DANTE
I watched Amber walk away towards the train station. Her head turned back once or twice as she tugged her shiny case behind her.
You’re connected.
I didn’t need my wolf to tell me that.
I felt an affinity to her, and it was nothing like the mate bond I’d shared with Sasha that day.
FLASHBACK
“Are you looking forward to finding your mate?”
I’d looked up at my father, grunting something inaudible.
He was nervous because he thought I’d end up like my brother, Dominic, who was mateless.
My eyes scanned the room, landing on Dominic as he glared at everyone around him.
Unsociable, that’s all, Mother had said.
My chest ached at the thought of her words in my mind. I could still smell her perfume, hear her sweet yet authoritative voice.
She’s gone, Dante.
Dominic’s gaze met
AMBERWhat am I doing? Why would I walk away from what might be the biggest story of my life?A werewolf. Turning on my heel, I strode outside, knowing Dante would be long gone.I hailed a cab, breathlessly giving him the name of the gym that Dante lived above, praying he knew where I meant.“You’re not dressed for the gym.” The cab driver chuckled, peering at me in the rearview mirror.“Oh, no. I’m visiting a friend.”Staring out of the window, I swallowed, wondering what the actual hell I’m doing.I didn’t even have an excuse to see him.“Where are you from?” The cab driver asked, making polite conversation that I wanted to avoid.“Chicago.”“You’re a long way from home, Missy.”“Seventy miles, give or take.”“Well, we’re at the gym,” he declared, tapping
DANTEI dragged my nose down Amber’s throat, inhaling deeply as she lifted her hips to mine, her hand turning my mouth to hers as our lips met in crushing harmony. Her scent drove me wild. Cherries and vanilla… and something else... Woman. My tongue licked her lips, my teeth nibbling on her chin, making their way down the nape of her neck. Her nipples hardened beneath my touch, her hands gripping fistfuls of my hair as I tore her clothes away, the scent of her arousal filling my senses. “Please,” she whimpered when my head slipped between her thighs, lapping at the silky folds that encased her intimate place. Long, confident strokes took me somewhere else entirely.Fuck, yes. “Oh!” Amber gasped, her thighs crushing my head as she bucked beneath me. She was like an iced drink on a hot day. Refreshing.My fingers gripped her ass, allowing me to feast on her the way I’d wanted
DOMINICI drummed my fingers on the desk, exhaling through my nose as Axel glanced at me nervously.“Don’t send anyone to my land again.”The panel before me exchanged confused looks.“But Mr Seven, that land’s sold. We were advising you–”“I won’t tolerate trespassing. My land, my rules.”The woman to my far right frowned, narrowing her eyes at me.“Is that a threat, Mr Seven?”I turned my full attention to her, my gaze holding hers.“I don’t make threats. I’m telling you what will happen.”Axel cleared his throat, sending me a worried look.“They won’t go near our land, correct?”“My land.” I snarled.“No, they won’t go near your land… But as they will be near the lake, would you at least allow the use of that?” The w
AMBERSomething made me turn around, almost like a silent command.I frowned, searching the sea of faces curiously, my eyes seeking a man that seemed to stand still, his chest heaving as he gazed at me.Breathe, Amber. I told myself, my heart hammering in my chest so hard I felt like I was going to pass out.The stormy green eyes that held mine made me feel like I was floating, the way they looked at me like I was a rare jewel he’d been searching for all of his life.My eyes aimed to skim over his suit, but they drag agonisingly slowly down his body, allowing me to see that he was a man that worked out.Probably four times a day. At least.As I released a breath, the sudden lightness in my head made me gasp.Like a magnet, he drew me to him, his broad frame tensed with every step I took. He swallowed hard, his eyes glowing a soft yellow as he suddenly tilted his head, his lips curving into the sexiest smile I’d ever see
DOMINICI stared at Jael as she pursed her lips, pissed that I wasn’t paying attention to her.“Alpha?”I grunted in response as Axel glanced at me, waving at Jael, who scowled.“Am I dismissed?” She asked curtly, hands on her hips.“It’s a fucking mating ceremony. I get it, Jael.” I snapped, not even bothering to look at her.I knew it pissed her off being my casual fuck, but I didn’t give a shit.I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman from the city.Jael stomped out, throwing me a glare over her shoulder. Axel raised his eyebrows, puffing out his cheeks as he laced his fingers behind his head.“Wanna talk about it?”“About what?” I glared at him, dragging my hands through my hair.“Alpha, you said she was your mate—”“I must’ve been wrong.”Why?Because a human cannot be my mate.“With all due respect, Alpha…”I groaned, annoyed that Axel was almost as fixated on it
