โThe Alpha has requested that you move into his den.โLiora squeaked, the tall glass cup she was holding crashed to the floor. Her heart leaped into her throat and her wolf chanted the delightful โMโ word between her two reddened ears. โMate-mate-mate-mate-mate-โโCalm down, pup.โ Thaddeus chuckled at Lioraโs reaction to the news. โItโs hard not to intrude on your thoughts when you think so loudly.โโIโm so sorry,โ She shook her head, gesturing to the broken glass, โIโll clean this up right away.โโDonโt touch that. I canโt have you injured before we get to the mansion.โ He waved her off, โ Itโs a good distance from here so we have a car outside waiting to take you.โLiora couldnโt believe her ears. She was going not only to the Alpha's den but to his mansion?! If only Callie could see her now. The Alpha was messed up, not quite right in the wolf- but damn- she couldnโt suppress the excitement of seeing him again. It felt like ages since that awful day on the platform.She didnโt hav
Liora walked down the stairs in a daze as blood continued to drip from her neck. The hurtful words Alpha said to her repeated in her head over and over. โLower staff. Nothing more.โ Nothing more. Nothing. She left a blood-red trail in her wake but she was in too much agony to care. No doubt theyโd make her clean it later. She didnโt stop walking until she was back in the laundry room. Delta Rhonda, the Laundry Mistress, was hunched over a large sink. She diligently scrubbed the collar of a shirt with a toothbrush. She gaped in surprise when she saw the stream flowing down Lioraโs arm. โGoodness child, what happened?!โ Rhondaโs freakishly tall gait rushed over, whipping out a white hand towel to staunch the flow. โIโm so sorry I got blood on the laundry,โ Lioraโs voice cracked as she set the basket aside, leaning against the large granite counter built above the long row of washing machines and dryers. โOh, hush child. Letโs get you cleaned up.โ Rhona brought her over to the sin
Ronin walked briskly to the car that was waiting for him outside. Once he was in and the car drove off, he let his claws come out, shredding the lush leather seat. The taste of Lioraโs blood was heavy on his tongue and he hated that he liked it.Hated that he wanted more.This was all so wrong and not at all the plan he set out to execute. He gave himself one single rule.Stay away from her.It seemed to go well the first few days when she initially arrived. At that time, he was still secluded, isolating his wolf from any potential triggers. Then the house gradually filled with her scent. It led him like a moth to a flame- he could barely hold himself back when he spied on her while she did her duties. Ronin wanted nothing more than to bury his teeth into her neck and make her truly his, but the twisted wolf inside him made him think twice. It was a miracle that the bite didnโt take. He wanted to hold Liora, console her- perhaps tell her the truth.However, the truth was out of the q
Liora knelt on the wide velvet cushion near the foot of his throne chair. Alpha's large hand came down over and over, stroking her head, petting her openly before the crowd of wolves.Delighted shivers rippled through her traitorous body. On the inside, her wolf was preening from the attention.For Goddessโ sake, what was wrong with her? Two Alphaโs were about to rip each otherโs throat out and she was what? Wishing for a scratch behind her ear?Sickening.The cat was already out of the bag, so Ronin made no effort to conceal his flickering eyes as Alastor stepped up on the other end of the fighting platform.About a dozen wolves followed behind him, dressed in black from head to toe as if they were dressed for a funeral.Roninโs no doubt.They were in for a violent awakening.Alastor's bright red eyes gleamed in anticipation, his blond hair was pulled back from his face in a tight ponytail.With a nod from him, the wolves stood to the side, sneering.Ronin knew the image he presente
Liora struggled between the two guards as they dragged her to the throne room. She was getting sick and tired of being handled like a ragdoll. They dropped her in the center of the room and walked away, locking her in with her crazy Alpha.Hers. It sounded so right.This wasnโt the time to be thinking of ownership. Ronin was on his throne bristling with anger. No doubt her performance in the fighting pit would be the headline news in every pack.In hindsight she realized that they probably thought that she controlled him- He spared Alastorโs life because she asked him to.She took one look at the length of black rope across his lap and gulped.โAre you frightened? Good.โ Ronin said quietly, simmering in her sweet peony scent. Goddess, it was getting more intoxicating by the second. His gums pulsed as his fangs jutted out.โWhat did I tell you to do?โโTo stay by the throne and donโt move.โโAnd what did you do instead?โโIโฆ moved.โโYou did more than that, Paionรญa,โ He ran his hands a
Liora slumped into a pool of defeat. Her wrists were tired and raw from struggling against the ropes, her legs were cramped and her lower back flared with pain from being forced to be in that position for hours.Her main concern wasnโt even for herself, but for Ronin. Why was he trying so hard to get her to hate him? She could feel the need bubbling between them. He hadnโt hurt her too badly up to this point so it wouldnโt be unbearable to be with him.But boy oh boy was he trying to beโ unbearable, that is.Her throat ached with thirst and her lips were covered in a thin layer of crust. She was going to become ill if someone didnโt come for her soon.Her body wasnโt as durable as those of a higher designation. She could die in the hot stuffy throne room.Being alone gave her time to think, so that was a plus. She had to become stronger. Ronin had no intention of mating her and sharing his Alpha status, so she would have to find another way to increase her strength.They had a grand l
