"What do you mean for me?" I stopped walking as I turned to Lilith, my brows furrowed.
"You are now part of our pack now," she explained, still smiling. "It's like a welcome party.""Oh." That was all I could say.A welcome party? For me? ME?It made me feel… important.I forced the lump down my throat and tried to say something but words failed me.Joseph threw his hand around my shoulder and I winced from the pain of my injury."Shit. Sorry," he apologized and just held my arm instead.Very touchy. These two people. And I've come to understand that it's a way to put their scent on me.In all my twenty-one years of living with wolves I didn't know that.They touch me to put their scent on me, their mark, to tell people I was theirs.The lump in my throat grew bigger as I kept walking."I'll have to say thank you," Joseph said as we continued walking.I tHeat rushed to my face the moment I met Rowan's eyes. He stared at me with such intensity that I couldn't decipher the look in his eyes. He'd trade his usual suit for the night, opting for jeans, a white t-shirt, and a matching jacket instead.His hair, no longer neatly styled, was now tousled, and I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through it.He looked much younger and so much handsome now, I couldn't bring myself to look away even though I knew I'd been staring too long. Someone cleared their throat, and just like that the spell was broken. I looked away, embarrassed. Why was I always staring like an idiot?There was just something so captivating and alluring about Rowan that I always found myself staring, not able to look away. Lilith elbowed me gently and I faced her. "You should go see him," she said, her head gesturing towards Rowan. "Uhmm… I don't think that's a good idea," I said as I rubbed my neck. "Ravenna, shut up and just go," she said and she faced the guy
I sized the guy up, assessing my chances. He was larger than me and stood about an inch taller.But I had something he doesn't—speed. I kept my jaw tight, saying nothing, just nodding in response. "I’ll take that as a yes," he growled, lunging at me with startling speed.Okay he seems he was also fast. I barely dodged the first strike. His claws swiped through the air where my face had been moments before, the force of his swing cutting through the wind. His claws?!I ducked, spun on my heel, and countered with a swift punch to his ribs. He barely flinched. "Come on, is that all you’ve got?" he taunted, circling me like prey. His eyes gleamed with arrogance, feeding off the attention of the other wolves who had paused their own training to watch.I bristled but kept my calm. I knew better than to get emotional. It was what he wanted—me to lose control, to make a mistake.What a disappointment I was about to be to him. He lunged again, this time faking high and going low. His s
I had been given thirty minutes to go shower and change out of my bloody clothes. Thirty minutes was done and I was now standing with Lilith, Joseph, Selena, Vera, and Lucian—the guy Joseph left the party with. He seems like the quiet kind. Only spoke when spoken to and said just a few words in response. He was the total opposite to Joseph. The room buzzed with anticipation as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm, golden light through the tall windows. Joseph stood at the front, his voice carrying over the excited chatter of the group. "Alright, everyone! Welcome to the scavenger hunt! This isn’t just a game; it’s a… while it's just a game. You’ll be working together to find a list of items hidden throughout the pack house. Remember, some items may require teamwork or clever thinking to uncover. Ready?" "He sounds old," said Lilith, crossing her arms. The girls giggled and Joseph just rolled his eyes. "We'll be divided into two groups," he continued. "Ravenna, Lucian
"What the hell?" Selena said with her eyes wild. The scream was so loud, so painful, we all stood in shock, eyes wild, mouth open. What kind of terror could cause such a scream? I'm not sure I want to find out. "It came from outside," Joseph said, the first to break out of the trance, his voice low and tense. "We need to check it out." We rushed toward the pack house, the weight of dread heavy in my chests. As we stepped outside, the once lively atmosphere shifted to one of alarm and panic. Pack members were gathering, their faces pale and anxious. I heard a some people whisper, "He's coming." And I felt dread pool at my stomach. Who was he? The scream had echoed from the edge of the territory.We pushed through the crowd, finally reaching the clearing, where a horrific sight awaited us. A gruesome display hung from a nearby tree—severed wolf heads, their fur matted with blood, eyes wide in eternal terror. Some wolves were skinned, some ears were cut off, some mouth were wi
I didn't have any weapons with me save for just a butter knife, but I picked it regardless as I walked to the door. If the knife didn't work out I would use my teeth and fingers, but I wouldn't go down without a fight.Common sense screamed at me to stay away from the door, to call for help. But common sense wasn't my strong suit. Lila, with her holier-than-thou attitude, had a way of reminding me of that. I looked down and the shadow was still there. What were they waiting for? Who could they be? From the shadow I could see it was only one person. I could take out one person. I placed my hand on the door knob and took a deep breath, preparing myself. I swinged open the door, and I lunged forward, knife poised, ready to strike. But then I saw who it was, and my attack faltered. I stumbled, losing my balance in my sudden halt, and braced for the inevitable fall. But it never came. Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground. Rowan held me before I could fall, his arms wrapped
