Novels by Krystal Alex

Kael POV The night air was cool and pleasant as Marcus and I sat on the back terrace. Two glasses of whiskey sat between us, the amber liquid catching the light from the lanterns. “So,” Marcus said, taking a sip. “Flying now? That’s new.” I grinned. “It took me six months to learn. Almost crashed into a tree twice.” “Only twice?” “Okay, maybe five times. But who’s counting?” Marcus laughed. “Does Selene know about the tree incidents?” “Absolutely not. And you’re not telling her.” “My lips are sealed.” He held up his glass. “To keeping secrets from our mates.” “That’s a terrible toast.” “You have a better one?” I thought for a moment, then raised my own glass. “To surviving the impossible and living to drink about it.” “Now that’s better.” Marcus clinked his glass against mine. We drank in comfortable silence for a while. Below us, the pack territory stretched out, peaceful and quiet. Lights glowed in the windows. Somewhere, a wolf howled at the moon. “Have you ever thou

Selene POVKael’s lips moved against mine in a way that still made my heart race after all these years. His hands cupped my face gently, thumbs brushing against my cheekbones as he deepened the kiss.We were still standing by the window, the sounds of children’s laughter drifting in from somewhere in the house. But in this moment, it was just us.His mouth moved to my jaw, trailing soft kisses down to my neck. I tilted my head back, giving him better access, my fingers tangling in his hair.“Kael,” I breathed.“Mmm?” He didn’t stop kissing me.“The children could walk in.”“Door’s locked.” His teeth grazed my pulse point, and I gasped. “I checked.”“When did you…”“When I came in.” He pulled back enough to look at me, his green eyes dark with desire. “I had plans.”“Did you now?”“I did.” His hands moved down to my waist, pulling me flush against him. “Plans that involve you.

Marcus POVI couldn’t help it. I smiled.The sight was too precious. My niece…well, not technically my niece, but that’s what she called me…standing protective guard over a kid who’d just insulted my family.“So,” I said, walking closer. “Are you three bullying Isla again?”All three children started talking at once.“No!”“We weren’t…”“Uncle, this is…”I held up my hand and they fell silent immediately.Aria stepped forward, leaving Drake unprotected. “Uncle Marcus, this is children’s matters. I’ll handle it. You should go and rest.”I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “Oh? You’ll handle it?”“Yes.” She nodded seriously. “You’re old. You need your rest. Me and… and my associates will take care of this situation.”“Your associates?”She gestured vaguely at Isla and Drake. “Yes. Them.”“I’m not your associate!” Drake protested.

Five Years LaterNarrator POVThe garden of Blackthorn Pack had never been more alive with chaos.Five children ran between the flower beds, their laughter echoing off the stone walls. The oldest was barely seven. The youngest had just turned four. And together, they were a force of nature that no adult had quite figured out how to contain.“Give it back!” A small voice shouted.Isla, Lydia and Marcus’s daughter, stood with her hands on her hips. She was five years old with her mother’s green eyes and her father’s stubborn jaw. Right now, those green eyes were filled with tears.“Give what back?” Nora, one of Keisha and Ryker’s twin daughters, held something behind her back. She was six and already showing signs of her father’s mischievous nature.“My ribbon! The blue one Mama gave me!” Isla’s lower lip trembled. “You took it!”“Did not!” Nora’s twin brother, Finn, stepped up beside his sister. “We did

Selene POV Six Months LaterI woke to find Kael already awake, propped up on one elbow and staring at me.“You’re doing it again,” I said sleepily.“Doing what?”“Watching me sleep. It’s creepy.”“It’s not creepy. It’s romantic.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “How are you feeling?”“Tired. Hungry. Like I need to pee for the third time tonight.” I pushed myself up to sitting, which was harder than it used to be with the additional weight I was carrying. “You know, the usual.”His hand immediately went to my swollen belly, his touch gentle and reverent. “And how’s our little one?”“Active.” As if on cue, the baby kicked. “See?”Kael’s face lit up with wonder. It happened every time he felt the baby move. Like it was a miracle he couldn’t quite believe.“That’s amazing,” he breathed. “Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?”“For the hundredth time, I don’t kn

Marcus POVI found Lydia in the healing room, organizing supplies like she always did when she needed to think. Her back was to me, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.“You know we have people who can do that now,” I said from the doorway.She jumped slightly, then turned to face me with a small smile. “Old habits. Besides, it keeps my hands busy.”I walked into the room and closed the door behind me. “You’ve been avoiding me.”“I haven’t…” She stopped when she saw my expression. Sighed. “Okay, maybe a little.”“Why?” I moved closer. “Lydia, we survived. We’re both alive. That’s what we wanted, isn’t it?”“It is.” She set down the bandages she’d been folding. “It’s just… I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For something terrible to happen. We’ve been through so much, Marcus. So much death and pain and loss. It doesn’t feel real that it’s actually over.”I understood. I felt the same wa