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OliviaKyle sits across from me, staring into his plate of pasta without taking a bite. We’re at the new Italian restaurant in town but he seems miles away. In fact, in the time that we’ve been dating, it seems to be happening more and more. . “Where did you go?” I reach out and squeeze his hand. His head snaps up, a grin plastered on his face that doesn’t quite meet his eyes.“I’m right here with you.” He starts, then shakes his head when I stare back with raised brows. “Sorry. Just a difficult surgery coming up.”His voice is steady but his pupils dilate a fraction, telling me he might be lying, or at least not divulging the whole truth. But that’s okay, he’s entitled to his secrets. Goddess knows I have a few of my own. Speaking of secrets, Kyle still doesn’t know the biggest one I keep. I know I can’t put it off forever, but we’ve just been getting to know each other as more than friends. Why lay myself bare to him if things don’t work out between us?If I’m being honest, even
Kyle Fuck! She has mates? As in plural? I wonder how many but in the end it doesn’t matter. This changes everything! I should just keep walking and never look back but I can’t. Why is she here in Sacred Moon, raising her boys alone, if she has mates? Is one of them the father or is there someone else in the picture too? Why would she agree to give me a chance if she already met her mates? So many questions I need answers to. I turn on my heels, stomping back to her, and the look of pure devastation on her face almost cracks my resolve. I ball my fists at my sides, resisting the urge to haul her into my arms and kiss that look off her face. Instead, I grit out words in the steeliest tone I can muster. “Tell me everything!” “Kyle,” my name is a sob on her lips and I feel myself weakening, “I’m so sorry! Keeping my secret was never meant to hurt you, I swear! It’s just, I’ve never told anyone. And now, with the boys, it’s all become such a mess.” The words spill from her in a delug
Kaden “Why hasn’t he woken up yet?” I demand of the doctor, letting a bit of my Alpha command color my tone so he knows I mean business. Everyone’s heads snap in my direction at the sound of my growl. Declan’s parents, my Grammy and Papa, hadn’t left his side since he was brought in. And of course, my parents are here with them, since Declan is my mom’s brother. So here I am, the Alpha who can do nothing to give them their son back healthy and whole. I feel helpless and it’s making me snap. “I’m sorry Alpha.” The doctor sighs in exasperation. “It’s like I told you before, his wolf is healing him, but slowly. He’s lucky to be alive. If that guard hadn’t found him when he did, he wouldn’t have made it at all. “I know it’s hard to wait but it’s actually better this way. The longer he sleeps, the easier it will be for his wolf to return to full strength. It’s fortunate the guard recognized the scent of wolfsbane and used the gas mask or you’d have two dead men on your hands.” With th
Declan “Nerve damage?” Kaden questions, scowling as if the words themselves taste bitter. “And he has no idea why your wolf healed all but your legs?” When I suddenly woke from my weeks long coma to find my legs didn’t work, the doctor chased everyone from my room while he assessed the damage. When he was done, he could only shake his head and take a stab in the dark at why my wolf had been able to rid almost my entire body of the effects of the concentrated wolfsbane I’d inhaled, but my legs remained flaccid, useless. He’d decided it must be damage to my spine, affecting the nerves to my legs, but I know the truth is not so easily explained. “That was his best guess.” I confirm, allowing him to help me from the hospital bed to the wheelchair. “He said there’s still a chance I could walk again, with time and therapy.” I say what I know he and everyone else wants to hear, because what else can I say? That a disembodied voice, quite possibly the Moon Goddess herself, came to me in a
Olivia“Thank you for coming over.” I tell Ellie and her mates as they file through the door, their daughter Grace, running off to find my twins without a backward glance. “I know you're busy but there is a lot I need to tell you and, well, it’s better if I do it here. Nowhere to run to if I’m already home.”I huff out a nervous laugh and Kyle squeezes my shoulder encouragingly. After spilling my truth, he’s implored me to come clean to my brother and best friend, not just about the boys’ paternity but everything, even the mate bond. I’m anxious as hell but I’m determined to get my formal rejection and I know I’ll need their support while I heal.“Liv, what’s going on?” Mason asks, worry written all over his face. “And what’s Kyle doing here? No offense man. I’m glad you’ve been there for my sister but this seems like a family matter.”“Stop it, Mace! The overprotective big brother act had its place but I’m more than capable of taking care of myself now. I asked Kyle to be here for mor
Olivia “You didn’t have to come with me.” I glance over at Kyle from the passenger seat. “Nothing about this is going to be fun.” “I want to be there for you.” He insists. “Besides, I have friends in Glass Lake I can visit when you’re busy.” “Well, thank you.” I reach over to squeeze his hand. The minute Mason explained what little mom told him about Brynlee’s condition, Kyle insisted on coming along. I appreciate the support. I truly do. But I can’t shake the guilt eating away at me. I just wish I knew what I felt guilty for, subjecting Kyle to the disaster that is my life in Glass Lake or bringing a man home when I still have mates. Not that I owe them any loyalty. Ugh! What is wrong with me? “So, do I get to meet these friends? Admittedly, I didn’t go out much so I don’t know a lot of people outside of my family. But I’d love to meet them now.” “Uh, Sure. I mean, if you have time. You might be too busy with . . . everything.” He hedges, and I don’t miss the uncertainty in