Liora choked, her eyes brimming with tears as everything she saw, everything she feltโall came rushing back. How could one person carry so much torment? No wonder his wolf was messed up. She glanced at her clothes. They tended to her while she was asleep. Even the bruises on her wrists had healed. She couldnโt stop to think about that violation of privacy as she walked to the door and tugged it open.How dare he share so much, then pull rank on her? Coward. She knew the truth now and there was no going back. It was all an act and she was going to call him out on it whether he liked it or not. Alpha or no.Wait.Since when did she become so bold? Liora felt no resistance from her wolf. Surprisingly, little Miss Prissy agreed with what she wanted to do.It must be the mating bond. Even though it wasnโt technically sealed, the fact that Ronin opened his mind to her strengthened it even more. There was no going back now. More and more they would share thoughts and feelings through that l
Delightful shivers ran down her spine as Ronin slid his gaze over her body. She salivated at his scent that swirled around her, giving her a pleasant buzz inside.โWhat part of my instruction to stay away did you not understand?โ Ronin placed a hand beside each of her shapely thighs, leaning forward to breathe her in.Fuck, heโd missed her. A part of him wished that she had broken his rule sooner, so he could have an excuse to touch her. Not that he needed an excuseโshe belonged to him, but he didnโt want to give himself away. She was already onto the fact that his coldness when they first met was an act. He was quite capable of being cruel, however, his wolf only wanted to torture her in the best way possible.If it wasnโt for the sake of her untainted soul, he wouldโve knotted her right there on his desk.Liora thought back to what heโd said earlier, about punishing her. Her training as a party pup surged to the forefront of her mind and she strung together a quick plan to get und
Why are you being so stubborn?โโLeave me ALONE!โโMATE MATE MATE!โโShut up, Kaon! Youโre the reason weโre in this mess in the first place!โ Ronin ignored Caius and stumbled to the bedroom as he berated his wolf. โHave you forgotten the many secrets you kept that led to our mateโs demise?โโMATE!โRonin collapsed near the edge, resting his face against the mattress as another wave of need coiled tighter in his belly. His fangs throbbed in tune with his painfully hard cock, leaving him no choice but to let his mouth hang upon to prevent overstimulation.He only experienced a rut once, as an adolescent, a marker that he was coming of age, no longer a cub. It was nowhere near as intense as the sensations that overwhelmed him now.Caius swore under his breath, โThis just might kill you.โโThen let it! Why did she have to go with Nik? I get that they had this freaky bond when the curse corrupted her, and theyโre Shadow Kinโ but we have a child together, damnit!โโNothing happened between
He found her sitting in the nursery, rocking Yiannis against her chest. She smiled down at the cub, using her index finger to lightly boop the tip of his button nose. โI suppose you already know why I called you.โโYes.โ Ronin stayed close to the door, breathing only tiny pulls of air.She got up slowly, coming over to place Yiannis in his arms. โIโm in heat.โโI know.โโIโm spending the night with Nik.โโOkay.โโIโd feel better if you were watching Yiannis.โโOf course.โShe pulled back, searching his face. โAnd you wonโt go off the rails?โRoninโs lips pressed into a thin line. โWould you prefer it if I did, my Luna?โโNo, thatโs not what Iโm saying.โ She took a full step back, red blooming on her cheeks. Her soft champagne dress shifted softly around her curves, barely containing her heavy, milk-filled breasts. He didnโt know how much longer he could take being drowned in the thick scent of her sex.Turning his focus to Yiannis, he stepped to the side. โYou should go to him now bef
Days later, Ronin stood at the entrance of the mess hall stroking his stubble thoughtfully as he watched Liora surrounded by admirers. To say the morale had increased would be an understatement. News of the miracle spread far and wide and lupine folk converged on Black Crescent pack to meet the Luna who had such favor with the Goddess.From betas to omegas, they sat in a circle at her feet, hanging on to her every word, giggling and laughing, completely oblivious to the very real threat at large. Maia was vigilant, watching them like a hawk as she rocked Yiannis in her arms. Any sudden movements and she would be ready to defend her queen.Ronin understood the urge. Losing her had left the council raw and out of balance. It made sense that they were on edge.โWhy donโt you go talk to her?โโThe last time I checked, Silvermane, your Queen doesnโt want a thing to do with me.โXander nodded, humming, โThat would have been true last week, but I sense a thaw. Did something happen?โโWe had
