TALIA As “payment” for letting me stay at the packhouse, I agreed to help Lucy with her baby. And, to be completely honest, Lucy’s baby was a very strong form of birth control. Libby made me never want to spread my legs again. Bring on the cotton panties and grandma bras! Libby was teething, and so she was spending most of her day crying, with big fat tears rolling down her lobster-red cheeks. Lucy was at work today, so I was stuck trying to soothe her, trying to figure out how to get her to stop. I'd tried stuffed animals, rattles, pacifiers, tickles, rocking. Nothing worked. I began shedding my own tears out of frustration, and, let's be honest, grief. The tightness in my chest that had become a new normal for me refused to loosen. I swallowed against the constriction in my throat. I missed my mom. She was always so loving to me and always knew the right thing to say or do. I bet she would’ve known what to do with Libby. She had always held me so gently, so lovingly when I was dow
ALEXANDER “Well, there’s your answer,” Blake said to me. “I’m not leaving until my mate comes with me,” I responded. Goddess, she was amazing—no, perfect! I’d never met such a beautiful woman in my life—so tall, lean, and leggy, curves in all the right places, and the face of an angel. I gazed as she walked away, her perfect, tight ass teasing me in those leggings. I only had seconds to really appreciate her the last time I saw her. But now that I was seeing her in the daylight, I had more time to really take all of her in, I was really able to grasp what was at stake. She was my perfect match, and I couldn’t fathom the idea of going back home without her. “We had a deal.” Blake glared at me. “Wulfric, please, she’s my mate. You had a mate before too, right? You must know what it’s like.” I tried to reason with him. I was no longer above begging. He sighed. “She doesn’t want to see you.” “Let me stay with you. That way you can make sure I don’t do anything you don’t approve of. I
JASMINE Blake and I were seated in his car, heading to dinner at the casino after spending the perfect day together, well, except for the fact that I had stripped myself in front of everyone stationed at the pack entrance gate . . . “I see you blushing. I can tell you’re thinking about it.” Blake smirked as he held my hand and glanced over at me. “I’m not thinking about anything,” I replied, wrinkling my nose. “I know it’s bothering you. You’re a warrior now. As much as I want to keep your hot body to myself, it’s an occupational hazard, having to shift back and forth all the time.” I groaned. “I loved how you jumped in to defend me today. I had it handled of course, but damn, it’s so hot when you fight.” Blake had a huge smile on his face. “I miss going to training with you.” I groaned again, reminded of how difficult the transition to warrior had been for me. Blake’s face took on a serious demeanor and he asked, “Was Alyssa one of the mean girls?” I sighed. “She’s always bee
JASMINE “You invited my mom’s side of the family?” I raised my eyebrows at him. I hadn’t seen my mom’s side of the family in years and wasn’t expecting them to show up suddenly at my birthday. “It’s about time we meet, don’t you think? Our marriage is making an alpha alliance, which is a big deal. We’re no longer aligned just by politics, but by blood.” Before our conversation went any further, my grandmother grabbed my hand. “Very beautiful ring, Jazzy,” she said, pulling me in for a hug. I hugged her back. “Thank you. Blake did a great job.” I put my hand out in front of me, displaying the generously sized sapphire that sparkled as the light hit it. I couldn’t help but smile as I looked up at Blake, silently thanking him again, for both the ring and for how much he’d been there for me since I’d met him. “Congratulations, Alpha.” My grandfather shook Blake’s hand. “You’ve made a great choice.” “Congrats, Alpha B!” My dad shook Blake’s hand next, then gave him a friendly pat on t
TALIA I awoke feeling the most relaxed I had in years. The most amazing sensation was fluttering up and down my skin, almost like sparks that both aroused and calmed me simultaneously, compelling me to practically moan from the pleasure floating through my body. And the scent—oh my, something smelled so delightful. I inhaled more deeply, allowing the fragrance to fill my lungs. As I became more conscious, I realized I was not alone in my bed. No, there was a warm body, and we were wrapped in each other, with his morning wood pressing against my abdomen. What the fuck? I quickly pushed him from me, causing him to roll off the bed and fall to the floor with a loud thump. He groaned and shot up, staring at me from where he was seated on the floor. “What are you doing in my bed?” I shrieked. He looked around frantically, confusion on his face. I could sense he was panicked. Then realization played across his face, and he said, “This is my bedroom. You’re in my bed!” “What!” I looked
TALIA It had now been about a week and a half since Alex arrived, and he showed no intention of leaving. I’d lock my door at night, waking up some mornings on the floor next to it. He was right. I was sleepwalking, trying to get to him. I tried to mostly stay up on the alpha floor, spending time watching TV in the private living room instead of downstairs where he would try to force me into conversations I had no interest in having. Sometimes he’d catch me during mealtime and invite me to go for a walk with him. One day, he left a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table for me, with a note asking me to give him a chance. He was very persistent; I’d give him that. But I couldn’t get past his horrible eyes and that his father had killed my mother. The idea of being around anyone who was related to her murderer made my heart and lungs tear, constricting my air and blood flow. One morning, after breakfast, a knock sounded on my door. I opened it, coming face-to-face with Lucy, surprised
TALIA “I’m really sorry about your mom, Talia,” he said, hanging his head as he glanced up at me through his blond lashes. “Maybe once you’re back in your human form again you can tell me why my father did it. As bad as he was, I never knew him to be a straight-up murderer, and I especially can’t imagine him killing a beautiful woman like your mom. I saw her picture on your phone lock screen.” I whimpered at the mention of my mom, the wind suddenly chilly against my body and my chest heavy. My paws shook and I dug my claws into the dirt to steady them. I couldn’t be around him anymore. Without a second thought, I got up and turned my back to him. With my feet taking control, I sprinted back to the packhouse with an urgency to be alone. Every muscle in my body ached as I made my way back, and I wasn't sure if it was the grief or something else. Either way, I was thankful that I couldn't cry in my wolf form, giving me some semblance of control over the emotions wreaking havoc inside me
TALIA I managed to avoid him for the whole day after waking in his bed again. After my wolf had possessed me during my run the day prior, I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Although, there was a part of me that longed to be close with him like that again. I tried to shove it from my mind. After spending the day watching Libby so Lucy could go to work, I was exhausted. I ended the day watching TikTok videos on my phone and eventually drifted into sleep. The next morning, I awoke, again a feeling of bliss and arousal overtaking my body, the most intoxicating and sensual scent overwhelming my senses. Before I could stop myself, my hands instinctively moved to his body, feeling his abs flex under my fingertips, sparks moving through my hands and arms as I made skin-to-skin contact. I couldn’t bring myself to cease what I was doing as I rubbed my hands all over his ripped body, enthralled by the curves of the hard muscles lining his core and chest. He moaned, and I opened my eyes t