เข้าสู่ระบบZane enters the cabin in human form, finishing pulling up a pair of jeans, the worn denim soft around his hips. He doesn’t bother buttoning them up all the way, and . . . I don’t know. I guess I could rapidly avert my eyes and maybe even flush. But in a place where no one seems to care about nudity, I’m the one making it weird.Plus, I’m busy hiding the flannel behind my back. Which seems to accomplish very little, given the way Zane’s nostrils flare. I’m suddenly seized by terror: Can he smell the remnants of my sweatfest?Clearly, yes. Because he goes rigid as a statue and asks, “What is it?” The words sound a bit like a growl, as though they’re coming from deep within his body.“Nothing.” I swallow. Smile to soften the lie. “Just, my pj’s. I need to wash them.”His eyes darken. Panic prickles up my spine.“I’ll be right back. Give me a sec,” I plead, turning around and starting down the hallway as fast as I can.“Anna.” His voice is so harsh, my entire body clenches.I freeze in p
He made it sound like he didn’t want to be with me. Never mentioned that he wasn’t allowed to.“We were wondering . . .” A male voice interrupts my thoughts. When I glance up, Saul and Jorma are standing in front of the cabin, naked. I deliberately keep my eyes above their necks and try not to choke on my own breath. “Hey, guys.”Saul grins. Winks at me, like one does. “Hey, honey. Jorma and I were in the area, to . . .”“Take Zane’s beatings?” Amanda offers.“Yeah, that. And we remembered that last night you mentioned how much you love to cook. So we figured you probably made something for breakfast today, and since it’s so hard to eyeball portions, you might have leftovers. Wouldn’t want it to go to waste, you know?”I bite back a smile. “What would you guys like?”“Oh, we don’t want to put you out. Just, if you have something you’re gonna toss anyway . . .”I turn to Jorma, who’s high on directness and low on bullshit. “What would he like?”“French toast, please,” Jorma says. “Wit
I’M STILL WORKING ON GRASPING THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT Amanda revealed, but she’s already doling out more. “. . .not much has changed for him. Your presence, that’s throwing him off. At least, I think so— Zane’s not really the type to walk around griping about the discontented state of his nuts. And he never seemed affected by the covenant. He’s been dealing with it for twenty years, but I doubt it was a burden to him. I’ve never even seen him look at a woman, so— ”“Why?”“Excuse me?”“Lowe is with Seraphine. I know that the Alpha of one of the New England packs has a mate. Was this rule made for Zane?”Amanda massages her eyes. “It’s complicated.”“How so?”“The celibacy covenant used to be common practice in packs. The idea is that if a pack gives an Alpha absolute power over them, the Alpha should be able to guarantee that the well-being of the pack will be the most important thing for them. But if every decision needs to be made for the good of the pack— ”“Other priorities are a
THE NIGHT BRINGS SPANKING NEW LEVELS OF PAIN AND MORTIFICATION.The recollections do not abound, but as far as I can tell: I wake up a few hours after going to bed, gasping like a rhino with sleep apnea, and make my way to the bathroom as my body works through spasms, cramps, and the fire taking over every layer of my epidermis.I sit in the shower as cold water flows over my head and beg my soon- to- be corpse to pipe the fuck down. I picture Zane walking in to find what’s left of me, a beached manta ray lifeless on the bathroom floor, deflated after puking up her internal organs.That’s when it all gets fuzzy. I don’t recall getting up or leaving the bathroom. I definitely don’t recall crawling into Zane’s bed. And yet it’s where I wake up. Could be a Were evolutionary trait: in the face of probable death, seek refuge close to Alpha. I might be onto something. I should ask Zane, if I’m ever able to face him after what I’ve done to his room.It’s . . . a lot.In the harsh morning li
“Alpha?”I turn to the door. A man with gray-streaked temples and a kind, weathered smile is studying us curiously. I make to leap away from Zane, but his fingers free themselves to tighten around my hip, stopping me.“Sorry I’m so late. John asked for more and more stories, and . . .” The man’s gaze catches on me.The way I’m perched in his Alpha’s lap. “That’s my six-year-old.”I try to stand again, and at last Zane lets go of me. I rise to my feet and take a step away, not hasty but determined.What the hell was I doing?“Bedtime is still your favorite part of the day, huh?” Zane asks breezily, and the man lets out a low, pain-filled groan.It’s like nothing just happened. Because nothing happened, I remind myself. He just said that he’s not interested. And it wasn’t the first time. “Mai, this is Anna. Anna, Mai is in charge of our northeast borders. You’ve been keeping him busy.”“Me?”Mai nods. “We stopped eleven Vampyres from entering our borders in the last two days.”I gasp. “
Zane wraps his entire arm around my shoulder, the heel of his open hand bouncing loosely on my chest, and pulls me into him. It’s less a gesture of affection and more of a statement, so I don’t take it personally. But neither do I break away the second Boden disappears.Zane’s heat is like . . . like thermal water. Like one of those pillow chairs Seraphine loves, the ones that are terrible for your posture. Something to sink into.“That sounded mean,” I say softly.“Yeah. Unfortunately, I am mean.” He says it like he couldn’t care less but feels like he should. Kind of endearing. “And no one’s touching you on my watch.”“Noted.” I clear my throat. Because my heart is beating in it. Zane is just . . . very, very close. And his touch, unlike everyone else’s, doesn’t make me want to fling myself down a scarp. “That was some intense stuff. I’m . . . flattered.”“Don’t be. The threats were highly embellished, and less about you than about keeping pack assholes in line.”“Right, yeah.” It’s
“Who’s to say.” “Within the month, for sure.” “For sure.” “One has to wonder if the Weres will bury your corpse or just, you know. Eat it.” “One has to.” “But if you care to live a bit longer, try tossing a stick when he starts mauling you. I hear they love to fetch—” I halt abruptly, causing
While it took her time to chew each piece down, she continued to work on the organ. Red blood smeared the front of her beautiful white gown. To a human, it might have been a disaster to see her that way. But for Maddox, it triggered lust to fill his body. Minutes passed. She finished the whole or
Sally Camille and took off her mask. “Are you okay?”“I’m fine.” Camille nodded. “I know I look like a mess and—”“Your eyes are glowing.” Camille gripped her mask tight. “It’s. . .beautiful.”“What?” Camille held her hands in front of her face. A shimmering brown light covered her palms. “What is
Seven months later “Maddox” she shook her huge man. “Wake up, baby. My water broke.” He snapped his eyes open. “What? He’s coming?” “Yes.” Camille gave him a nervous grin. “Okay.” He rushed out of bed and hurried with putting on his clothes, and then lifted her up. Before waking him, she had







