FAITH My stomach twisted painfully at the site of the whip coming down on the prisoner again. He had similar chains around his ankles and wrists as I did, holding him to the post. My stomach rolled, and my eyes flicked over to Alpha Reed, but it didn’t relax me. He, too, was looking at the gruesome scene before us like it were an amusing show. His lips were curled up, and his head was slightly tilted to the side as he watched the horrific scene before us. He was enjoying it. I wanted to ask what the man had done, but I imagined it must have been something terrible from how people all around seemed to watch unbothered. The intimidating woman to my left seemed to be the only one who wasn’t interested in taking a peek, and she pushed the center of my back, sending me stumbling forward as a woman exited a building to our right. “Alpha,” the woman said with a sly smile, dipping into a curtsy as if he were a king instead of an Alpha. I couldn’t resist rolling my eyes as I found m
KAIDEN“Do you think Cain is going to care?” Nova asked as she moved beside me, following my gaze to stare out over the training yard. “She doesn’t look like anything special.”Only my focus wasn’t on the warriors before us. It was on the castle in the distance where I could see our guest standing in the window. I didn’t like how my wolf stirred when we looked at her. She was beautiful, the kind of woman that made men stop and stare. But as an Alpha, women had never come in short supply. I had my pick of stunning women, throwing themselves at my feet to claim the place at my side as a Luna. None had ever intrigued me this much, but I knew it had more to do with Cain than with her, his fiance. If I wanted to keep my sanity and focus, I would need to keep her far away. She was here to do a job, whether she wanted to or not.My hand slid into my pocket, my fingers gently touching the cold amulet inside. I watched as her hand shot to her neck, and her eyes widened with panic. She could
FAITH I jumped as the bedroom door was thrown open and instinctively tried to cover myself, the hot water splashing from the sudden jolt. Yet, I couldn’t, as the pack doctor told me not to get my wrists wet since they were my deepest injuries. The bubbles were doing a good enough job of keeping most of me concealed, so I relaxed again, trying to act nonchalant even though I was in excruciating pain. I just wanted to melt down into the water and sleep until I could heal and forget everything Ryan and Sable had put me through. Just thinking about them made my stomach turn, and I couldn’t shake the image of my mate coming onto my little sister, or worse, her coming onto him. She had just turned eighteen, so it either hadn’t been happening for long, or not only had they been violating the mate bond but breaking the law. Alpha Reed stormed in, his black hair mused and his jaw clenched, the small muscle above it twitching as he marched forward through the open bathroom door and
FAITH “Ms. Faith,” A young maid called as my fingers trailed over my cheek, trying to find proof injury had once been there but seeing none. I had already inspected my wrists and ankles, but while doing so, the marks were fading fast. It was incredible what Alpha blood could do. Ryan had never shown me such generosity, and we had been mated. If I had been hurt, he called the pack doctor in to bandage me up and then sent him on his way. It was why I thought things were changing when he finally started bringing me a nightly tea to help me heal. I thought he was starting to care. Could I have really loved him when he had treated me so horribly, or had I been in love with the idea of a happy marriage, trying so hard to be the obedient wife and perfect Luna? Alpha Kaiden Reed was terrifying, intimidating, powerful, and way out of my league. I had been disrespectful and challenging. Yet, he had shown me more kindness in the past twenty-four hours than Ryan had during our whole ma
FAITH Kaiden walked past me, heading upstairs with Juliana at his side, acting as if they hadn’t just stolen my blood or been in the middle of a conversation with me. The two of them spoke in low tones, too quiet for me to make out what was being said. I wasn’t sure if I should follow them, but since they hadn’t said anything or looked back, I decided to explore while I still could. Will was still following me, and I figured I would be stuck with a shadow until Juliana worked her magic on my blood. It wasn’t too bad until he stopped me from leaving the pack house. Apparently, the door was the end of my leash. By the time the sun had set, I was too tired from the day to worry about food. It was hard to believe that it had been less than forty-eight hours ago that my world was turned upside down. I turned to Will. “Do you know where I am supposed to be sleeping tonight?” I asked, assuming there would be a guest room or maybe even a prison cell I would be trapped in until mor
FAITH ***The cool air of morning brushed across my cheeks, and I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath, enjoying the refreshing breeze. It was a beautiful morning, and for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe easier. Kaiden's warm breath fanned over my neck, and I tensed as it sent another jolt of pleasure down to my core. The spot where my mark had once been, where my new mark would one day be, was only an inch from his lips. With every exhale over the sensitive skin, I felt myself growing more turned on, and I pressed my thighs together. His erection was planted firmly against my ass, and I was fighting everything in me not to rub back against it. “Where are we?” I asked, glancing around to distract myself from the burning need rushing through me. I knew feeling this way was just the blood bond from him healing me, but I didn’t want to give in. I needed time before I let another man in. What if he was just using me like Ryan had, and Cain wanted to? No. It was
