Mag-log inNick~ Harley's gaze darts across the windshield, tracing the sharp architecture of Moon Hill Manor. It loomed ahead, a fortress of grey stone that seemed to consume the morning light. Memories hit hard; days gone by of Sean and me running through those halls, clueless. My throat tightens, and I try to swallow the forming boulder. "Nick, it's incredible," she says, placing a hand over her heart, her voice barely a breath. "That's one way to put it," I say, opening the driver's door to a crisp bite of mountain air. "I'm glad you like it." Before I'm fully out, Eason, my father's personal butler, is already exiting the manor. His polished dress shoes echoed on the stone steps in his haste. "Morning, Alpha," Eason says, voice immaculate as he takes hold of the door. "Your parents are waiting in the breakfast room." Harley waits, her eyes wide as she stares at Eason as I move to the passenger side. Opening the door, I offered her my arm and pulled her close to me. She leans
Harley~ The 4:00 AM silence was shattered when the first heavy blow struck the front door. Beside me, the mattress groaned, and so did Nick as he pulled away from me. He was on his feet instantly, charged, taking his heat with him and leaving the sheets cold. He pressed a dry, hurried kiss to my brow and muttered a low "Stay" that vibrated against my skin. Then he was gone, the rhythmic thud-thud of his bare heels retreating down the hallway. My brain was still thick with sleep until Rae's mental voice spiked, sharp in my ears. 'Harley, it's a woman. She's carrying a scent like scorched sugar, and it's aimed right at our mate.' The covers can't bind me, and my soles burned against the bedroom rug as I scrambled for traction. I nearly lost my balance before hitting the hardwood. In the living room, the air felt claustrophobic. A woman was there, her movements fluid and desperate as she tried to weld herself to Nick's chest. He didn't waver, his hands like stone pillars across
Harley~ Cedar planks, rough as bark, cut a jagged silhouette against a mountain bruised with the coming twilight's purple. My gaze darts constantly between windows, fighting to catch the panoramic view from every angle. It's both eerie and fascinating the way the mist coils around the thick trunks of the pines surrounding the cabin. When Nick pulls the passenger door open, the air hits my nose. Wonderful, sharp, yet thin, a breeze flows by, carrying with it just a hint of damp earth and crushed needles. Smog-free and a welcome breath, I try to inhale it all at once. Nick catches my hand; his palm is rough and familiar as he guides me from the car. After the second step, my attention immediately snagged on the wicker swing swaying back and forth. I'm seeing lazy mornings spent watching the sunrise from the oversized double-seater. Nick reaches above the door frame, his fingers dancing along the dusty ledge until they find the key. Inside, the space is austere and smells o
Nick~ Ian and Leonard's focus snapped to Harley the moment the elevator doors chimed open. She steps into the hum of the squad room beside Seth, just as Ben rounds the corner. Leonard's features sagged, his eyes resembling hollowed-out shells. In contrast, Ian's entire frame vibrated with a heat that drained the blood from his face. He thrashes against my hold, but his muscles betray him. "He's a fraud!" he howled, the sharp sound cutting through the air. "That's no federal agent; what you see before you is a beast! A werewolf!" Howard's voice boomed over the sudden silence to the officers. "Take these lunatics the hell outta here!" He scoffed, a dry, rattling sound. "Werewolves. Beautiful." He slammed a heavy palm against my shoulder blade; the force of it jolted my teeth. "Nice work, Agent." From my peripheral vision, I catch the frantic movement in Ben's eyes. Replaced by a sharp, predatory stillness. He doesn't just look at me; his gaze drags over my face. His eyes narrowed
Nick~ So far, so good. The decoy transport van is in place with a flat tire up on a jack. A lookalike Harley is in the back waiting for the driver to fix it. Kyle and I secured our backpacks on the branches of a cedar tree near the bridge. Then we drive our SUV a few miles back down the road and find a hiding spot. After returning in wolf form, we take cover in the thick brush and trees, which Rolling Bridge has much of. Zeek's panting from the run, his rapid breaths sound like a jackhammer on this side of the wolf. He lay down, stretching his belly out on the cool earth. Within a few moments, the vibration stops, and he tilts his head to the wind. 'They're coming, Nick.' To our right, Knox raises his snout in the air and snorts as he scents them too. We rise from the ground, and our two wolves maneuver their way unseen through the brush back to the bridge. We shift, retrieve our clothes, dress, and their humans emerge. It had been a mystery why Harley had stayed in such a
Harley~ After that, the truck goes silent, and I roll my window down and ride the air. My fingers spread, and the wind runs through them as a breeze of lavender growing wild fills the passenger compartment. If only a pleasant breeze and a picture-perfect day could bring Nick's family back together again. Right now, I don't have a clue how to do it. Nick is a million miles away as I look over at him. I'm surprised by the jealousy that fills me at the thought that he's thinking about her. We've indeed both had over lovers, though mine wasn't so close to home. "Wolfman, whatcha thinking about so hard over there?" One of his hands squeezes the wheel, and the other one my hand beneath his. "You know, all of this is happening because of you?" Is that a good thing? He won't look at me, so I can't tell. "Do I want the credit?" He glances at me. "We can find another doctor if that's what you want." "Then I would be the coward who can't own up to his mistakes. And it's too late f
Nick~ My hands shake, and my leg muscles tense as I step up onto the rotting wood. The boards creak beneath my weight, causing me to focus on the murky water below. Steve must have had another way in; there's no way he was coming and going here. Slow and steady wins the race when it's every man
Nick~ Another ugly side effect of my selfishness is the unrest I left my Pack in. A Pack without an Alpha heir causes conflict and panic, but I didn't care. "Hold on, Rich, I never said that." But I should have anticipated that's the direction Ponzie would go in. Our parents had known from an e
Harley~ My heart leaped, causing me to sit up straighter in bed. Nick, entering the room, put an ear-to-ear grin on my face. 'I missed you, Wolfman.' 'I missed you, too, Amante.' He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me his best stern eye. "What did you find at Steve's?" "We found t
Nick~ Becky slides closer to Kyle on the built-in window seat, takes her daughter's spot, and runs her fingers along her mate's neck. Their eyes go black as their wolves growl at each other and exchange an Eskimo kiss. Kylie didn't seem to mind the replacement, and she snuggled into Harley.







