AMELIA Tahoe, twenty-six months ago I wondered how long it would take to die. So this was how I died— so brutal— burn to ashes. What did I do to deserve this? Was this what it felt like to be trapped in hell for eternity? Smoke and fire were the only things I could see, obliterating the home where I grew up. “Help!” I screamed out loud as I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them as I watched the fiery flames devour my bedroom door, leaving me no way to escape. The crackling sound was horrifying. I was the weakest, the tiniest in the pack. At sixteen, I couldn’t even call myself a werewolf as I hadn’t shifted yet, which always got me bullied. Tears blurred my eyes. Thick smoke began suffocating my lungs, making it hard to breathe. Sweat covered my whole body as heat seemingly slowly melted my skin. I’d never been so terrified in my entire life until today as the flames began crawling over the pink carpeted floor. In point of fact, I didn’t want to die this w
AMELIA Gasping, my eyes flew open from a vivid carnal dream of many dreams I had almost every week. I froze as I stared outside. When the Ford truck stopped at the red light, I rolled the window down to half and noticed the same gift shop across the street. Then a captivating strong male scent with a gust of tobacco, cedar, and spices hit my nostrils. I wished my heartbeat would settle down. It was extremely hard to concentrate and relax as I searched for where the smell came from. Before I could explore the tattoo that was similar to a sigil on a man’s neck in a black Chevrolet Tahoe, the light turned green. The moment I heard the bad news about Zeph, I knew it left me no choice but to go back to the pack and the place that rejected and banished me. I knew this day would come. I just didn’t think that it involved with my brother being hurt. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Theia asked. Her hands were steady on the wheel. It was funny how we met. She tried to steal my wa
RYDEN I just received a call from my delta, the head of my enforcers, Trent, that we had werewolf visitors. It didn’t happen often without a formal appointment in advance unless it was an emergency, or what we considered as threats. I saw a truck parked at the pack house which didn’t belong to any of my pack members. The moment I got out of my car, I instantly felt my heart pound hard which didn’t happen often. I couldn’t sense any threats in the air, but the faint of familiar scents, which was a good sign. But nothing was a good sign with that scent that still caught up in the air— the same dazzling fruity scents of raspberry overdose with a hint of lychee and citrus, and a vivid fusion of woodsy and rose sensation before it faded. The last time I smelled this scent was two years, one month, and three days ago, yet it was still fresh in my head. Fuck. I drew a deep breath as I entered the house. “What the fuck is going on?” Trent met me halfway. “The girl. I thought she’s dea
AMELIA “Amelia!” I turned around to see Mom with wide eyes, staring at me. “Mom!” We met halfway, and I hugged her tightly. Her fresh scent flooded my senses, reminding me of how much I missed her. She didn’t even age a bit. She looked the same as the last time I saw her, aside from cutting her blond hair short. “Honey. Oh, thank Goddess. I miss you, honey.” We pulled apart, and I wiped the tears on her cheeks. “I missed you, too, and I’m fine, Mom.” “I know you are, honey. Where have you been? You only left us one letter, and we couldn’t find you anywhere.” “She didn’t want to be found. I told you, sweetheart,” said my dad, grinning at us. “Dad!” I threw myself at him just like old times, and he spun me around, chuckling. “You put some weight on, honey.” “You mean, I’m fat now, Dad?” He smiled as he put me down to hug me tight. “You colored your hair.” “Nope. It’s natural.” Who would believe me, though? Especially my parents who raised me since I was six months old. His b
LUCIUSA shiver skated down my spine. For a moment, I froze as the sweet fruity floral scent lingered in the air. She was near. My Amelia was near. I swore I could even feel her presence. Her smell immediately eased the tension on my shoulder.“Is everything okay?” Eann asked from the passenger’s seat. He was my third-in-command. He was a big fella, like a wrestler hooked on steroids.“Yeah.” I watched Drak, my beta look at me over the rearview mirror as he might have noticed my anxiousness made me shift behind them. His gaze then went back to the traffic light waiting to turn green.The moment I slid the window down, I sucked in a deep breath, and her scent flooded my senses, and I swept with calmness despite my racing heartbeat. I could sense the power in her blood and the power of the fire inside her. But I also didn’t sense her alone. The protective sigil on my neck had been activated, creating a burning sensation on my skin. The reason why we were here in Tahoe. There had been
RYDEN What the fuck! I hissed as the pain in my jaw intensified. I realized Zeph just punched me. I knew it would come down to this moment. He took it hard on himself when Amelia left without saying goodbye to him. “Don’t ever do that again!” My wolf stirred inside me, and he hated it when provoked and couldn’t come out and unleash his beast. “Or what, you, son of a bitch?” The anger in his eyes matched mine. He may be my best friend and my beta, but he was disrespectful in front of his family, the elders, and guests. “I’m your alpha. Don’t challenge me, Zeph. You won’t like the outcome.” I felt my eyes glowing, my body warming up. The tension in the kitchen thickened. I could sense anger and fear in the air, but none of them made a move, even Amelia and the guy, Ren. “You rejected my sister. You knew the reason all along why she left, and you missed to mention that?” Guilt twisted in my chest, but I bowed to no one. I would apologize for my mistakes, but after being irrever
