Thank you for reading!
Kaden I hate walking away from her. I hate even more feeling her falling to pieces through the bond. My entire being is aching to go back to her, to hold her, comfort her, assure she’s still mine. But I can’t. Not when I can’t stop remembering how it felt to see my sister’s mate with that horrified expression, staring at his hands like he couldn’t believe he’d let her slip through them. He couldn’t even get the words out, couldn’t tell me that he lost track of her, but I knew. I wanted to rail at him, to accuse and blame and make him hurt the way I was hurting for not protecting her. But I couldn’t do that either. It wouldn’t be fair to him. Because as much as I wanted someone to blame for the near paralyzing fear assaulting me, there was only me. Deep down I knew she would try something like this. I should have kept her glued to my side where I knew she’d be safe but I didn’t. And she took advantage of my negligence. Could I be a bigger fucking fool? It’s not like she hadn’t t
Olivia When my tears finally run dry, I take a quick shower and wash my face, hoping my boys won’t notice I’ve been crying if they happen to wake up. Unable to stomach being completely alone tonight, I climb into bed between them and snuggle them close. Even with the warmth of my pups beside me, I can’t fall asleep. They cut me off, closed the bond. I can’t feel them and it leaves me feeling anxious and empty. They’d never leave me, I know that much is certain. But I hate this tension between us. I can’t let my inability to trust someone else to protect the twins and me be the thing that breaks us. We’ve come too far and overcome too much to give up now. My eyes start to sting again but I’m done crying. Instead of sulking, I need to put my mind to better use, finding a way to fix the mess I’ve made. But when my eyelids finally grow heavy with sleep, I still don’t have a solution. I wake the next morning to someone petting my hair. It takes me a moment to remember where I am. B
Olivia2 months later “Just a short visit, okay?” Declan tells my sister gently. She scowls at him, hating the way everyone around her is treating her with kid gloves since she woke up. But Declan misinterprets her displeasure, “Sorry, Bryn, But she needs to rest. The doctor says no stress and no sitting for prolonged periods.” “Fine.” Bryn huffs, accepting his explanation instead of giving him the piece of her mind I can tell is on the tip of her tongue. Among the many things that changed while Bryn was in a coma, my being in love with and mated to the Alpha and Beta have been particularly hard for her to accept. Prior to my Luna ceremony, she hadn’t even mentioned it to her so it took her by surprise. She grew up watching them torment me. It had to be a shock to wake up to not only find your long lost sister had come home, but was mated to her biggest bullies. To say she isn’t their biggest fan would be an understatement. “I still can’t believe you’re mated to those two morons
Declan “I’ll get her!” I jump up as soon as I hear the tiny baby fussing in the bassinet. “It’s my turn to change her diaper anyway.” “No!” Kaden whisper-shouts, all but shoving me out of the way. “You changed the last diaper. It’s my turn!” “Fine!” I can’t help but laugh at the pair we make, two grown men fighting over dirty diapers. Olivia gave birth to our beautiful daughter, Isla Eleanor Stone, late last night. She’s a little part of each of us with a shock of Kaden’s brown hair, my facial features, except for her cute button nose just like her mother’s, not to mention Olivia’s bright, jewel green eyes. She’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen and I can’t seem to take my eyes off of her. Kaden and I have been on daddy duty since early this morning when Liv finally dropped off to sleep. I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job so far, other than the occasional disagreement on who gets to do what. But we missed this age with the twins so it’s been a bit of the blind lead
Kaden “It’s worse than we thought.” Declan murmurs unhelpfully beside me as the shouting intensifies inside the pack. The afternoon sun beats down on my shoulders as we stand back and survey the situation briefly. The Crimson Moon Pack is poised to tear itself apart if we don’t intervene soon, but I have no fucking clue how to calm the storm brewing here.According to Ryder, what started as heated words in the packhouse has erupted into open confrontation on the front lawn. These wolves, divided by years of fear and resentment, are circling like powder kegs waiting for a spark. And I’m supposed to stomp it out before it catches fire in only minutes? Yeah, I’m gonna need a fucking miracle. "Hold the line," I order my men, who have formed a human barrier between the factions. Declan stands on my right, his body coiled with tension, while Ryder coordinates our warriors at the perimeter. The last thing we need is outside forces taking advantage of this chaos. I have no doubt other Al
Olivia The steady beep of the heart monitor is both comfort and torture as I sit beside Kaden's hospital bed, one hand clutched in his while the other absently strokes Declan's arm where it wraps around my shoulders. The wolfsbane has left him pale and still, two words I never thought I'd use to describe my fierce Alpha. I felt his pain through the bond the moment he was injured, felt the agony wearing him thin as time went on. I tried to stay calm, knowing he was in a dangerous situation and a distraction could only make things worse. But when I felt his end of the bond go dark, I couldn’t stop myself from calling and demanding Declan bring him home."His fever's holding steady," Dr. Morris says, checking the IV drip. "The next few hours will be critical, but he's strong. The fact that he's fighting this hard is a good sign."I nod, not trusting my voice. Through our mate bond, I can feel Kaden's life force, usually a blazing inferno, flickering like a candle in the wind. Declan's