Kaden “Alpha, we can’t find a trail.” One of my patrol officers reports in. “There’s no scent, no footprints, no disturbed vegetation, nothing. Whoever he is, he’s like a ghost.” “A ghost didn’t assault Brynlee Cross!” I growl, more frustrated with myself than him. How could I let this happen to one of my pack? That girl was my responsibility and I failed her. “Keep looking, soldier!” I bark the order, brooking no argument. I look around for my “cousin” Rhett, and wave him over. He’s the Alpha heir to the Forest Trails pack but I called him here because his tracking skills are unmatched. If we’re missing something, he’ll find it. “Anything yet?” I ask when he jogs to my side. “Too many scents.” He shakes his head. “And most of them have faded. If I can spend some time with the victim, learn her scent, I’m sure I can isolate it enough to find a trail, maybe even find where she was being held, but right now, I don’t know which scent to follow.” “That makes sense.” I agree despite
Kaden “What are you doing here?” I ask, entering the office to find Declan sitting behind the desk. I’d gone back to the hospital but visiting hours were over for the day. No one remained in Brynlee’s room and even the scent of my mate had faded to just a wisp floating in the air. I plan to head straight to the ex-Beta’s home and demand her identity but the pull of duty has me stopping at the office to order increased patrols in the area where I’d overheard the stranger talking earlier. “Hiding.” He scowls. “I can’t take another minute of mom’s fussing or dad’s pep talks. Even Dani is in on the action, cooking and constantly bringing me food. I’m going to weigh a ton before I get out of this chair.” “The danger is real, man. Your little sister can cook!” I tease, ignoring the elephant in the room, that there’s no guarantee he will get out of the chair. As if he read my mind, Declan addresses the topic himself. “I moved my legs in therapy today.” He announces with a proud grin. “N
Brynlee Who am I? It’s the last thing I ask myself before I fall asleep and the first thing that comes to mind the minute I wake up. Who am I now that the person I used to be no longer exists. Sweet, innocent Brynlee is gone. She died the moment Xavier cornered her in that coffee shop all those weeks ago, even if she didn’t know it yet. But when he, and then his son Xander, put their hands on me, brutalized me in unspeakable ways, there was no coming back from that. No, sweet, innocent Brynlee, the girl everyone loved, who never put a toe out of line, she burned to ash in those moments. But what’s awoken in her place is something I can’t begin to wrap my head around. Contemplating a question I can’t stop asking myself but that has no easy answer is hard. Going to sleep and never waking up would be easier. But I don't. I won’t. For them. Everything I do is for them, the people that love me. My family who would never recover from my loss. A sentence I can’t impose upon them, even if
Olivia "That's the last box," I announce, setting down a container marked 'Isla's stuffed animals' in what will become the nursery of our new packhouse. The sprawling structure sits perfectly between Glass Lake and Crimson Moon territories, a physical representation of the bridges we've built between our packs.Through the window, I watch Ryan and Reegan directing the placement of outdoor furniture while Kat and Declan’s mom, Isabella, supervise the unpacking of the kitchen. Having Kaden's and Declan’s parents move in with us feels right – the pups adore their grandparents, and after everything we've faced, keeping family close has become even more important.My own parents chose to stay in their home, a decision I understand completely. Brynlee needs the familiar comfort of those walls right now, needs the safety of the place she's known her whole life while she heals. The haunted look in my sister's eyes is slowly fading, but her recovery will take time. Time, and probably vengeance
OliviaSunlight streams through our bedroom windows as I drift awake between my mates. Every inch of my body tingles with pleasant soreness, marked and claimed exactly as it always should have been. Kaden's chest rises and falls steadily against my back while Declan's arms wrap around me from the front, both of them holding me close even in sleep.Last night was . . . transformative. The "do-over" of that pivotal moment didn't just create new memories, it healed something deep inside me I hadn't even realized was still wounded. Every word they spoke, every touch they bestowed, every mark they left replaced old pain with new joy.Memories of last night flood through me, making me shiver between them. The way Kaden's voice broke when he finally said the words he should have said years ago: "My wolf has been reaching for you since that first moment." How Declan's hands trembled as he traced reverent patterns on my skin, whispering "Our missing piece, always our missing piece."Kaden stirs
