and son Ryden took in, and some werewolves had become the new pack members. Theia and Bryan were still like cat and mouse, but I could feel how much their relationship had developed, especially when it was built with trust. The two elemental werewolves had begun their training at Elysian. We still talked over the phone, especially with Ryden, since he was one of them. Margaret finally woke up a few days after I went back home. Zarah, Samarah, and her had never been closer, and that made me happy. My Relationship with Ryden had never been strong. I told him everything, and he forgave me. He and Lucius seemed to have formed a friendship, which was weird. Since the day I left the hotel room, I stayed close to Lucius, not as a mate or
AMELIA I joined him in bed and kissed him on the lips, and he scooped me so I could rest on top of him. I curled into a fetal position as he wrapped his arms around me, his fingers tracing my spine. I felt tiny and fragile when I was with him, but powerful at the same time. He sighed again as if something was bothering him. “How did you find me?” “Your mate gave me your letter. I supposed you went back from where you started. Did you mean what you said?” He was talking about the letter. “All of it.” “Hmm.” He kissed the top of my head. “He came to me. He’s worried about you, sweetheart. You should go back.” “What about you?” I lifted my head and looked him in the eye. “I always trust what you do that you know what’s best for you. Like always, I won’t control you.” He smiled as he tucked my hair behind my ear. “But of course, I get worried all the time even though I know you can take care of yourself.” “How’s everyone?” “I’m not telling you anything, Amelia. It’s about time y
AMELIA “I want you right now, Alexander.” The moment those words left my mouth, he carried me to the bed in my hotel room. He ripped my clothes from my body until I was naked and exposed. Then he spread my legs wide, and one thing led to another. My ovary was throwing a party as he dipped his head between my legs. A gasp escaped my lips as he pressed the softest kisses on my foot, my leg, and my inner thighs, nipping my skin. Then captured my entire pussy with his hot mouth. “Ah!” My hips bucked, hand came to his head to grab a handful of his hair, shamelessly pushing his mouth to my sex. Then he dragged his tongue from my folds upward to my clit, making my head spin. Tingles ran down my spine as I shuddered in delight. “Goddess!” I panted, rocking into his talented tongue, stroking my clit. Every muscle in my body clenched, and my legs trembled. Then he glided it in my entrance, thrusting in and out, alternately sucking my sensitive hard nub. Tension instantly coiled in my lowe
AMELIA “So where are you going?” Gaia asked. She’d been spending some time with Ren and Theia while Nora was trying to fix the broken relationship she had with her father. With Victor in the council jail, there was no threat to Alec anymore. “I don’t know yet.” I looked at the three of them. “Please, take care of each other. The greater demon might be gone, but there are still a lot of bad people out there. Maybe the good citizens could use your help.” “I’m gonna miss you.” Theia hugged me. “Don’t be gone too long, okay?” “I won’t, but you should go and be with the Caltech dropout.” “I will. Ren doesn’t need a driver anymore. He’s the monkey king after all.” She got a groan from Ren. “Gaia and he will start a new adventure anyway.” “I have to go.” I hugged Ren tight. “Thanks for not giving up on me. You always have a place in the pack. I love you, Ren. I’ll see you soon.” “I love you, too, Amelia. Don’t be a stranger. Visit the Raito house once in a while.” “Once I figure out