Novel-novel oleh Sian Fleming

“Who are they all?” Cassy leaned into Logan and kept her voice as low as possible, though she saw a few smirks from the closest wolves. “I’ll let him tell you.” She looked in the direction of her mate’s gaze and saw the crowd, that had gathered around her protective circle of Shadow Forest wolves, parting to let a small group through. She heard them before she saw them. Or at least, she heard him. The King’s voice grated on her, making the hairs on her nape stand on end. Logan felt her stiffen and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her in tighter. He checked she was okay and she nodded. Despite the man’s voice making her body tense, his words made her smile. “Get off me you filthy bitch.” William snarled, thrashing his body to try and break out of Alex’s grip but she held strong. Bloody wounds tore into the King, and even Cassy could see there was little energy to his movement. Though his voice was a strong as ever. “Trust me, Whore, I will remember your face and have it ripped

Just as Logan made his pledge, Darius pushed into the protected circle of his wolves. His fur was bloody and matted, large gashes along his legs and rump adding to his wild look. He raced to his Alpha’s side, pushing Zac aside as he shifted and fell to his knees. Cassy didn’t dare to look up at the man as shame swallowed her. She couldn’t bear to look away from the fading life of her mate, but she also knew it was her fault. He wouldn’t be there, dying, if not for her, and she couldn’t look to his Beta and feel that burden. Not yet. She needed to survive the next moment first. “Luna. Tell me what to do.” Darius spoke but she just shook her head. Why was he asking her when it was clear they couldn’t do a thing? The Beta placed large hands over his Alpha’s chest, spread over his flesh as if he was trying to cover as much area as possible. It was strange when she had expected respectful words for his fallen leader. “Cassy, look at me.” She swallowed, understanding then that the Beta wan

Cassy felt him closing in on her, the tips of his fangs scrapping her skin, when a tingle worked over her flesh. She knew what it was and kept her ability localised to herself. Time slowed to an almost stop, silencing the battle around her. Like always, she couldn’t move, so it wasn’t like she could slip free of the King’s hold and rush to help Logan, however she needed a minute. Panic was racing through her, sending her thoughts tumbling in all directions, but clarity was precious. As false seconds ticked by, she calmed, her mind cleared and she focused. William had threatened to kill Logan, provoking a fear in her that he’d die trying to save her. Yet, he was in no more danger now than when he had first rushed into save her. The threat was as meaningless as the King himself. Cassy clung to that thought as she strained her eyes to search around her. They were still outnumbered by Silver Spear wolves and in a second of normal time, the King would mark her and leave Shadow Forest in

The sound of Alex’s voice was Goddess sent. After no word from her for days, Cassy had wondered if the King had caught her as she fled Ash Mount. In her darker moment, she had also wondered if her friend had abandoned her in fear of the King. Cassy wouldn’t have blamed her, not after meeting the cruel man, but now shame prickled in her. How could she have doubted her best friend? It was hard to believe she had done as relief flooded her system. ‘You mean she isn’t happy to see us?’ Katie chipped in. ‘After we’ve gone through all this effort to save her?’ Cassy immediately jerked her face directly to the window to hide her mindlink clouded eyes from the King, but they were far enough from Ash Mount that he had stopped casting glances in her direction. She stalled in responding to them, just enough to be able to collect herself enough to not react to their voices. Instead, she just basked in their presence, a connection she had sorely missed over the past few days. ‘I love you guys.

The rest of the day, Cassy felt like a ghost. William offered her an escort to her house to collect her belongings to take to Silver Spear, but the thought of letting that man or his wolves anywhere near her home made her shudder. Instead, she told him she wanted to start afresh. New clothes, new belongings, new life. It seemed to please him, and gained her a few hours alone in Alex’s room to come to terms with what was happening. She cried first, letting the devastation of her mate’s complicity in the King’s claiming of her to spill outside of the composure she had had to hold for the entire lunch. Then, she revolted. She left the room twice, looking for an opening in the three guards William had placed on her, but they didn’t allow an inch of time or space to escape. Between them, the King had placed two larger wolves and a leaner wolf to watch her. It was almost like he was taunting her escape options. There was no way she could fight the stronger looking warriors and the lithe on

