Novel-novel oleh Goldie

KainLater that night, I met with my brothers in the war room.Riven had updates on two separate investigations, and the moment he started speaking, my brief moment of levity evaporated."I've sent letters to contacts who can help us dig into Garrick's operations," Riven said, spreading maps across the table. "If we're feeding him false intelligence through Lira, we need to understand what he's actually doing with it. What his real goals are.""You think this goes beyond just territorial ambition?" I asked."I think Garrick is small-minded and obvious," Riven said bluntly. "Which means he's probably working for someone smarter. Someone who actually poses a threat.""So we find the puppet master by following the puppet," Jax said."Exactly."That made strategic sense. Garrick had never struck me as particularly intelligent or subtle. If he was making moves against us, someone else was likely directing him."What's the second investigation?" I asked, even though part of me didn't want t

KainI escaped to my study during a break in the proceedings, desperate for five minutes of silence.I didn't get them."Popsy?"Angie pushed open the study door and climbed onto my lap before I could stand to greet her properly."Is it true?" she asked, her small face serious. "Are all those ladies here to marry you? Are you getting a new wife?"I couldn't lie to Angie. I'd never lied to her, and I wasn't going to start now, even when the truth was complicated and messy."You know how Popsy is going to become Alpha Primus?" I asked carefully. "The leader of the whole territory?"Angie's face brightened. "Like a king!""Sort of like that. And kings need partners to help them lead. That person is called a Luna. So I'm meeting ladies who might want to be Luna.""But you already have Lira." Angie's expression shifted to confusion. "Why do you need more ladies?"The question was so direct, so innocent, and so impossible to answer honestly that I had to take a moment to figure out how to r

KainI left Zuri on the floor of my study and walked away without looking back.Elora's jasmine and vanilla perfume lingered in the hallway. I could still see Zuri standing there in that blue silk, and I could still hear the desperation in her voice when she'd confessed she'd loved me before Elora died.I felt nothing but pity.Not anger. Not even disgust, really. Just a deep, bone-weary pity for a girl whose crush had warped into something dangerous and obsessive.The worst part was knowing that if circumstances had been different, if Zuri hadn't been so spiteful toward Lira, so volatile and unpredictable, she might have been the perfect decoy. She knew the pack, knew me, had bloodline credentials that would have satisfied the council. We could have had a conversation, come to an understanding, used the situation to protect everyone involved.But Zuri wasn't capable of understanding. She was a grenade with the pin already pulled, and choosing her would mean handing her the power to d

Zuri I waited until after midnight.I'd been watching their patterns for weeks, noticing the way they traded Lira between them like she was something to be shared and scheduled. Tonight was Riven's night—I'd seen Lira going to his wing of the house after dinner.Which meant Kain was alone.His routine when he didn't have Lira was predictable: check on Angie, make sure she was asleep, then retreat to either his study or the war room to work until exhaustion finally forced him to bed.Tonight it was the study. I saw the light under his door as I walked down the hallway, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.I was wearing Elora's favorite perfume—jasmine and vanilla, the scent that used to fill this house before she died. And underneath my robe, I wore deep blue silk lingerie, the color Elora had always said made her feel powerful and beautiful.If Kain saw me and remembered her, remembered what it was like when this house was full of love instead of politi

Zuri I ended up at Elora's grave.The cemetery behind the Alpha House was quiet and empty. Elora's headstone was white marble, elegant and simple, with fresh flowers in the vase—purple irises, her favorite. Kain must have put them there recently. I sank to the ground beside the grave, not caring that the damp earth would ruin my dress."I'm trying, Elora," I whispered to the cold stone. "I'm trying so hard to do what you asked. But he won't even look at me. After everything—after years of being here, of taking care of Angie, of trying to be what he needs—he won't even see me."The stone, of course, didn't answer."Am I doing too much?" I asked. "Should I just... let her win? Let them choose her or whoever and just walk away?"But I couldn't. Because if I gave up, if I admitted defeat, then what had the last five years been for? What had all the waiting and hoping and trying been about?If I gave up, it meant Elora had died and left nothing behind except a widower who'd moved on and

Zuri I left my mother's house three days early because I couldn't stand the pitying looks anymore."You need to let this go," she'd said that morning, watching me pack with that exhausted expression I'd come to hate. "He's not leaving her, Zuri. However this ends, he's not choosing you.""You don't know that." I shoved another dress into my bag with more force than necessary. "I heard the rumors. He's holding a Luna selection. A real one. That means she's not as secure as everyone thinks.""Or it means the council is forcing his hand for political reasons that have nothing to do with you.""I'm going back." I grabbed my bag. "I'm going to tell them everything I've heard about her. About Garrick trying to recruit her, about her having no records, no background. Kain is meticulous. He hates surprises. When he realizes what she really is—""What is she really?" My mother's voice was sharp. "Because from what you've told me, all you have is speculation and gossip. Nothing scandalous. Not