DANTEMy brother watched me, his eyes locking with mine.I couldn’t refuse him, even now.After everything.“You better come in.”Dominic grunted, following me into the gym with a look of surprise.“You work here?”“I had to work somewhere, brother.”Dominic sighed, pushing his hands through his hair.“I’m sorry.”I lifted an eyebrow at him, crossing my arms over my chest.“You’re sorry?”“That’s what I said.”I stared at him, flicking the lights off as I nodded to the stairs to my apartment.Dominic followed me, turning his nose up with distaste when he saw my living space.I poured a whiskey, offering the bottle to him as he sank into the chair in front of him.“Don’t I get a tumbler?” He took a swig from the bottle, slamming it back down as he stared at me.“I drink whiskey alone,” I shrugged.“I want you to come back.”I drained my
AMBERThe banging on my door jolted me from my sleep; my eyes still half-closed as I ran to the door, muttering as I collided with the coffee table.“Ouch!” I moaned, lifting my tired eyes to the spyhole in the door. The messy dark hair and grey eyes that greeted me made my heart leap in my throat.Dante.He never showed up here mid-week—ever.Trembling, I slid my fingers over the lock, allowing the door to creak open.“Amber,” Dante murmured, stepping into my apartment. “I’m sorry it’s late.”His arms circled my waist, and instantly our lips met, his tongue searching my mouth urgently as he scooped me up into his arms, walking me over to the coffee table, dropping my bare bottom on it as I yelped.“I need you, Amber, now.” Dante spread my legs, his mouth on mine, as he tugged at his bottoms.“Dante, what—” I gasped as he thrust into me, his hand tugging on my hair.“I just need you. I need you.” He repeated, his h
DANTEI went back to the pack alone.There was no way I was walking in there with Amber—I had to see the state of the pack for myself.The closer I got, the familiar senses returned, my heart aching at the thought of seeing old friends and family I’d not seen for so long.I also needed to make sure Dominic wasn’t pulling some elaborate plan to steal Amber from under my nose.I shifted into my human form, tugging on some random clothes from a basket.They must’ve known I was coming, for no-one intercepted me on the way in, which was something that always happened.Everything looked the same, except for the expressions on the faces of the pack members.“Dante?” A voice boomed, and I turned to see Ryle approaching me from the woods, panting heavily. “Is that you? By the Goddess, is it?”My face broke into a smile as he embraced me, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close.“Alpha Dominic has been
DANTETaking a pack of werewolves into an airport wasn’t my finest suggestion, but nevertheless, it provided hours of amusement.Amber was busy showing the younger wolves the vending machines until one wolf banged it so hard it set the alarm off.“Ryan!” I snapped, watching as Amber rolled her eyes.“Calm down, Alpha,” she purred, stroking my arm with her blood-red nails. “Ryan got a bit excited, that’s all.”Delta Greg watched in fascination as an aircraft took off from the runway, his face paling when it lifted into the air.“I’m not sure about this.”I chuckled, my eyes skimming over the pack, who were sprawled over rows of chairs. Teenage girls giggled as they checked out the teen wolves, and I knew when the wolves flirted back that they would be alright in society.It had been my main concern, but together we’d prepared them as best as possi
AmberThe way Dante looked at Indie made my stomach flip. He looked at her in the way a woman never wanted her man to look at anyone but her, but Indie wassixteen.Surely not…I swallowed, trying to remain calm.Indie refused to meet my eyes, and with one last glance at Dante, she turned and fled.Dante swore, dragging his hand through his hair.“We need to go,” I whispered, the sickening feeling in my stomach deepening when Dante nodded, still unable to meet my eyes.I’d just told him I was pregnant, and he seemed more concerned about Indie, a girl he’d never met as far as I knew.“I’m not leaving them all behind, Amber,” Dante said, his jaw clenching.My heart ached with love for him, my fingers reaching out to lace with his. I didn’t want to go either; I needed Dominic like I needed life.But Indie’s warning resounded in my