The whole pack gathered at the common room. The children and the ones who couldn't fight were in a safe room in the basement where nobody could get in except it was open from the inside. And now we stood with weapons on our sides and armors fastened on our chest, arms and knees—honestly the armor part felt like we were transported to the eighties. But as long as it protects us, who was complaining? A sword—again, feel like the eighties—was stripped to my hip, two daggers on my boots, a gun at my side—I felt so badass. Rowan cleared his throat and the hall fell quiet. He was dressed in an all black leather, his hair pulled from his face and two swords, larger than mine, stripped to his back. He looked like a really hot assassin. Joseph was standing beside him. Also in all black but no weapon was on him. "Pack members!" Rowan started, his voice resonating in the hall. "Today, we stand on the brink of battle, united as one. Our home is
"Lilith, no!" I shouted for her to come back but she was already charging towards the gigantic figure at the center of the field, who was cutting down people as though they were sheeps. Goddess, he was huge. I lunged towards Lilith, desperate to pull her away from that man. There was no chance we could stand against him, let alone Lilith alone. But a wall of wolves and humans blocked my path, trapping me in a desperate helplessness. The more I kill, the more they keep coming. "You monster!" I heard Lilith shout as she got close to Darius who didn't even look in her direction. Yes, that's good. Ignore her. "Rowan! Joseph!" I shouted, trying to see if I could get their attention. I haven't gotten any luck with my own battle and Lilith was getting close to Darius. I was thrown off my feet, tumbling forward. I instinctively braced myself, but the impact still sent me sprawling face-first onto the cold earth. I tried t
In a softly lit room, I sat on a chair, my legs dangling off it, my mother standing behind me, gently combing through my long hair. The rhythmic sound of the brush gliding through strands filled the silence. "Sweetheart," my mother began, her voice calm yet tinged with sadness, "I need to tell you something important. Your future is going to be incredible, but it won’t always be easy." I looked at my reflection, curious but trusting. "What do you mean?" My mother paused, gathering her thoughts. "You’ll face challenges, times when you feel alone. And I’m afraid I won’t always be there to help you through it." My brow furrowed, the weight of my mother’s words sinking in. "But… I don’t want you to go." "I know, my love," my mother replied, her voice thick with emotion. "And I’m so sorry for that. But you are stronger than you think. You’ll find a way to rise above it all." I nodded slowly. "I
“Hmmph!” Mia moaned loudly as she felt Dalian everywhere. This new position made her feel him so deeply, and that need for more seemed to lessen. “Yes, Dalian!”He slammed into her without restraint, panting, his balls slapping against her, giving a different sensational feeling, his nails digging into her ass. Yes, this was what she wanted. Needed. Her thirst for more was finally quenched. “So fucking good,” he growled, withdrawing until only his tip remained and he slammed back in. “So tight. So goddamn warm. Look how your cunt is swallowing my dick. So fucking eager for it.” Sounds Mia didn't know she could make poured out of her. She sang for him as she pushed back to meet his thrust, her ass slapping against him. Dalian leaned down until his front was resting on her back, his teeth grazing her neck as he continued to pound into her, not once faltering. His hand reached down and rubbed her clit, and Mia’s eyes rolled to the back of her head. “For the whole time we were apart,
Shit, Dalian was so fucking stupid. That wasn't news, right?He was so damn stupid and he didn't possess self-control. That was nonexistent when it came to Mia. But how could he? When she was so perfect. When she wanted him back.How could he have even thought she didn't want him? When he had heard her say those words in her sleep, that she wanted him, it had taken everything in him not to slam his lips on hers and take her. Because he had been dying without her. Everything seemed bland and just lifeless without her touch, her scent, her everything. Fuck, he was in too deep. Too damn deep. But as Mia sucked him, her hot mouth perfect around him, he didn't care how deep he was. He would fall into a depth as deep as the ocean if it meant he could remain in this bubble she had blown around him. He never wanted to leave it. “Mia,” he moaned, his hands aching to reach for her, to touch, but he didn't want her to stop. He might fucking die if she did. He thrust his hips up, hitting the
Yes!!! Those were the words ringing like alarm bells in Mia’s head. Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes to everything Dalian. Yes to the way he was kissing her like her lips were bread and he was a starving man. Yes to the way his tongue entered her mouth and dominated hers. Yes to the way his lips molded against hers, hard, starving, eager, perfect. God, so perfect. Yes. Oh God, fucking yes. Mia moaned as she hooked her legs around his waist and pressed him tight against her, not caring about his weight. She shuddered when his zipper rubbed against her naked, wet flesh, moaning into his mouth and he swallowed every damn sound. His tongue curled around hers and he sucked it, grinding against her, and his zipper rubbed against her again. He did it again. And again. And fucking again. Until she was shaking, moaning into his mouth, moving her hips to match his rhythm, his passion. He held one of her legs open and rolled his hips, panting into her mouth, not breaking the kiss even when both their l
