(Derek POV) I already mentioned that I take on side jobs. Almost all human celebrities do; that is where the real money comes from. The most common side hustle is to endorse products and film commercials, but I find most commercials demeaning, and I legit could care less about what brand of soap some f&&ing human wants to use. After trying —and failing— to fake my way through a few bullsh&t commercials, I discovered almost by accident that I was uniquely qualified for a very different type of side hustle. Even better, it pays a ton better than commercials. Specifically, desperate wolves from around the world pay me big money to travel around human territories, enter populated areas, and locate missing (or hiding) werewolves. Here is why it makes sense, and why I am uniquely qualified: Werewolves are inherently social creatures, and while in human territories, our subconscious tends to draw us to any other wolves that may be nearby. Given that subconscious draw and the fac

“What the Goddess is going on here?” I demanded angrily. James let go of Brady and gave me a strange look that conveyed both guilt and male pride. Once released, Brady stood up straight and came running over to me. He wrapped me in a hug and lifted me off the ground. James immediately began growling. Meanwhile, realizing that I was not hugging him back, Brady placed me back on the ground and looked at me in confusion. “Lily, I am here. We can leave. You do not have to stay with this a&&hole anymore. I can protect you now. My dad is looking after the pack so you and I can go anywhere you want.” I walked over to a chair and dropped my purse and shopping bag down as I tried to collect my thoughts. Although I was angry and confused about what I had walked in on, when my eyes landed on the candles and roses everywhere, I softened a bit. I looked at James and gave him an appreciative smile. “Thank you. It looks beautiful in here,” I told him via mind-link. “You are late,”

How can you possibly forget all of that?!?!” I felt tears threatening to escape from my eyes. “Brady, stop. Please. I know you are angry, but ---” “Angry? No, Lily. I am not angry. I am disappointed. I thought you were better than this. I thought you were stronger. How can you just forgive and forget someone who tortured you like James did, and all the while turn your back on someone like me who wants nothing more than to love you and take care of you for the rest of your life?!?!?!?!?!?!?” The tears started to run down my face. I stood up and went over to him, putting my hand on his arm. “Brady, I ----” “EXPLAIN IT TO ME, LILY! TELL ME HOW YOU CAN TURN DOWN MY LOVE IN FAVOR OF JAMES AND HIS TOXICITY?” Despite how angry Brady was and how much he was yelling at me, I suddenly realized that Brady was crying as well. I felt my heart break for him and for our horrible situation. “Brady, you do not love me,” I said honestly. “You love the idea of me. You love who you th

James studied my face, absorbing my words. “I do not deserve you, Lily.” I gave James an annoyed look. “Bullsh&t. Plus, it is a little late to worry about that now, isn’t it?” “We are not marked yet. You can still change your mind. I do not want to pressure you to do anything that you do not want to do, or that you are not ready for.” “Have you changed your mind?” I asked him. “No.” “Do you trust me?” “With my life.” “Then trust me when I tell you that I want this and I want you. I am not going to be with anyone who does not deserve me. You have earned my respect and my love, and I want to be yours now and forever.” James leaned over and kissed me gently. I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned the kiss. “I want you to mark me, James,” I said once we broke for air. “Once we do this, there is no going back.” “Good. I do not want to go back. I want to go forward.” “I am supposed to be the one with the romantic lines and speeches,” James fake-protested. I gi

(Brady POV) I took the shot in one fast gulp and then turned back to Charlotte. “You know that you are supposed to shoot shots, not sip them, right?” I asked her. She rolled her eyes. Even in my drunken stupor, I could not help but notice how pretty her eyes were. “I don’t normally drink whiskey,” she explained. “Ah. Then why now?” “I just rejected my…. I just broke up with my boyfriend.” I gave her a knowing smile. “Your mate. You just rejected your mate.” Charlotte looked at me like she had just gotten caught with her hand in a cookie jar. I smiled. “I am a wolf too.” She looked relieved. “Oh. Really?” “Yeah. You probably cannot smell my wolf that well right now because he is buried under a couple bottles of wolfsbane whiskey. I needed a break from all things Moon Goddess.” Charlotte nodded. “Don’t I get that.” “Wait… if you just rejected your mate, shouldn’t you be passed out in a hospital bed somewhere?” Charlotte shook her head. “No. My wolf is buried fo