FAITH The dining hall was packed, and I kept my head down as I sat at Kaiden’s side. To his left. It was the spot for the Luna, causing everyone to talk and all try to get a look at me. I didn’t want to look at them and feed the gossip because I was not his Luna, despite me smelling like him from the blood he used to heal me. The warmth of his body as he leaned into my side made me tense, and I couldn’t help the goosebumps that rose along my skin from how close he was. “You’re pouting,” He whispered, and I pursed my lips as I looked up to meet his glare directly. A few gasps came from our audience, but he just smirked as if the situation and my lack of obedience amused him. Ryan would have dragged me back to our room and smacked me. Kaiden just licked his lips as his eyebrows raised the slightest bit, and his smirk turned into a smile as if he were enjoying my defiance. With his face only inches from mine, I couldn’t help but notice that the soulless eyes I had thought w
KAIDEN“No one touches it,” I demanded, and the guard nodded, taking the closed trash bag with the head and leaving the office. Victor Cain wasn’t usually this unenthusiastic when he sent a message. He loved to make a scene and draw blood with everyone watching. Every time, he turned it into a production as he made his point, demanded his justice, or taunted his enemies. He wanted to be written into history, but the most memorable story about him would be his death once I got my hands on him. Returning the same head I had thrown at his feet on his wedding day wasn’t a message. It was a precursor for what he really had planned. The words carved into the man’s rotting flesh made a point but a weak one. I was almost disappointed. His lack of effort told me this was just a distraction and worse would be coming. I was ready for it. I was excited. His demand for me to return Faith to him was comical. If he wanted to take her from me, he would have to kill me first. Even if I
FAITH“Master?” He asked with a chuckle. “I could get used to that.” “Don’t count on it.” I snapped, looking over my shoulder to glare at him as we returned to the pack house.His body was relaxed as he walked, the amulet hanging from his neck like a neon light, calling to me. I had been so close, and now freedom was further away than ever. I had been a fool to let myself give in to the desire because now I was too aware of how good he felt. My body was still throbbing from the memory of him as my heart wept for freedom. How did he look so relaxed? Was chasing and fucking women in the forest just a regular occurrence for him?“When were you planning on telling me that you had my amulet?” All of the times over the past forty-eight hours when my amulet warmed, and it felt as though someone was about to use my powers, it had been him.He had been testing it, toying with me. Had he tried to use it, not realizing I had to be touching someone?To think, I had even been worried about hi
KAIDENNever before had I felt such bliss. Her body was calling to me. Her blood was calling to me like a siren song.Faith. “Fuck,” I growled as she clenched around me, and I thrust harder. She arched into me further, and I licked at her neck, fighting my every instinct and my wolf’s insistence that I sink my teeth into her flesh.The subtle saltiness to her skin from her run and the desire coming from her every pore was intoxicating, and I slid my palm down her thigh, hitching her leg up higher as my teeth scraped against her neck again, almost breaking the skin.My eyes squeezed tighter shut as I fought my wolf to keep control. It was a losing battle, though. He was too strong and too insistent on making her his. The blood bond was as strong as it could get, with both of us consuming the other’s blood, but I knew I couldn’t form a true mate bond with her. She wasn’t here to be my Luna, and I didn't want one. Like she could sense my thoughts, her body tensed, her back lowered to
FAITHI had to have gone mad. The blood bond had corrupted my mind, and I was losing it.There was no other explanation for the giddy butterflies swarming in my stomach and chest as I sprinted through the trees. I could feel him waiting impatiently, giving me a chance to put some space between us before he came after me.But the second he did, the second he took his first step forward, I knew. I could feel him hunting me, stalking me like I were his prey. He could have caught me within seconds, but he was playing with me, and I was enjoying the game. The border had to be only a few miles away, but I knew I wouldn’t make it before he caught me. Still, I had to try. Kaiden’s steps grew louder, and a low growl rolled over me as he closed in on me. My arm shot out, and I hooked it on a tree to steady myself as I made a sharp turn to catch him off guard. Only he was one step ahead of me, and I slid to a stop with my face only inches from his chest, my palm burning from sliding again