OliviaMy focus is shredded as I listen to the voice on the phone, all the while not tearing my eyes from Kaden’s face. Doctor’s flood the room, working on my mate, I’m sure. But I couldn’t tell you what they’ve done.“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Dr. Morris mutters to himself. I should ask him what he means by that but I can’t. Not even when I hear him add, “ . . . clearly crafted by someone who knew exactly how to hurt an Alpha.”But the words do manage to send a chill down my spine. Someone who knew exactly how to hurt an Alpha. Someone who had planned this, who had turned our intervention at Crimson Moon into a trap. Someone I’m pretty sure is on the other end of the phone right now. I remember Eden during the negotiations, how perfectly she'd played her part, how skillfully she'd positioned herself as a bridge between factions. Every word, every gesture had been calculated to earn our trust.And I had fallen for it. I, a Luna who is supposed to be capable of protecting her
Declan The loss of my mate bond feels like someone has carved out half my soul. I can still sense Olivia physically, her scent, her heartbeat, but the deeper connection, that spiritual tether that's kept me anchored for the last several months is gone.But while Eden thinks she's left us helpless, she's forgotten one critical detail: my sister. She doesn’t use her power often but a witch is no match for the ancient magic she still carries. And of course, she’s already on her way when I call. I watch Kat sweep into the hospital room like an avenging angel, her Fae power crackling around her like static electricity. Behind her, my brothers-in-law, Ryan and Reegan, move to flank Kaden's bed, their mate bonds with my sister still blazing strong through the witch's interference."Status?" Kat demands, her Fae energy helping to stabilize the chaos of broken bonds around us even as her eyes assess Kaden's condition."Three locations," I report, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos erup
Hello Lovely Readers!That's a wrap for Olivia, Kaden, Declan, Brynlee and Rhett! Thank you so much for taking this wild ride with me! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you! As for what's next, get ready to join Finley as she struggles to prove a female is just as capable of being Alpha as any man, not only to her pack, but to all the men in her life, some of whom want nothing more than her success, while other's can't wait to watch her fall. "Not Their Luna: A Female Alpha Story" will begin serializing in a couple weeks, shortly after the new year. If you're looking for something to read in the meantime, please consider checking out my new stand-alone book, "The Lycan King's Outcast Omega." The first 7 cha[ters are out and I'll begin serializing regularly in the next couple of days. Once again, I'd like to thank you all for the amazing support you've shown my books. You all inspire me everyday. Your comments make me laugh, make me smile, and make me
Brynlee "Left!" I call out, moving in perfect sync with Rhett as we corner the rogue wolf we've been tracking for three days. Our client, the Mountain Ridge pack, watches in amazement as we work together, perfectly matched.The rogue doesn't stand a chance against our coordinated attack. Within minutes, Rhett has him pinned while I secure the spelled restraints."Impressive," the Mountain Ridge Alpha says. "Your reputation is well-earned.""We work well together," Rhett responds, his hand finding its natural place on my nape. Through our bond, I feel his eagerness to finish here. To get home. To Maya.The thought of our daughter makes both our wolves restless. Three days is the longest we've been away since her birth four months ago.“Grace says she's been practicing," Olivia tells us over the phone as we drive home. "The little witch is already moving her toys without touching them."Rhett's grip tightens on the steering wheel. Even after two months of knowing about Maya's magical ab
Brynlee "It's a girl," Grace announces with a smile as she completes my monthly check-up. "And she's thriving under your mate bond. Both of your energies are strengthening her."Rhett's hand tightens on my shoulder. Through our bond, I feel his fierce joy mingled with protective instinct."A daughter," he murmurs. "To raise as strong as her mother.""And as protected as her father makes her mother feel," I add, covering his hand with mine.We're in the pack gathering hall, where wolves mill about preparing for tonight's announcement feast. Rhett and I will officially share our plans to become trackers, to help other packs while maintaining our home ties here."Speaking of protection," Grace says carefully, "have you decided where you'll be when . . .""Here," Rhett answers immediately. "We'll time our contracts around the birth. Make sure we're home for at least the first few months.""Both packs will help," Finley adds, entering with a stack of paperwork. "Though from what I hear, yo