DANTEThe room was dark, and Lyle leaned against the door, his eyes locked on me.I scanned the room the best I could, noticing that the shadows that lurked in the corners seemed darker than the rest of the room somehow.“What is this?” I asked, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. “Where’s Amber?”“Amber isn’t here. I told you.”I whipped my head in his direction, my fists clenched by my side.Thismanwas a demon, and he was playing games with me, that much I knew.“If you give me my brother and Amber, I’ll walk away.”I would. I’d fight every instinct that told me to save these girls and save my own family.Lyle shook his head, a wry smile on his face.“How are you the Alpha?”“Fuck you.” I spat back. “You don’t know a thing about me.”“Oh, but I
DOMINICLyle, the magic bastard, has ways of pissing me off that no one had been able to reach before.But that didn’t mean I was going to bend to his fucking orders and rules; fuck no.The minute he threw me into the room, I gagged, the stench of rotting meat too much to bear.“Let me out, you fucker!” I roared, pounding my fists on the door.Amber’s been stabbed; we have to get out of here! My wolf commanded, hurling us once more at the door.The idea of our mate bleeding in agony, alone, was enough to make me eat my way through the fucking door.But it wouldn’t budge.Not an inch.Defeated, I turned to take in my surroundings, lifting my shirt to cover my nose. Even my wolf was repulsed, and he ate raw meat.What was this place?There were shelves and dusty blankets made to cover the contents that were strewn on them, but you didn’t need to be a genius to know what the crim
AMBER“No!” I screamed, fighting to reach Dominic, who was gazing at me with sadness.He couldn’t trade places with me.I won’t let him.Dominic changed back into his human form, his eyes glittering dangerously as he studied my captor.“You want to keep me as your captive instead of Amber?” Dominic frowned, tilting his head to the side.“Don’t!” I pleaded, trying to pull myself free of Lyles' grasp.“Yes, you. But not as my captive, as my…warrior.”The very idea of Dominic doing this asshole's bidding was enough to make me die.“You think I’ll barter with you? Why don't I kill you now and be done with it?” Dominic growled, clenching his fists.Pain shot through my side as I gasped, dropping to my knees as I clutched at my waist.Blood poured through my fingers, and I exhaled harshly, trying to remain calm, so Dominic didn&
DANTEI followed Axel into the woods, my wolf whining that I should’ve told someone in the pack where I was going and withwhom.I could’ve, of course. But I didn’t want anyone else to die.The air was thick with blood and fear, my own included.I couldn’t live without Amber.When I’d left earlier, I’d considered never coming back to the pack.I’d considered leaving Amber to be with Dominic, with no thought for myself.It would’ve been simple—Dominic would become Alpha, and Amber remained the Luna.But I’d heard her cries, her whimpers of fear, and I’d turned back, desperate to do the right thing.It seemed that was all I ever tried to do; the right thing.But what was the right thing?Axel and I shifted, changing into our wolves before thundering through the forest, my nose pricking at the scent of Amber and Dominic.
DOMINICThis place was like a fucking maze.Twists and turns in the dark, damp soil filling my nostrils as I land on the floor with a thud.Within seconds I was on my feet, my back pressed against a wall, my eyes adjusting quickly to my surroundings."Come, Dominic," Lyle commanded gruffly, beckoning me to follow him."Where's Amber?" I snarled, bored of his fucking trail of breadcrumbs already.Flames of light flickered on the walls that came into view; weathered rock held my shadow prisoner as I followed Lyle, passing grates on the floor that held weeping women.
AMBERMy fingers stroked the ground beneath them, clawing at the damp gravel.I inhaled, or at least, I tried to, but something was stuffed in my mouth, making me gag.What the hell?I tried to move, but pain shot through my head and back, forcing me to stay still.I wiggled my toes, relieved when I felt them rubbing against the dirt.I’m barefoot.It was dark, and I raised my arm, only to hear a clink of chain preventing me from reaching in front of me.I panicked, tugging both arms at the same time, dread filling my stomach when my movements s
DOMINICI felt Amber’s pain when Dante left, and I hated him even more.He’s leaving her when she hasn’t done anything wrong.Amber glared at me, following Dante out of the door despite him giving us both strict instructions to stay.“Amber.” I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen, waving a hand in my direction dismissively.“Seems like someone doesn’t know her place,” a voice purred from behind me.Jael.“You know, Dominic, mayb