AMELIA “Wow. You look beautiful, Am.” Theia let her brown eyes scan me from head to toe. “So do you, T.” She wore a forest dark tuck bodycon midi dress, one off-shoulder, showing off a little bit of femininity. I also came prepared. So I put on a full-length deep red dress with V-cut halter plunge neckline with high leg split and open back. I put a little makeup on, which I sucked at it, and then I tied my hair in a low ponytail style. “Let’s get this over with.” Ren joined us in the truck in his well-tailored Japanese-inspired Italian suit. His hair was tied behind his head. “I know you’re pissed off, but so do I. I just don’t want to fight anymore with him. He’s the alpha of this pack, and my brother has already angered him.” “Well, he’s hot in person. I forgot to tell you earlier.” Theia chuckled. “I mean, wow. Handsome is an understatement. He’s hot and rich, and the alpha.” “Your point?” Ren asked in disgust. “Nothing, dude. Just pointing out the obvious.” She drove us of
RYDEN “Mom, do you remember Amelia?” My mother smiled and squeezed her hands. “Of course. How can I forget? You used to tease her and call her ladybug.” Amelia’s cheeks turned red, smiling at her. Nothing could be more beautiful than her smile. “Hello, Mrs. Braxton.” I couldn’t deny our bond, our attraction to each other no matter how hard we fought it. One of these days, it would ensnare us and fall us both hard into our own most profound and frightening feelings. “I’m glad you’re back, Amelia. The pack wasn’t the same without you. I know you didn’t disappear. Where are your parents?” “Dad can’t leave the duty early, but he’ll be here later. Mom is babysitting my brother.” “You’ve grown up, Amelia, into a beautiful woman,” my father said, hugging her. My parents had always loved her and protected her when she got bullied by some of the pack members. “So, you’re staying, right?” “Um—” “Of course, she is, Mom. Her family is here. She belongs to this pack.” I was still confuse
AMELIA “How are you so cool with this? You’re level 5, and I barely made it to Level 3. You should be running an op, Ren. Not me.” He just smiled at me as we watched from the screen Ryden train in the fire maze while Nora was underwater. I knew what it felt like to be in that situation, and I already mastered my power at Elysian before I was on that maze. I’d been there, done that, and it was difficult, but the worst part was that those areas were blind spots for powers. They couldn’t even shift. They were just mainly human in there. I flinched when Ryden got burned as he tried to jump and roll before he could ring the bell at the finish line. “I really thought he would break my record,” Ren smirked as he checked the timer on the screen. “And nobody could break your record, weirdo.” I looked at Nora. She was struggling to untie the knot around her legs. She was going to drown if she wouldn’t clear her head. “She’s in trouble,” Ren said. “I thought the same thing, but she was to
LUCIUS“What the fuck did you just do?” I snatched my phone from Miguel. He was a good man and soldier, but a little uptight and protective of me. I checked the screen. He was dialing Amelia, and she just picked up.With my heart racing to hear her sweet voice, I hung up the call and glared at Miguel. “What the fuck was that for?”“Boss.” Eann raised his hand. “It was my fault.”“How is it your fault?” I grunted, waiting for him to explain.“Alpha.” Drak came, carrying the duffel bag. “Maybe you should call Amelia. It’s been months since you talked to her. We’re just worried about you. You worked hard nonstop, and we’re still far from finishing the job.”“Your point?”When he saw my jaw tick, he shrugged. “You barely slept at night. When you ran, you never stopped until you were exhausted. We feel your pain, Alpha, and we wish we could help. I’m sorry to say this, but what you’re doing isn’t healthy anymore. Why can’t you be a little selfish and just go and see her?”I pursed my lips
AMELIA “Welcome back, Amelia.” Fawn was an agent of SEO. He was recruited at a young age. It was expected knowing that his father was one of the members before he retired. I glared at Fawn who drugged Ryden. “Was that really necessary?” “You know it is.” He punched the elevator button N11. I joined him. “I know you don’t trust him, but I do.” “Understood. He’s your mate, but that’s protocol. Are you sure the girl is one of you?” “Her name is Nora.” I rolled my eyes. He knew who Nora was, probably more than what I knew. The elevator took us down below the eleventh floor where they kept Ryden and Nora. I knew he was going to hate me for what I did, but he needed to train to fight against Lucius if they hadn’t assigned anyone yet. “I know who she is.” Well, you might as well know that I’m not one of them anymore. But I kept that thought in my head. “Be ready for briefing,” he said as the door opened. He could be tight and an asshole, but he was also reliable. He was one of the