Brynlee"Please remind me, Sir. Make me yours again."And with that, the last of his restraint dissolves, leaving my sexy Dom standing where my gentle mate was only moments before. “Follow me.” He demands, turning away and trusting I’ll obey, that trust only making me want to please him further. “Sit.”I take a deep breath as I lower myself into the chair he led me to. It’s a wood-framed chair that’s slightly reclined, a pillowy black cushion that I sink down into stretched across the surface. There are strange leather loops protruding from the wood at the top of the chair and it’s immediately clear the entire thing was built for one very specific purpose. “Arms up over your head, little wolf.” His command is a deep rumble that sends a frisson of pleasure straight to my clit. He steps behind me, and though I can’t see what he’s doing, I’m not afraid. Excitement and eager anticipation is all I can feel. Until he wraps soft cuffs around my wrists and attaches them to the leather loops
Rhett The pack house buzzes with activity as one of the elders works with other witches to break the spells on affected pack members. Grace moves between them, checking for injuries, while warriors secure Xander and Tracy in spelled cells deep underground.But all I can focus on is Brynlee."You need to be checked," I murmur against her hair. We haven't broken contact since the fight ended, my hand resting possessively on her nape."I'm fine," she starts to protest, but stops at my growl."Grace. Now." I let dominance color my tone, watching her melt into the command."Yes, Sir."Heads turn as we cross the great hall - not with the previous worry or pity, but with new respect. My collar sits proud at her throat, her submission now obvious and willing. No more pretense. No more hiding."The baby's fine," Grace announces after examining her. "Actually, it's more than fine. The energy is stronger, more stable." She looks between us. "Whatever happened during the fight seems to have stren
Rhett Training takes over as I evaluate our options. Spelled wolves on three sides, children still in danger, and Xander approaching from the north.Through our bond, I feel Brynlee's certainty. “Trust me,” she pushes through our connection. “Like in training.”"Grace," I command quietly. "Get the pups out. Dad, contain the spelled wolves. Tracy's mine."Before Tracy can react, Brynlee moves - not away from danger but straight toward it. Toward Xander. Every instinct screams to stop her, but I force myself to trust. To let her fight her own battles while I handle mine."You're done, Tracy." I let my dominance fill the space between us. "Your spells are weakening. Your control is slipping. Submit now and—"Her laugh turns hysterical. "Submit? Like your precious mate? The one walking straight into Xander's trap?"But she's wrong. Through our bond, I feel Brynlee's strength. Her purpose.This isn't her walking into a trap. This is her choosing to face her demons. And my job isn't to stop
Rhett "I can't do this anymore!"Brynlee's voice carries across the pack grounds, perfectly pitched to convey desperation. She's standing just where we planned, moonlight catching the tears on her cheeks."You don't have a choice," I growl, playing my part. "You're mine.""No!" She backs away, one hand going to my collar. "I'm not yours. I'm not anyone's. And I won't let you control me anymore."The gathered pack members shift uncomfortably. In the trees, I catch multiple scents - Tracy's spies, spelled wolves, others waiting to report back. Perfect."Don't." My voice drops dangerously as her fingers touch the collar's clasp. Everything in me rebels at what comes next, but we've planned this.The sound of the collar hitting the ground echoes in the sudden silence.My roar of rage is only partly acting. Even knowing this is planned, seeing her remove my collar makes Kian nearly uncontrollable."You'll regret this," I snarl, advancing on her. Right on cue, pack members move to intervene
Rhett "They've made contact." Dad’s voice is grim as he hands me the surveillance photos. "Tracy met with Xander last night, just outside our borders."I study the images, fighting to maintain control as I see them together, heads bent in conversation. Planning. Plotting. Against my mate."Show me where."He points to the map. "Here. Notice anything interesting?""It's a focal point," I realize. "Between three locations where we found spelled wolves."More photos show increased movement around our territory. Unfamiliar wolves. Dark magic signatures. All converging faster than we anticipated."They're not waiting for the new moon," I say quietly."No." Dad marks another location. "The elders detected four more spelled wolves this morning. All moving into position. Whatever they're planning . . .""It's happening soon."My phone buzzes - Finley: Tracy spotted watching breakfast. Your move.Which means another public performance. Another scene of Brynlee rejecting my claim. Each time cut
Brynlee It takes everything in me not to lean into Rhett's touch when he reaches for me at breakfast. Instead, I force myself to flinch away, hating how his scent spikes with controlled aggression - even knowing it's an act."Don't," I say, letting my voice shake just enough. "Please. I just-, I need space."His hand drops, but not before I catch the subtle brush of his fingers against my collar - a private reminder of what's real. Of what lies beneath this performance."You're wearing my collar," he says, loud enough to carry to the curious pack members pretending not to watch. "My claim."I touch the collar, letting them see uncertainty instead of the comfort it truly brings. "Maybe that's the problem."The whispers start immediately. I catch fragments - "too soon," "traumatized," "rejecting the bond" - exactly what we want them to hear. What we want Tracy to hear when her spies inevitably report back.Rhett growls, playing his part perfectly. "We'll discuss this later.""There's no