Mia felt like she couldn't breathe and at the same time, she felt flooded with too much breath in her lungs. Dalian was naked, his well-ripped and tanned body in full view, and Mia drank him in, her eyes raking over his body. This was the first time she had seen his back, and she could it was littered with tiny scars, some white and long, some a bit red and tiny. He bent to get his boxers on and her eyes dropped to his round, firm ass, and she could see his ball sac. She bit her bottom lip, her hand going with its own mind to touch herself from her clothes. Fuck, she wanted him. So damn bad. Why the hell had she agreed for them to be just friends? But then, friends do fuck each other, don't they? They could still be friends and do things to each other. Because Mia needed him, more than she needed to breathe. Dalian slipped into his boxers and then into his trousers. He picked up his shirt and that was when he finally turned to her. Their eyes met and held. She didn't look away l
Lucian exhaled and looked out the window, as if the words would come easier if he didn't meet their eyes. “It's like… something is calling me. Not just a hunch or instinct—it’s deeper than that. It hurts. It pulls.”Silence. The car engine hummed beneath them, steady and oblivious. “I know this sounds crazy,” Lucian added quickly, his voice quieter. “But it’s like a part of me is already there, waiting. Like if I don't find it… I’ll lose something I never had. And my wolf… my wolf has been damn restless, at the edge.”Dalian spoke, his voice even, “That sounds like–”“I know what it sounds like,” Lucian snapped, then winced. “Sorry. I just… I'm not ready to say it out loud yet.”Dalian nodded, his eyes fixed on the road. Nobody said anything for a while after that. The forest on either side of the road blurred into movements, the radio once again filling the silence. “Do you think that was how Darius felt when Ravenna… left?” Mia asked, her voice quiet, her eyes following a bird t
“What was that?” Lucian asked the couple, an eyebrow raised. “Hmm?” Darius said, feigning innocence. “What was what?” Ravenna asked, blinking at Lucian. Lucian stared at them with a bored expression. “That.” He waved at them. “Whatever it is the both of you just did.”“I do not know what it is you speak of,” Ravenna said. Mia’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you talking like that?”Ravenna turned to her. “Like what?”“Like that stressful way people of the old age speak,” Dalian was the one who answered. “You could have said that sentence in like five words, but you chose to prolong it.”Darius rolled his eyes. “Nerd.”Ravenna nudged him with her elbow. “He’s not. Or maybe just a little.”“People!” Lucian cut in, frustration tightening his features. “Can we just go back to what we were talking about?”“Ah, yes,” Darius answered. “We were talking about how Mia was going to accompany Dal
The silence in the hall was so heavy, you could hear the dust settle. No one moved, no one even shifted as if they feared something would get them if they did. This was one of the things they had feared. Ravenna had said the pack wouldn't agree and that was what was happening. They were scared. Mia could feel it, smell it. The plan wouldn't continue if they didn't agree, so now they would think of something. But this plan was the most solid they had. Ravenna sighed, her shoulders dropping. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words got caught in her throat when a young girl stepped forward, about the same age as Mia. She stepped out from the crowd and stood in front of the platform, looking at Ravenna with bold eyes. She was a Lupinarian. “I’m in, Luna,” she said, loud enough for the others to hear, her voice small but bold, sure. Then she turned to her people. “You’ve all been talking about how this peace won’t last. And here is a solution looking you all in the eyes. Yet, yo
“Thank you all for gathering here,” Ravenna began, her voice loud and clear even though she didn't raise it. “For too long, we have only known conflict and violence—both packs. Territory disputes. Power struggles. Bloodshed. But I believe–” she glanced over at Darius before she looked back at the pack. “–we believe that we’re capable of more.”She paused, sweeping her gaze across the sea of faces. Some curious. Some uncertain. All listening. “It's time we stopped surviving and started living. We've built something strong here—something worth protecting. But we all know that wouldn't last. That something is coming. So we have to build. Plan. And that means risk. It means trust. It means opening a door that has been shut since.”Mia looked around her and she could see some people had already figured out where Ravenna was going with this. Some shifted in their feet. Some faces grew hard. Mia winced inwardly. This was going to be hard. Absentmindedly, her eyes trailed to Dalian. He was
Darius waited until Dalian’s breath evened out, until he knew Dalian could hear him—and not just the noises in his head. “You think you're the only one who’s ever doubted yourself?” he said, his voice calm, even. “You're not.” Dalian’s jaw clenched, but he remained silent, unmoving. Darius continued, steady and controlled. “You’re not broken because you're lost sometimes. You're not weak because you hurt. You're not lesser because you haven't figured it all out. I figured myself out when Ravenna came, and I'm still on that journey. I still hurt sometimes and I feel, but that doesn't make me any less of a man. No, it makes me strong. Being able to feel and hurt is not a weak thing, Dalian. Those emotions are what make us. Shape us.”Dalian’s chest hitched, and his lungs burned so hard that he didn't want to breathe. He had always thought that being weak made him lesser. He hasn't figured himself out; he didn't know what he wanted, who he wanted to be, and every day of his damn life,