RYDEN “You only agreed because you wanted to come back, did you?” I looked at her so beautiful, and for me, she was still the innocent girl I bullied. “Yes. I’m sure they got it covered for more veteran spies to do the job, which is paying.” I quoted in the air. “We still have a lot of work to do here.” “But—” I pressed my lips against hers to stop her from appealing her case to me because that was not going to work unless she planned on doing it behind my back or she got another assignment to infiltrate Lucius’ pack, but I would do my best as her alpha and mate to stop her from this suicide mission. I couldn’t lose her. Knowing what kind of werewolf Lucius was, he would not hesitate to kill Amelia if he knew he had been spying on him. “Let’s go on a date then.” She walked past me to the house. “I’ll see you at the pack house later.” I nodded at Ren and Theia and waved at Nora who gave us space. “Let us know if you need anything.” “I need to rest, that’s all. We’ll be there b
AMELIA After what we’d been through together in a short time, something beautiful happened. I stared at him in awe, wearing the same face the first time he saw me in my wolf form and wolf fire. Now he had in him. He just became one of the four, and the most powerful alpha with that power. “Amelia!” everyone was yelling at me, except Ren. I felt like he already knew when I lost my wolf, that it would take over someone. “Ryden,” I called his name and looked him in the eye. He looked shocked and began to panic as his clothes burned down to ashes and he was completely naked before us, engulfed in fire. “Guys, can someone grab the extinguisher, please?” “You know it won’t work!” Theia yelled. I turned to her and pointed at the wooden floor. “It will work on the floor before this house gets toasted.” I’ll go take it,” Alessandro volunteered and stormed out of the office. “Ryden, if you don’t calm down, you’re gonna burn us all. Trust me. I’ve been in your situation, done that.” “W
AMELIA “Alpha, stop it. You’re still healing.” Naughty Alpha was looking all cute as he started kissing me on the cheek first, licking my earlobe, then his hand moved to my abdomen, slipping it inside my shirt, tracing his fingers up, teasing my nipple from the bra. “I want you.” “No, you don’t.” I looked at him. His eyes darkened, his breathing was hot, and I could feel his growing erection pressed against my thigh. “Keep your dick under control until you’re fully healed or I will scream.” “I am. Trust me.” He kissed me on the nose. “I missed you. I miss being inside you.” “Really?” I pressed his wound, and he winced. “Right, you’re healed.” His hand was gone, and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Have patience there, buddy.” “Yes. Tell him that.” I faced him and kissed him on the lips. “When we go home, you can have me all you want. I will be yours all night.” He grinned at me. “Is that a promise?” “You know I won’t break it, Ryden. You can tie me to bed if you want.” He arc
RYDEN “Amelia, stop!” I crawled back to bed. My ears hurt, and that was killing me more than my wound. Then I felt a warm liquid rolling down my upper lip. I wiped it off and realized it was blood. “You’re killing me, please? Ladybug, you have to stop.” The shrilling sound abruptly stopped. The shaking ended. Her body went back to normal. “Oh, Goddess. Baby.” Her eyes were wide as she finally back to herself. She cupped my face and wiped off the blood dripping from my nostrils. “I did do that? I’m so sorry.” “Unless I have that kind of power.” I was still staring at her. What kind of power she had was both frightening and remarkable. “What the hell is going on?” The door slammed open, and Zarah came, furious. She scanned the room and shook her head. “She did it again, didn’t she?” Ren followed Zarah inside, looking at my bloody nose. Theia and Nora were tailing him. “If you can’t get control over your emotions, Amelia, we have to confine you. You can kill any being just with you
RYDEN “You knew all this time, and you didn’t warn us?” The way Victor averted his gaze and looked as ashamed and guilty as ever. He only proved to us that he knew all along, and what after all, powerful alphas there were out there that he called himself the Alpha King. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Amelia was angrier than me. Despite losing her wolf, I could still feel her emotions, and my mark on her was still intact. “Whoever he is will come after every alpha who comes his way. Do you understand how deep the trouble you’re in? He will come after our allies, take control of the werewolf council, and take your position. But you don’t give a shit, do you? As long as you’re safe over there and sipping coffee and whiskey.” “Of course, I care.”I even rolled my eyes at his reply.“Cut the bullshit, Head Council. I know you’re scared, but we can protect you. Alpha Califf, Alpha Knight, and the rest of our allies can protect you, but you have to be honest with us.” “No, Amelia. N
AMELIA “You lost your wolf to save my life. I’m so sorry you have to choose between me and her.” “I can live as a human, but I can’t live without you. You said you loved me, did you mean it?” I lifted my gaze to see his reaction. He still looked handsome despite almost dying and still in pain. “I love you with every beat of my heart. I love you till my last breath, Amelia. I don’t care if you’re human or a tiger or a mouse.” “A mouse? Really.” I sniffled. He tried to hold his laugh, and he grimaced instead. “You should take pain meds.” “No. The bullet that shot me was not an ordinary bullet, was it?” “Yes. Sebastien said, it could be a high-grade military prototype silver bullet, and it should explode inside your body, but it didn’t. It was either intentional or faulty. We don’t know. None of us has seen that kind of bullet before, even at the Werewolf Council.” “How are you feeling?” “Why are you asking me when I’m not the one that has gotten shot?” “So you’re still feisty