FAITH My fingers sank into the soft mulch of the flower bed, and I grimaced as I noticed the crushed flowers beneath my feet and knees. I tensed, waiting for a burst of pain to indicate I had sprained or broken something on my way down, but I was filled with pride when I didn’t feel anything. Kaiden’s blood was still in my system and would be for a few days. The strength that came from it would make escaping possible, but it would still be challenging to do so without my wolf. I had wanted to talk to the man on the post, but I doubted I would be able to escape more than once. This was my only chance.My breathing caught as the medallion around my neck warmed, and I quickly shoved my dirt-covered hands into my pockets. No one was nearby for me to touch, but I couldn’t risk it. The sky was getting darker, and I figured Ryan or Cain were hoping I was sleeping next to someone I could hurt and wanted to take advantage of it. They would know that an Alpha, no matter how strong, would be
KAIDEN“No one touches it,” I demanded, and the guard nodded, taking the closed trash bag with the head and leaving the office. Victor Cain wasn’t usually this unenthusiastic when he sent a message. He loved to make a scene and draw blood with everyone watching. Every time, he turned it into a production as he made his point, demanded his justice, or taunted his enemies. He wanted to be written into history, but the most memorable story about him would be his death once I got my hands on him. Returning the same head I had thrown at his feet on his wedding day wasn’t a message. It was a precursor for what he really had planned. The words carved into the man’s rotting flesh made a point but a weak one. I was almost disappointed. His lack of effort told me this was just a distraction and worse would be coming. I was ready for it. I was excited. His demand for me to return Faith to him was comical. If he wanted to take her from me, he would have to kill me first. Even if I
FAITH The dining hall was packed, and I kept my head down as I sat at Kaiden’s side. To his left. It was the spot for the Luna, causing everyone to talk and all try to get a look at me. I didn’t want to look at them and feed the gossip because I was not his Luna, despite me smelling like him from the blood he used to heal me. The warmth of his body as he leaned into my side made me tense, and I couldn’t help the goosebumps that rose along my skin from how close he was. “You’re pouting,” He whispered, and I pursed my lips as I looked up to meet his glare directly. A few gasps came from our audience, but he just smirked as if the situation and my lack of obedience amused him. Ryan would have dragged me back to our room and smacked me. Kaiden just licked his lips as his eyebrows raised the slightest bit, and his smirk turned into a smile as if he were enjoying my defiance. With his face only inches from mine, I couldn’t help but notice that the soulless eyes I had thought w
FAITH ***The cool air of morning brushed across my cheeks, and I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath, enjoying the refreshing breeze. It was a beautiful morning, and for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe easier. Kaiden's warm breath fanned over my neck, and I tensed as it sent another jolt of pleasure down to my core. The spot where my mark had once been, where my new mark would one day be, was only an inch from his lips. With every exhale over the sensitive skin, I felt myself growing more turned on, and I pressed my thighs together. His erection was planted firmly against my ass, and I was fighting everything in me not to rub back against it. “Where are we?” I asked, glancing around to distract myself from the burning need rushing through me. I knew feeling this way was just the blood bond from him healing me, but I didn’t want to give in. I needed time before I let another man in. What if he was just using me like Ryan had, and Cain wanted to? No. It was
FAITH Kaiden walked past me, heading upstairs with Juliana at his side, acting as if they hadn’t just stolen my blood or been in the middle of a conversation with me. The two of them spoke in low tones, too quiet for me to make out what was being said. I wasn’t sure if I should follow them, but since they hadn’t said anything or looked back, I decided to explore while I still could. Will was still following me, and I figured I would be stuck with a shadow until Juliana worked her magic on my blood. It wasn’t too bad until he stopped me from leaving the pack house. Apparently, the door was the end of my leash. By the time the sun had set, I was too tired from the day to worry about food. It was hard to believe that it had been less than forty-eight hours ago that my world was turned upside down. I turned to Will. “Do you know where I am supposed to be sleeping tonight?” I asked, assuming there would be a guest room or maybe even a prison cell I would be trapped in until mor
FAITH “Ms. Faith,” A young maid called as my fingers trailed over my cheek, trying to find proof injury had once been there but seeing none. I had already inspected my wrists and ankles, but while doing so, the marks were fading fast. It was incredible what Alpha blood could do. Ryan had never shown me such generosity, and we had been mated. If I had been hurt, he called the pack doctor in to bandage me up and then sent him on his way. It was why I thought things were changing when he finally started bringing me a nightly tea to help me heal. I thought he was starting to care. Could I have really loved him when he had treated me so horribly, or had I been in love with the idea of a happy marriage, trying so hard to be the obedient wife and perfect Luna? Alpha Kaiden Reed was terrifying, intimidating, powerful, and way out of my league. I had been disrespectful and challenging. Yet, he had shown me more kindness in the past twenty-four hours than Ryan had during our whole ma