เข้าสู่ระบบLeyton’s POV
"Get your hands off me before I take them off at the wrists," I snarled, the sound vibrating deep in my chest.
The air in the hallway was thick, heavy with a scent that made my vision blur into a hazy shade of red. It was Alanza. It was the smell of sunshine and wild honey, but warped by the heat into something primal and demanding. It wasn't just a smell. It was a physical weight pressing against my lungs, forcing me to breathe her in until my head spun.
Alanza’s POV"How are the sessions going?" Brendan asks. He tilts a plastic cup back, taking a long pull of beer. The heavy, fermented smell of the stuff hits my nose and makes my stomach do a slow roll. I try to keep my face neutral so I do not look like a total killjoy. "Amara has a reputation for being a drill sergeant, but she is easily the best trainer we have."I shift my weight, feeling a bit of the tension leave my shoulders. Talking about training feels safe. It is something I can actually control. "It is brutal," I admit. "I am sore in places I did not even know existed. But she does not coddle me, and I like that. It feels like I am actually making up for lost ground instead of just being handled with kid gloves."Brendan gives me a sympathetic look, though there is a hint of a grin there too. "She is definitely not a fan of coddling. But hey, it works. Give it a few months and you will be a total menace on the field. She will turn you into a wa
Alanza’s POV"Just keep your head up," Sombra says, her voice a steady anchor inside my mind. "You are doing fine. One step at a time."I take a slow breath, forcing the stale, crowded air into my lungs. It helps. I let it out slowly, trying to shed the layer of panic clinging to my skin.Lucia is already moving, her hand firm on my wrist as she tugs me toward the back of the house. "Let's find the kitchen," she shouts over the bass. "I need a drink, and you look like you need to hold something."I follow the back of her head, using her as a shield to part the sea of dancing bodies. The air in the kitchen is thinner, cooler, and the music loses some of its teeth once we pass the doorframe. A group of shifters stands around a marble island, their laughter ringing out over the sound of ice hitting glass.Lucia reaches over the counter and grabs two red cups. She holds them out, her eyes scanning the row of bottles next to the sink. "Pick your p
Alanza’s POV“Are you actually going to get out of the car, or do I need to drag you?” Lucia asked, her voice bright with a teasing edge that didn’t quite mask her own nervous energy.I took a shaky breath and looked out the window at the dark road. We had left the bright lights and constant hum of Granite City behind miles ago. Now, the tires hummed against a narrow strip of asphalt that cut through the deep woods of the Westwood pack lands. It was the kind of place that felt empty to a human but crowded to a shifter. Every shadow between the trees felt like a pair of eyes.“I’m coming,” I whispered, though my fingers stayed locked around the door handle.A strange, cold itch started at the base of my neck and crawled down my spine. It was that heavy, wrong sensation that usually preceded a disaster. Beside me, Lucia noticed the way my shoulders hunched toward my ears. She reached over and squeezed my hand, her p
Alanza’s POV"You have to be kidding me," I said, leaning into the glass of the full-length mirror.The girl looking back wasn't the one I usually saw. Lucia’s jeans gripped my legs in all the right places, showing off muscle I didn't realize I’d built. I twisted around to check the view from behind. London’s brutal training sessions were finally paying off in ways that had nothing to do with fighting.Lucia sat on the edge of her mattress, her own floor buried under a literal mountain of discarded shirts. She gave me a smug grin. "What did I tell you? We’re officially the same size."I smoothed the denim over my hips. It felt strange. "I’ve spent years being the 'big' friend. This is actually a little disorienting."Back when I was stuck doing all the grocery runs and cooking, I’d managed to sneak enough extra portions to keep a soft layer of comfort on my frame. It wasn't much, but it was a security blank
Alanza’s POV"So, is it like a constant fluttering from your stomach all the way up to your chest?" Lucia asked.She moved her hand in a wide arc, tracing a line from her belly to just under her ribs. I gave her a slow nod, feeling the heat rise in my neck."And does your skin actually prickle when you hear him speak?" she pressed.I nodded again, looking down at the table."Do even the most normal things he says start to sound... suggestive?"My face burned. "Yes," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.Lucia let out a triumphant hum and picked up her burger. "Congratulations. You have officially crossed the border into Flirt Town. This is your very first crush, Alanza."She took a massive bite, closing her eyes with a groan of pure satisfaction. After she swallowed, she pointed the half-eaten burger at me like a witness in court."Not my first," I muttered.I th
Luciano’s POV“Did you fix the chainsaw?”Lindsie looks up from the tool, his fingers slick with dark fluid. He gives the cord a sharp pull. The engine coughs, sputters, and then settles into a rhythmic, angry growl that vibrates through the concrete floor of the basement. He holds it up, the metal teeth catching the overhead light. It is ready. I should be focused on the task, but my mind is still echoing with the sound of Alanza’s laughter.I just hung up with her. I actually pressed a kiss to the glass of my phone screen like some obsessed teenager. Even worse, I am standing over a mangled body with a heavy ache in my pants because the mere memory of her voice turns me on. I am definitely going to hell. I might even get a front-row seat.I tuck the phone into my pocket and look down at the mess. The man on the floor is a Crystal Lake spy, or what is left of one. He was supposed to be dead by now, but his healing factor is stubbo
Alanza’s POV"Stay inside the pack borders and you won't have any problems," Leyton says.His shoulders are high and tight, like he is bracing for a physical blow. He let out a long, heavy breath that seems to deflate his entire chest. I feel a sharp, cold prickle of nerves in
Alanza’s POV"I didn’t expect to see you so early," I said, stepping back to let Leyton into the room.He offered a small smile and walked past me. He paused when he spotted Sombra on the rug, but he didn't demand an explanation. I liked that about him. He was polite and
Alanza’s POV"You actually look like you slept for once," Sombra's voice echoes in my mind before I even open my eyes.I groan and bury my face into a pillow that feels like a marshmallow. It is way too soft. The whole bed is too soft. I spent days fighting Leyton about moving
Alanza’s POV“Is that thing a homing beacon or just a piece of plastic?” I asked, staring at the smartphone on the nightstand.The screen was dark, but it felt like an eye watching me. I leaned back into the sofa cushions, my fingers digging into Sombra’s thi







