LOGINShifter pregnancies lasted only seven months instead of nine, and I was nearing the end of my seventh month. The weather outside was starting to cool—well, as much as it ever did in Florida. There was a light, refreshing chill in the air, and I was growing more excited by the day to meet our baby. With just one week left until my due date, it could happen at any moment.I went into the nursery to go over my hospital bag one more time. It sat on the changing table, perfectly packed. Everything was in place. I let out a contented sigh as I looked around the room. We had chosen Winnie the Pooh as a gender-neutral theme.Atlas, surprisingly, turned out to be an incredible artist and had painted a stunning mural of a Pooh scene. It was so beautiful that I knew I’d have to find a way to preserve it someday when our child inevitably outgrew it.I was halfway through checking my bag when I heard raised voices outside—Mira and Rowan again. I rolled my eyes and headed downstairs to see what the
Mira had been organizing our baby shower, and when she found out we were planning to wait until delivery to learn the baby’s sex, she reacted with playful annoyance. She’d been wishing for a girl so she could decorate everything in pink—an over-the-top pink celebration. Instead, she had to rethink everything and go with neutral tones. Saying she disliked the safe choices of yellow, green, and gray would be putting it lightly, but she still managed to plan an amazing party over the following months.During the baby shower, as I was loading my plate with finger foods and snacks, she casually moved up beside me.“Are you two still serious?” Mira asked.“About what?”She rolled her eyes. “Really? The gender, you goof. You and Leo are still waiting?”I laughed. “Yes, we’re waiting. It’s going to be a big surprise.”“Ugh, you guys are ridiculous. What’s fun about that?”“I don’t know,” I replied. “I think it’s exciting.” I glanced over at Rowan, who was stacking his plate with food. “When y
Lyanna leaned her head back against the pillow and slipped her hand between us, her fingers finding her clit. The sensation made everything feel more intense, and I hardened further. Desire pushed me forward as I met her gaze, increasing the pace of my thrusts. My heavy breathing mixed with her soft moans of pleasure.I was getting close. The pressure building in my balls and cock grew stronger with every second. I was on the verge of losing control, but I forced myself to hold on. Lyanna’s pleasure was all that mattered. Then she gasped, her hips rising to meet mine.“I’m gonna come,” she whispered.A grin spread across my face as I moved faster, driving into her without restraint, chasing my own orgasm.“Look at me, Lyanna. I want to see you when you come.”Our eyes locked. I held her gaze as her lips parted and her body trembled, shaking as her orgasm overtook her. Her cheeks flushed as the intensity of it washed through her.The connection between us—the way we looked at each othe
A week after Lyanna and I had gone for that run in the woods, we held the memorial ceremony. Dad, Lyanna, and I agreed it wouldn’t just honor those who died in the battle, but everyone who had lost their lives during the royals’ reign of terror. I sent out invitations to all shifter packs and clans across the world who wished to attend. I thought the turnout for the battle had been massive, but in the days leading up to the ceremony, every hotel and rental within a two-hour radius was completely booked.I hadn’t truly realized how far the royals’ influence had spread until shifters came from places as distant as Tokyo and South Africa. Their destruction had stretched across centuries, starting in Europe and spreading worldwide like a disease.We held the ceremony on my land. The energy of the land itself flowed through everything, reinforcing that this was the right place. It was one of the few places that still held the true essence of shifter power, and it felt fitting for something
Leo and I finally left our bedroom and rejoined the pack. Sinthy had come back, her task finished—or at least, that’s what she claimed. The news reported that several factories and office buildings had been mysteriously destroyed overnight, and Sinthy only offered small, knowing smiles whenever those reports came up.The best way to describe those first few days was… strange. Ever since the night I’d been attacked in my bar, everything had revolved around the royals—around Viola and her organization. We had spent so long running, hiding, investigating, planning, and preparing for them that it felt unnatural not to have some kind of crisis looming. To keep ourselves occupied, we focused on something we wished we didn’t have to do.Many shifters had died. Members of our pack, along with those who had come to support us, had lost their lives, and Leo was organizing a memorial service. His father agreed it was a good idea and offered to handle the arrangements.Donatello returned as well,
It was over. Finally over. I would have leapt in excitement, but I was still trapped in that massive, beast-like form. All I wanted was to run and throw myself into Leo’s arms, but shifting out of… whatever I had become was far more difficult than a normal shift. Something about that body felt natural. My wolf felt completely at home in it and didn’t want to let it go. As calmly as I could, I reached out to her.The power thrilled her, just like the awareness of what her father had been. I understood that, and I let her feel that understanding. I pushed my thoughts toward her, showing her how much I loved Leo, my family, and my friends—and how badly I needed to return to my human form to be with them. We weren’t just wolves—we were both human and wolf, sharing one body. We had to meet halfway.A deep sense of understanding flowed back to me. Her hold on that form loosened, allowing me to shift back. Even that felt strange. It wasn’t smooth or effortless like usual. Instead of flowing
I dug my fingers into my biceps, gripping and squeezing, trying to rub away the strange sensation that had lingered for days. It didn’t help. Ever since I claimed Lyanna, it felt like I was about to tear straight out of my own skin. All I could do was hold myself together and hope no one noticed or
My yell was still echoing throughout the house. My gaze was fixed on Kenneth’s corpse. All I could focus on was the massive pool of crimson leaking from his head. He was gone. Just like that. One moment, he was breathing and conversing with me. The next, he was just gone.I was trembling violently
I gestured toward the sleeping quarters. “Lyanna, grab your stuff. Let's go.”Before she could even head for the room, Kenneth leaped from his seat and backed himself against the main entrance. He yanked a pistol from his coat and pointed it in our direction. “You aren't going,” he stated. The sno
Leo was at his auto shop, making sure everything was running smoothly. For the first time since we met, I was completely alone at the house. His friends were busy digging into information about the safe houses where my family was being kept. Leo clearly didn’t like the idea of leaving me by myself







