ログインRAYNE"How are you feeling today?" Carla asked softly.She was standing behind me, her fingers working fast as she helped me into my gown. Reid had been gone since Leilani announced her father's arrival. He was out on the pack grounds, personally inspecting the warriors and the border security. I'm sure he wanted the Blood Moon’s strength on full display for the King’s arrival. He wanted them to know that while he might be a traitor in their eyes, he was a king in his own right."I’m alive," I said, my voice sounding distant. "That’s all that matters, right?""More than you know," Carla murmured with a smile on her face.She smoothed the fabric over my hips. I was wearing a gown that felt like a second skin. Heavy yellow silk pooled around my feet like liquid gold. Wearing yellow was a bold choice. A color that demanded to be seen. I would show the King that I was done hiding in the shadows."So you’re not in any pain right now?" Carla asked, her eyes catching mine in the mirror.I
RAYNEI woke up slowly. The first thing I registered was a rhythmic throb centered in the crook of my neck. The bond Reid had snapped back into place was a living thing. It was a hum that vibrated through my entire nervous system. I was in Reid’s room. The scent of him, sandalwood and rain, was everywhere. My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at the dark wood of the headboard. I was too afraid to turn around. I was afraid that the bed would be empty. Afraid that the marking had been a temporary fault in his judgment, and that he had left me to face the fallout alone. Again.Then, a heavy arm draped over my waist, pulling me backward with a possessive tug. I felt the heat of his bare chest through the thin fabric of my pajamas, and I finally allowed myself to breathe."I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice gravelly with sleep. He pressed a lingering kiss to the back of my neck, then shifted his lips higher to the sensitive mark. He didn't just kiss it; he breat
RAYNEMy dress was stained with dark blood as I stood over a man who had almost bled out in front of his wife. "If the doctors won't work, I will," I said, my voice echoing through the quiet ER. I turned my gaze to Aaron, who was standing by the door with a look of disbelief on his face. He looked at me, then looked at Reid, waiting for his Alpha to give an order."Get out," Reid said.It wasn't a request. It was his Alpha tone, the voice of a commander that vibrated through my chest.My wolf, usually defiant when it came to Reid’s authority, whimpered and bowed her head in submission.The room cleared immediately. Aaron, the nurses, and even the guards scrambled into the hallway. My breath hitched audibly as Reid turned and locked the door behind them. The blinds were already shut, giving us some privacy. He stepped into my space, heat radiating off him in waves. Before I could move, he took my waist in his massive hands, pulling me flush against his chest."Get your hands off me
RAYNEI sat on a light pink cushion on my bedroom floor, my legs crossed and my back leaning against the foot of my bed. Across from me sat my father. He looked entirely out of place, a general sitting on a pink cushion on the floor. He didn't seem comfortable, either. He shifted his weight every few minutes, but as I searched his eyes, I saw a warmth in them that I hadn't noticed before."I can't believe you're actually my dad," I uttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, I’ve known the truth for a while now, but it didn't feel real. Not until I saw you again."A small smile settled on his face. He nodded slowly. "I can't believe it either, kiddo. But that’s how fate works, isn't it? Everything happens for a reason." His smile vanished. "I just wish I’d protected you better as a child, maybe then I wouldn't have lost you. I wish you didn't have to suffer through the slave branding, the whispers behind your back, or the way this pack treated you when you were at your lowes
REID"What did you want to talk about?" Leilani asked as she hopped onto the edge of my desk. She smoothed out her dress, legs swinging back and forth.My jaw clenched as I watched her. I hadn't seen her this happy in a while. We have been friends since childhood. We used to play together back when our fathers worked side-by-side to end the Great War. Back then, she was just a girl with silver hair and an annoying laugh. But after the war, we grew apart. Now, she was the same woman she had always been. Leilani was beautiful and poised, but her heart was colder than anyone I've ever met."Reid?" she called, a playful smile dancing on her lips."Let’s end this," I blankly stated. I met her deep blue eyes.The smile dropped from her face. The swinging of her legs stopped instantly. "Please tell me this is a joke," she laughed, though it sounded empty."This has gone far enough," I continued, stepping around the desk to face her. "I have a mate, Leilani. And I’m sure that somewhere ou
RAYNEI stood under the shower, eyes closed, feeling the delicious ache between my thighs. Every time I moved, I was reminded of Reid’s fingers. Every move I made reminded me of the way he claimed me against that wall while Leilani and Aaron were a couple of yards away, eating chocolate.It was reckless. It was dangerous. It was exactly what we were. A mess. Reid made me come until my knees gave out, his mouth muffling my moans.I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body. I stepped into my bedroom, making my way into my walk-in closet.A flowy white silk dress caught my eyes so I decided to wear it. I left my hair down, allowing it to cascade over my shoulders. I took a short moment to stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bright, and my lips were still slightly swollen from his kiss. After everything that happened with Mira and my dad, Reid was still all I could think of.I looked like a woman who was loved. Now, I just needed Reid to prove it to me. I need