Sara Four months later. With my pregnancy showing, I wore a loose beach-colored gown together with other bridesmaids. Pumped and happy for the big day. Today was Dakota's wedding, and I was so happy as though it were my wedding. Dakota was experiencing back-to-back victories, and my emotions overflowed with tears streaming down my cheeks. It was a good decision for me not to wear makeup because I knew in the end, it was going to get smudged. My hands roamed my belly. My tiny miracle was growing every day, but the cravings that hit me were often crazy. While Dakota was getting ready with Olivia, Imani, and Sloane dolling her up, I reached for a slice of cake nearby and stuffed it into my mouth, enjoying the smudges of frostings. "Goodness gracious," Dakota laughed. "Somebody remind them to take my wedding cake far away from you." The wedding was the biggest talk in town as the merging of Wild Fangs and Desert Canines. It was the biggest event I had ever encountered, filled with

Sara My mornings were filled with overwhelming nausea washing over me. Getting sick in the morning had become my constant companion, and I felt a change taking place inside me. Everything was happening so fast, and Axton's betrayal threw us off balance. I couldn't believe that he cheated on Dakota with that bastard, Erika. I had never liked her, although I didn't have the guts to tell Dakota. The pain Dakota was experiencing was unfathomable, and I hated that bad things kept happening to someone with such a good heart. Axton, her own mate, had hurt her deeply. I made my way to the bathroom, and my stomach churned as I emptied its contents. Dakota watched me as I lay on the couch, covering myself with a blanket. "Are you okay?" she asked softly. I could see the sadness in her eyes, yet she was concerned about me. She had lost so much weight and was looking like the ghost of her former self, reminding me of the sad times before she met Axton. "I don't know," I managed to say. "I f

Elias My honeymoon with Sara was a fucking disaster. I was frustrated, confused, and annoyed that no matter how I tried to salvage the situation, nothing worked. All she wanted to do was return to Desert Canines to meet Dakota. The bond between both ladies was unbreakable, but I needed my time alone with my wife. It didn't help that I was getting blue balls after the failed attempt to make love with Sara. Sex had never been a problem for me. Although I was quite big, the girls at the Academy and my ex-flings had no issues with my size, but Sara freaked out when she saw me for the first time, making it seem like I was abnormal. She still hadn't returned from the pack house. I needed an outlet and went to Axton. He was busy with alpha duties, but when we took a break, I shared my feelings with him, hoping he would provide some relief. Instead, the idiot was amused and burst out laughing, which only fueled my annoyance. "It's not funny, dude. I don't think I can handle it a

Sara My wedding day had arrived. The whole thing seemed like a dream. I couldn't believe that I was getting married. I was ecstatic and scared at the same time. I sat in front of the mirror, and Dakota and Imani stood by my side, helping with my makeup. "I can't believe my baby girl is finally getting married," Dakota beamed, curving my brows. "You, my dear, are such a beautiful bride." "Adorable," Imani agreed. "I'm nervous, Dakota," I said to her. "What if something goes wrong? What if my wedding isn't perfect? Or what if I trip on my dress? What am I even going to do after the wedding? I know nothing about sex." Dakota and Imani exchanged glances, chuckling softly. "You're worrying too much. Everything will be fine. It's your day, and it's going to be amazing." I slipped into my wedding dress, a shimmery soft tulle gown adorned with intricate beadwork. Imani had gifted me the dress, and I had to work on it considering that it was meant for someone chubby like her. It turned

Sara I sat with Dakota in the back of the van, my heart racing with raw fear that compressed me like a vice, making me faint and feverish. Our hopes of escaping were shattered. Axton looked so pissed, like an angry bull. His reaction confused me, making me wonder why he was angry, considering that they had already labeled us murderers. But knowing how strong the mating bond was, I couldn't blame him, because somewhere in the back of my mind was dancing and rejoicing that we weren't leaving anymore. Now we had to face the consequences of our actions. Dakota sat beside me, her mouth on a white slash and anger simmering beneath the surface. Elias had no emotion on his face, and I wondered what he was thinking. He must hate me so much now. We returned to the cabin and Axton headed upstairs with Dakota, leaving Elias and me alone. The silence felt as though somebody had just died. I couldn't meet his gaze. I stared at my feet instead. He stood opposite me, not moving or saying anyt

Sara All night, I couldn't sleep. My limbs weakened, feeling Dakota's raw betrayal. I couldn't believe she would think so low of me. She blamed me for her circumstance and I didn't think I'd ever forgive her. The next morning, I sat outside the cabin, staring at the desert landscape. A small part of me wanted to run away because it took her getting angry before she said what was on her mind. If she didn't trust me, why were we pretending to love each other? Despite how angry I felt, I knew I couldn't leave her. We were all we had. I felt her presence behind me and went completely still. When our gazes met, I saw the remorse etched on her face. "Sara, I honestly didn't know what came over me last night. I'm so ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have said what I said. You know that I didn't mean any of those things, right?" My tongue lay like a stone in my mouth and a thick silence passed between us. "Sara, please say something. I was so worried when I returned to the cabin and cou