Cassy grimaced when she looked in the mirror. Not because of the dark circles under her puffy eyes or the flat side of her hair, that she’d had to peel of the door that morning, but because of the skin-tight red dress she wore. It had been left on her bed while she took a shower to distract herself from the finals of the Luna Trials taking place. It was just past midday, and her stomach was twisting with a nausea that made her want to curl up on the floor again. At that moment, the final round of the Trials was well underway somewhere in the pack, and Sarah and Roan were battling it out to become the next Ash Mount Luna. And Jace’s mate. Whatever conflict was brewing between them, Cassy couldn’t imagine another wolf at his side ruling the pack. The thought made tears prick in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. She had allowed herself to fall apart last night under Jace’s protection. Today she had to face what was coming. Though, she wasn’t sure she could face it. Not only was Jace b

Inga POV - There had been few moments in Inga’s life when she had stopped to simply observe the world around her. There had always been something she needed to do, every single action having a purpose towards her goal to liberate Grey Stone of their leadership and break free from Red Dawn. Each step forward she had carried that responsibility, that burden, but it was finally gone. Eleanor was dead, Autumn was the Grey Stone Alpha, and she was no longer a Beta. Well, she was in name, but she was free of the role’s duties during her and Connor’s break. The moment she had recovered from the war, Silver Night had been their first stop to confirm their decision with Alpha Michael, and then they were off. Connor didn’t waste any time taking her away from everything, carving out a small piece of the kingdom just for them. He took her to the one place he knew better than anywhere, a place where they could be alone. Dark Night was beautiful in a tragic way. The years of battle had scarred t

Nala POV - “Do you give up?” Nala growled in Autumn’s ear, nipping the soft flesh beneath it. Her mate squealed and wiggled beneath her. Nala smiled as she managed to squirm her legs free and wrapped them around her waist, giving her the purchase to roll them over. She could’ve stopped it, but why would she when it gave her such a great view. Autumn sat astride her waist, pinning her arms to her side with her thighs, a victorious grin on her perfect mouth. Her chest heaved with each pant, and she watched a bead of sweat fall from her chin and slide into her cleavage. Nala's tongue flicked across her lips, a pang of heat swelling in her core. “Ha!” The Alpha shouted, letting her head fall back, her red hair falling around her in wave after wave of beautiful curls. Nala’s fingers twitched at the memory of their softness. “I did it. I finally pinned you.” She laughed, the sound spreading across the empty training field. Nala took the opportunity to look over her mate’s form, gr

Michael POV - “That could’ve been us.” Nala snorted, elbowing him in the gut with a force that almost winded him. It was almost horrifying to picture being mated to his friend. He thought as much as he rubbed his side, already feeling a bruise forming, but didn't get a chance to respond as she turned back to Alpha Autumn. The Grey Stone wolf leaned in to hear Nala's whispers and immediately bloomed a stark red. She fumbled for something to say and ended up thrusting their pup into the warrior's arms instead. Nala lifted the pup to her shoulders, letting him wave widely at the couple on the stage, though it didn't stop her from leaving a hand on Autumn's thigh.Michael chuckled. It was a good thing she had vehemently denied becoming his mate to broker a stronger alliance between their packs. He shuddered to consider it now, but it was easier to laugh about it when they both sat beside their mates, watching the rightful leaders of the pack take their positions.“Mountain Forest, I giv

Inga POV - When one closes their eyes for what they think will be the last time, it’s odd when they open them again. Though everything was blurry and bright, Inga was sure it wasn’t a dream or her imagination playing tricks on her. The pain lancing through her skull could attest for that. Sound came first. The rustling of material beside her, followed by a few sharp shouts that were blaringly loud, as if right beside her ear, but far too muffled for any word to be clear. Her frustration bubbled like hot water beneath her skin, her drive to understand what was going on far greater than her submission to the pain or fatigue trying to pull her back into slumber. She blinked open her eyelids, wincing through the blur of colours that moulded into oddly shaped blobs. One particular blob leaned in close, too close, and her body reacted on its own. Her arm jerked up; her fist semi clenched as her muscles ignored her instincts. She punched the blob, or more like tapped it with her fis