The unusual silence had Liora jerking upright in the middle of the bed. From the moment he arrived, Yiannis Ashenthorn was a force to be reckoned with. She would never forget his warrior cry as his lungs filled with air. It had been a little more than two weeks, enough time for her to be in tune with his sleeping and feeding patterns. She would get up several times during the night to tend to him.Even unconscious, Liora knew the amount of sleep she was getting was suspicious, confirmed even more by the tiny silver of daybreak streaking between the heavy curtains. Glancing down at the necklace, the tension eased from her shoulders. Yiannis was finally starting to sleep for more hours. She could use this bit of time to soak in the luxurious tub Lucien had installed for her.They had practically commandeered Alastor's cabin and master rooms. Still, he refused to move out completely, opting to stay in a smaller room on the other sideโfar away from the โbaby shenanigansโ.Liora sighed dee
Ronin turned away from the open door, clenching his fist so tightly that his nails bit into the flesh of his palm. Every scream sliced through his tortured soul, stripping him bare. He should be in there with Liora, soothing her and telling her that everything was gonna be okay.How did they come to this? Were they so broken that he would not even be able to fully witness the birth of his cub?Liora pelted out another gut-wrenching scream and he growled in response.โAlpha?โ Ronin whipped his head around. It was the pack doctor. Her gloves were covered in blood and her face was grim.Pushing Thaddeus to the side, he got up close, baring his teeth. โWhat is your name?โ"Beta Penelope.โ She inclined her head slightly.โWhat is wrong with Liora? Why hasnโt she delivered the pup yet?โShe swallowed thickly, โIโm sorry, Alpha but thereโs been some complications.โโWhat kind of complications?โ He ground out.โThereโs no easy way to say this, but the cub hasnโt crowned yet. If Liora cannot d
This time when snow cascaded all around him, it didnโt burn.If it did, Ronin couldn't tell. Every nerve tingled, rippling as the hair stood on end. The pyre was obliterated, leaving only a large round scorch mark on the ground. His chest tightened and his lungs refused to let in air, terrified that if he took another breath, she would disappear.Liora stood in the center, a bright halo of eight moons glowing over her head. Her eyes were closed, a small smile teasing the corner of her mouth as if someone was whispering delightful things into her ear. The pendant that settled between her breasts blinked brilliantly in time with his cubโs heartbeat.Finally, her lids fluttered up, revealing deep red.The attending mass erupted in gasps and various cries of wonder and joy, falling to their knees with their faces to the ground. They chanted her name and sang praises to Selene, collectively vibrating bliss across the mind link.Kaon clawed at him, wanting out. The tattered bond lurched tow
Warm velvet unfurled from around her, pushing her up to the surface of the starry waters.The moons glowed brighter than sheโd ever seen, and she wondered if this was peace.Still, it didnโt feel like it, so she wandered deeper into the infinite space, searching for something she couldn't name. Clouds gathered, swirling around her and blocking her vision. When it became clear again, she stood atop a mountain shrouded in fog.The air was cool and refreshing against her face, calming her with every deep breath. An unseen force tugged her gaze to the right, to the largest hecatolite sheโd ever seen. Sitting in the middle of that perfect round slab was a youthful woman with curly hair cascading down her shoulders, slightly brushing her folded legs. Her lids popped open, revealing eyes that seemed older than she appeared.โSweet child of mine. Iโve been waiting for you, Liora.โโFor me?โ Lioraโs brows knitted. Why would this woman be waiting for her? โDo I know you from somewhere?โMoving
Outraged voices erupted around the mahogany table, going back and forth as they fought to push their own strategy forward. Ronin wasnโt familiar with half of them, but through the bond, he could sense they were all Ranked.He observed them listlessly as they snarled at one another, the sting of their recent defeat still vivid in their thoughts. Werewolves held a deep sense of pride and their egos pushed them to rash suggestions of retaliation.โSit down, and shut up,โ Caius growled, glaring at Juanzo.โThatโs easy for you to say!โ Juanzo shot back, โYou didnโt lose anyone during the ambush. Youโre cold and dead on the inside Caius. You have no idea what itโs like for us Alphas to bear the sorrow of our people. We. Want. Blood!โDorian clamped a hand on Caiusโ shoulder to prevent him from diving over the table. โIโm going to let that slide because this is a tense time for us,โ Caius said quietly.Ronin could barely hear them. His eyes bored into Derith. Finally understanding what his R
They guided him through Alastorโs house towards a vast hall. A gazebo was erected in the center, the sides draped with sheer curtains. He could make out tiny details of her silhouette that filtered through.Lupine folk knelt all around, prostrating and weeping, many ripping the skirts of their deep blue robes. The Oracle sat near the entrance, rocking herself back and forth as she mumbled in Greek.Ronin stumbled forward, catching himself against the post.โIโm fine.โ He shrugged off Lucienโs helping hand. He didnโt want it.Flipping the curtain aside, he dragged himself in. She lay on a bed of furs and flowers, dressed in a shimmering blue gown, a white rose crown nestled on her head. Her long hair was fanned out over her shoulders, framing the necklace around her neck, which no longer had light.Her hands cradled her belly, almost like she was still protecting their cub.โLiora,โ Ronin choked, reaching his trembling hand towards her cheek. It was so cold. His knees gave way and he c