Alexis "Shit. That was close. He rasped out, his eyes glowing like a wildcat's and bulging with fear. "These bastards are mean and are out for us." "What are we going to do?" I said to Craig with my voice trembling. Craig grimaced, glancing outside the window, and swallowed hard, trying desperately to form coherent words. "I have no idea. But we have to stay here for now and run for our lives when this blows over. It's only a matter of time before they find us." "Fuck," Zarek winced while I paced frantically. Zarek broke the silence. "Are these buildings connected? They could destroy innocent lives while searching for us." "We need help," I said with every fiber in my body trembling nonstop. "We cannot do this on our own. They have outnumbered us." Craig turned to face me, his face congested with fear "Alexis, you have to stay here for now. I don't want you to get hurt." "Stay here?" I gasped, my eyes doubling in size. "Are you kidding me? I can't and I won't leave your si

Alexis My heart was racing so fast. I heard Craig and Zarek coming up, and I composed myself, watching them enter the room, laughing. Craig came to my side and knelt in front of me, kissing my stomach, and Zarek looked away. "How do you feel now? Better?" Craig said, concerned. I shook my head in a no, and Craig frowned. "Do you want me to get you something?" I got on my feet. "Craig, I called my dad," I blurted. "He thinks we are not safe, and is on his way to get me." Craig cursed under his breath. "We need to leave," he said firmly. "I don't trust your dad." "Come on, Craig. My dad may be an enemy to you, but he's my father. He's going to help us." Just as I made that statement, we heard a commotion downstairs, as if a riot was taking place. My heart skipped so fast. "Did you hear that?" I whispered to Craig. My breathing became raspy, and my lips trembled with fear. "I think they are here," Craig trembled and grabbed the bag where the staff was. Zarek rushed to the windo

Alexis Dora had warned us to be very careful and lay low because Dimitri had informants everywhere. It was even dangerous for us to call her, as Dimitri could trace the call and hurt her. Craig couldn't sleep and kept thinking the worst. Zarek joined us the next day and my thoughts were filled with self-loathing and the nagging urge to ask for my dad's help tugged in my heartstrings. But it was very unlikely that my dad, a werewolf, would help Craig and the vampire king. The possibility was almost impossible. He was never going to hand that staff to me. I could sense the frustration in Craig's eyes. He was like a locked-up bull, searching for a means of escape. He had stopped smiling, answering questions with minimal responses, and kept sighing constantly. He seemed to prefer talking to Zarek more than me, and that infuriated me because he made me feel like I had betrayed him in some way. And he poured out his frustration when I asked Dora how Oliver was doing. "I've warned

Alexis Craig's lips kissed my throat up before capturing my lips, and our breaths fused into our mouths. I was in divine ecstasy, and my wolf almost threatened to come out of my body. Our kiss was raw, rough, sloppy, and filled with weeks of longing and a mountain of passion. He went hard, soft, then hard again, and I had no desire to back out. Burying my hands into his thick hair, I let him scoop me up, nibbling his lips. Our kisses were messy because of my tears and the world disappeared around me. I pulled away, staring into his eyes with so much love. "I can't believe I'm seeing you. I hope someone doesn't wake me up if this is a dream." "It's me," he said. His voice thickened with emotion. "I'm here in flesh and blood." A comfortable silence settled between us and we exchanged glances, smiling. His gaze was mad with lust and molten desire, and a raging beast of need was in his eyes. "I dreamt of this day for weeks,"he whispered, kissing my neck and making my knees loosen.

Alexis One week later My heart pounded like a frightened bird, racing to escape, as I ran through the night. The darkness was consuming, making the hairs on my nape raise with raw fear, but I moved swiftly along, ignoring my rising panic. Oliver confessed to Dora and agreed to help us. I was heading to a vampire coven, so I couldn't shift into my wolf. Several nasty thoughts kept flying in, causing me to get frightened beyond measure, but I put a fire under my feet, attempting to lighten my mood with the hope of seeing Craig tonight. "I'll see Craig tonight," I chanted like a mantra. I hastened because it was almost midnight. The hotel Oliver recommended didn't seem to be popular. I stopped to take a breath when I began seeing spots in my vision and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to regain control. A stray cat darted behind me, sending chills down my spine. I sighed in relief when I burst out onto a surprisingly busy street with half-naked girls and men who couldn't walk

Alexis I edged closer to Dora until our eyes met. Dora held her head high and a broad smile graced her lips.My curiosity heightened, wondering what she wanted from me, considering that we had only met once. There was only one way to find out, but something in me suspected Craig sent her, but why would he when we’d gotten back together? "Hi," I formed a cheeky smile, hugging her. "What a surprise to see you here." "Hello, Alexis, right? I can never forget your name, considering how my boy never stops gushing about you," she said and hugged me back. When she pulled away, she stared at me with kind, observant eyes. The clouds darkened and it began to drizzle."You might want to come into the hall," I said to her. We found a secluded corner in the empty hall and sat opposite each other. Silence settled on us like mist, filling the air. I waited for her to speak but she didn't, making me uncomfortable. "Does Craig know you are here?" I managed to say. She let out a soft chuckle