Inga POV - It may have only been two stories, but after the day she had had, the week, hitting the ground felt like hitting a wall that punched the words of giving up to her tongue. Inga swallowed them, her mouth dry, clawing to hold onto her surrender. Every inch of her ached. The impact jarred through her body, making her head ring and her vision dizzy. At least she had managed to push Luna Eleanor off her while they fell. Inga didn’t want to think about the additional pain she’d be in if that bitch had landed on her. If luck was with her, hopefully the Luna had fallen on her face or, better yet, a knife. The night sky was a blanket of black spread out above her, dotted with stars, like glitter threaded into a plush blanket. She was so tired that the paved road at her back felt comfier than her bed back at Grey Stone. Just thinking of that bed made her remember her last night in it, cuddled at Connor’s side, in disbelief and awe that he was there. He made her feel safe, he made h

Inga POV - Inga didn’t so much as flinch when the door cracked hard enough against the wall that it dented the plaster. She didn’t blink when six wolves barrelled inside. She didn’t hesitate as one of the warriors felt gutsy and charged her before the others. She didn’t give him the chance to attack. He had asked for her attention; he had unknowingly drawn the short straw. She lunged. Her body protested as she forced it to shift, but it obeyed. The glare she pinned to the wolf as she moved towards him, made him freeze with the instinct of prey already caught by the predator. It was his lack of discipline to refine his reflexes that was his downfall. The warrior didn’t so much as jerk as her jaws latched onto his arm, her canines digging deep into his flesh. The familiar warm, metallic, taste of blood pooled on her tongue, a wave of feral victory washing through her. With no time to bask in its glow, she twisted her head until she heard the bone snap, before letting the wolf go and re

Roman POV - Roman tries to keep his composure as he leaves the meal, but of course his unit knows something is wrong. As soon as he stands, Lilli snaps her attention to him, her brows pinched in a question while her hand reaches out. He takes it in his own and presses a small kiss to the back, relishing the sweet moment of peace her touch offers, before reassuring her he is okay and turning to leave. Her frown doesn't disappear, but she seems to accept his words and returns to her conversation with Papa. Allie’s gaze doesn't relent. He has known Roman far longer than their mate and knows the intricacies of his feelings towards Clear Blue. Rather than ease him with a false smile, his eyes flickers to Lilli, a request to keep an eye on her while he is gone. At Allie’s nod, he excuses himself from the table and heads out of the village. He doesn't know where he's going but he needs space and air. His chest had tightened the moment his dad had returned with word from Sam, and its t

Mina POV-“That’s the strangest mark I’ve ever seen.” Mina jerks from her ogling to catch Carla’s wink as she heads over. “I presume you liked our gift?”

Mina POV - Her head is a fog of mindless bliss, still high from her orgasm, as her mates help her roll to her knees. They are shaky, the tremble of pleasure still deep in her muscles. Roman settles before her, guiding her to lean against his chest. His fingers trail light patterns over the length of her forearm as she nuzzles against him, enjoying his scent, his presence, and the firmness of his chest. Alastor’s hands settle at her waist. His thumbs massage circles into her lower back. The touch is small, but intense. Her skin is hyperaware of her mate’s every move, her attention latching to it, making every touch between them heightened, addictive. Mina jerks when his fingers trail across her sex, coating themselves in her arousal. Heat builds in her cheeks at the wet sound, but Alastor’s groan soothes any rising insecurities. It is full of pure lust, pure need, pure appreciation. How could she shy away from such a noise? A rustle behind her draws her eyes just in time to see

Mina POV-Alastor crawls up her body, his knee sliding between her legs, parting them. Her breath hitches as his thigh presses to her apex, but her attention is drawn away as a hand cups the back of her head, guiding it to a pillow. Roman’s fingers thread delicately in her hair, far sweeter than the heathis dark gaze promises. Her chest warms. Even when desire is creeping upon them, her mates are gentle with her, making sure she's comfortable.

Mina POV-The trio spends the rest of the day discussing Clear Blue and how to move forward. The main problem is proving Mina’s innocence. Without knowing the ability that her and Alastor had gained through their bond, they can’t prove the note is fake, and without knowing who is framing her, they can’t gather the evidence they needed to bring the real murderer to justice.That, alongside the mole in Clear Blue, makes the options forward limited. She ins

Mina POV-When Mina wakes up alone, a chill races down her spine. She spreads her arms wide, reaching for the two warm bodies that had slept beside her all night, but the bed is empty. She shivers and sits up. Roman's room is bright with the late morning hour, but there is no sign of him or Alastor. She sniffs the air, their scents strong, but waning in their absenceand she wonders where they've gone. Mina frowns, and draws the covers tight around herselfto lock in