Declan I never considered myself much of a voyeur, never saw the appeal of watching others have all the fun. But with Liv, I could watch her in the throes of pleasure, her gorgeous body writhing in ecstasy all damn day. The only thing better is bringing her that pleasure myself. And now, it’s my turn. "My beautiful Luna," I breathe, crawling over her body where she reclines against Kaden’s chest. "I was lost without you, even when I didn't know what I was missing. Every instinct told me to protect you, to keep you close, but I fought it because I thought I had to." Kaden lifts her thighs, placing them on either side of his, opening her wide for me. Her pussy lips are swollen, her clit peeking out from under its hood. And a mixture of her slick and Kaden’s cum drips from her cunt. The sight is fucking erotic. "The day you left Glass Lake, something in me broke.” I whisper against her lips, kissing them softly and swallowing her moans when I scoop their cum onto my fingers and push
Kaden Olivia writhes beneath me as I eat her out like a man possessed. I lap at her folds, not wanting to miss a single drop of the delicious juices she’s making just for me. I won’t stop until she’s squirting all over my face. But not yet. I feel her struggling to focus as my tongue moves between her legs. She thinks I’m teasing her, taking my time, and it’s making her desperate. That’s how I always want her, desperate for me. But it’s not my intention to torture her, not tonight anyway. "I should have accepted you the moment you told us," I breathe against her skin, my warm breath over her sensitive nub making her cry out. "The way my wolf reached for you, the emptiness I felt when you left . . .” I trail off so I can circle her entrance with the tip of my tongue, missing the delicious taste of her. “I was so caught up in what I thought I needed that I missed what was right in front of me."I suck her hard little clit into my mouth and flick it with my tongue. She trembles benea
Kaden Listening to Olivia confront Kyle twists something in my chest. Her words about those lonely years, about crying herself to sleep knowing we were so close yet couldn't see her, they haunt me. Even though she's forgiven us, even though our mate bonds now pulse strong and true, the guilt gnaws at me."You're brooding," Declan observes as we wait for her outside the prison."I'm thinking," I correct him, an idea forming. "About that horrible fucking night. The first time she tried to tell us about the bond."Understanding dawns in his eyes. I don’t need a mate bond to feel his own regret surge, to see it in his eyes. "The ballroom, the night before we left for training.""We should have recognized her then. Should have felt what she was trying to tell us." The memory of her face that night, hopeful and terrified, makes my wolf whine. "What if we could do it over?"Declan raises an eyebrow. "You want to recreate that night?""But do it right this time. Give her the response she dese
Olivia “Where are you off to, rosebud?” Declan steps out of the office doorway just as I’m walking by. I was hoping to sneak out without having this conversation but apparently fate isn’t on my side today. I sigh, knowing I can’t lie to him and knowing he won’t like my answer. “I’m going down to the cells to see Kyle.” I answer honestly. “What did you say? Because I’m sure I must have heard you wrong.” Kaden’s gaze meets mine as Declan ushers me inside the office, anxiety radiating off of both men. "I need to see him," I say quietly, watching Kaden and Declan's expressions darken. "I need answers.""Like hell you do," Declan growls, pacing the room. "Kyle worked with Xavier, Olivia. He was part of everything that's happened. You know this. Why would you want to see him after everything he’s done?"Kaden's silence is almost worse than Declan's anger. Through our mate bond, I feel his rage warring with the need to protect me from more pain."He saved my life," I remind them softl
Olivia"I want to forgive them, my parents" I say quietly, curled between Kaden and Declan on our oversized couch after putting the kids to bed. "I need to."Kaden's fingers thread through my hair while Declan's thumb traces circles on my palm. Through our bonds, I feel their immediate support, though tinged with protective concern."Are you sure?" Declan asks, his voice gentle. "I know things have gotten better between you. But after how they dismissed your pain, can you really forgive them completely?""That's why I need to do this." I lean into Kaden's touch, drawing strength from his steady presence. "Watching Brynlee fight her way back, seeing how fragile life can be . . . I don't want to carry this weight anymore. And with Hester's chaos spell possibly influencing them . . .""It doesn't excuse everything," Kaden points out quietly. "Spell or no spell, they should have believed their daughter.""No, it doesn't excuse it. But maybe it explains some of it." I sit up, looking at bot
Kaden “I’m so sick and fucking tired of this shit!” I throw myself down in my office chair while Declan watches my tantrum with amusement. “Weeks, Dec! It’s been weeks we’ve done nothing but try to track Xander and we’re no closer to finding him. I miss Liv and the pups.” “Same.” Declan admits. “But what choice do we have? With what Brynlee shared, it’s more important than ever to find him.” "We've been neglecting her," I say, watching Declan pace our office like the caged wolf he is. "All this focus on tracking Xander, securing the territory, it’s our responsibility. But so is taking care of our Luna, our family.""She understands." Declan stops at the window, his shoulders tight. "But you're right. When was the last time we had a moment just for us? No pack business, no threats, no interruptions?"Through our restored mate bonds, I feel Olivia's exhaustion. She's been splitting her time between pack duties, the children, and visiting Brynlee. Always putting everyone else first. I