AstridFocusing, like Ryker, told me to. My body shifts back into human form. I open my eyes to see myself lying in Ryker's arms. I lock eyes with him, but this time, I see him through my wolf's eyes. 'Mate!' I say, and the world around me disappears. I feel a magnetic rush of endorphins and dopamine sweep through me—the attraction and lust I have for Ryker increase dramatically. I want to touch him, hold him, mark him and tell the world he is 'mine'. My arms wrap around his neck. 'Ryker, I missed you so much! I'm so sorry for leaving.'He wraps his warm, masculine arms around my waist and presses me to his chest. He cups my face in his hands. 'It's okay, babe. I know you didn't want to leave. I'm here now, and that's all that matters.' We stare into each other's eyes, and our mouths smash together. My body ignites with the intensity of our passionate kiss. It sends overwhelming, hot shivers down my spine. We eventually part from the kiss and pant.Ryker lets out a little growl and
Giggling and blushing as Ryker nips my ear playfully, I let out a slight growl. He puts me on the bed and crawls toward me, kissing me passionately. 'I love you,' I say, staring into his eyes. 'I love you. I've wanted nothing more in my life,' he whispers.'I want you to mark me, Ryker. It's time the world knows I belong to you and you, alone.'Are you sure you are ready?' He asks as his eyes glisten longingly into mine. Ryker pulls me on top of him, so I'm sitting fully on his lap. He caresses my back as we kiss with intense passion. 'Ryker,' I whisper.'Astrid,' he whispers. He grazes the spot on my neck, readying himself to mark me, and bites down with his protruded fangs. An overwhelming sense of love and euphoria rush through my body.My fangs protrude, and I hover over the marking spot on Ryker's neck before biting down on his skin. Intense drowsiness overwhelms me. I bite into his nape, marking him before I slump into his chest and instantly fall asleep.The sun shines on m
Three months later,Gently waking Ryker up, I cover his handsome face in kisses. 'I don't want to wake up,' He murmurs. I throw a pillow at his face. 'Hey!' He sits up and throws a pillow back at me. I lean backward, dodging the pillow. I poke out my tongue: 'Ha! You missed!' I tease.'Oh, did I?' He says, jumping out of bed and running toward me, flinging me over his shoulder and whirling us around in a circle. 'Ryker! Stop!' I giggle. 'You'll make me sick,' I say. Ryker stops.'Well, you're no fun!' He feigns a pout. 'No fun? We are always having fun,' I state. 'True.' He says, lifting me over his shoulder.Ryker runs into the dining room downstairs with a grin on his face. I scream his name the whole way down. 'Ryker!' I yell, trying not to laugh at his playfulness. Finally, he sits in a chair and pulls me onto his lap. 'There, I put you down,' he says, winking at me. I roll my eyes. 'Did you roll your eyes at me, Luna?' he laughs.Everyone at the table eats in silence, smi
I feel like and look like a beached whale struggling to get out of bed. 'Ryker!' I call out. A moment later, I hear Ryker running up the stairs. 'What's wrong? Is the baby coming?' He asks. I laugh.'No, we're fine. I just can't sit up. My belly is so huge.' Ryker smiles and walks over to the bed to help me sit up before kneeling beside me and placing his hands on both sides of my belly.'I can't wait to meet you, little one. It won't be much longer now,' Ryker says, kissing my stomach. Ryker pulls me to my feet, helps me dress, and we walk downstairs for breakfast. I think twice about sitting on Ryker's lap when I'm as big as I am. Instead, I pull out another chair, breaking our morning routine.'Wait,' he says, standing and sitting down in the chair I have just pulled out. Then, he gestures for me to sit in his. 'You're so sweet,' I say, smiling at him. 'Only the best seat in the house for you, my love,' he says, giving me a wink and a smile.'Astrid, you must let Hayley and I t
'Ryker! My Dad! He kidnapped me!''Are you at your father's house?''No, we aren't at his house. I'm in a big, old shed or run-down, abandoned factory. I've never been here before.''Leon is bringing me a map. We'll mark all the abandoned buildings and sheds and check each one.''You need to hurry. Dad said he would kill our baby.' I hear a ferocious growl through the link.'I'm going to kill him if he lays a finger on you or our baby.'Dad grabs my hair. 'Are you even listening to me? Or are you too busy zoning out?' He yells. 'Ryker is going to find me, and he is going to kill you for this!' I yell. 'Your precious Ryker, hey, so, he's your baby Daddy?' he says.'Yes. Ryker is my mate!' I reply. 'Your mate? And what kind of term is that?' He asks. 'The Moon Goddess chose us to be together. We are soul mates,' I say. He smirks and stands, picking the chair up and throwing it. I watch it smash into pieces. 'Please don't. I'm begging you,' I say as Dad approaches me.He picks up t
Amelia and I sit on the porch drinking tea, heavily pregnant with our second babies, while Magnus plays with little Nina. Amelia and Leon's daughter aptly named Nina because she was such a small, tiny baby, and Nina means 'little girl'. I think it's pretty cute. We laugh as little Nina holds in a mouthful of water and squirts it into Magnus' face. Then she pokes her tongue out at Magnus and runs away. Magnus chases after her. 'Little Nina and Magnus are the complete opposite of each other. I say it would be interesting to see if the Moon Goddess chooses them as mates?' I giggle. 'I don't know. Every playdate we have, Nina wears poor Magnus out. She is always playing tricks on him. She is so silly and cheeky, and he is so serious and sensible,' Amelia says, laughing. 'I think I need to go to the bathroom,' I say. 'Me too,' Amelia says. We both call out for our mates. 'Ryker!' I yell. 'Leon!' Amelia yells. They both appear. 'Is the baby coming? Are you okay?' Ryker asks, concerned
‘Come on, Magnus, please play hide and seek with me,’ Nina begs me with her large, brown, doe-like eyes.I walk towards her with abrupt haste. She steps back until she feels the bluestone wall against her back. I tower over her with ease. My mother, Astrid, the Luna of Shadow Crest, always reminds me that when I was born, I was double the size of a regular wolf baby and almost a foot taller and much broader than any other ten-year-old. She says I may even become the mightiest Alpha of all one day.Glaring down into Nina’s eyes, I huff, ‘I’m still mad at you for tricking me into putting salt on my cereal this morning instead of sugar.’Nina’s face lights up with a smile. ‘The look on your face when you ate it, though, was so worth it,’ she giggles.Why do you always enjoy making me the laughingstock of the family? Do you hate me that much?’‘It’s not like that, Magnus. You’re my best friend, always and forever. We are just having fun,’‘Fun! You’re not the one who gets into trouble for
The next day I walk straight past Nina and ask May if she wants to climb some trees with Zak and me. I can see Nina's eyebrows crease in confusion out the corner of my eyes as May and I have rarely ever spoken to each other, nor have we ever played together.‘Sure,’ she smiles.‘Okay, let’s go.’ I smile and wave for her to follow.Nina stands there watching us, then runs after us. ‘Hey, I want to climb trees too, you know!’I stop and face her. ‘No, only my friends can join,’ ‘What are you talking about, Magnus? I’m your best friend?’‘You were never my friend,’ I growl and regroup with others.Nina’s face turns sombre, with a hint of confusion.‘That’s harsh, don’t you think, Magnus? You and Nina have been the best of friends since you were both babies,’ Flint says.‘No, they forced us to be friends, our mother’s planning constant playdates every day, and if she were my best friend, she wouldn’t be getting me into trouble every day. Nina no longer exists to me,’ I snarl.Flint and J