By the time Aria had changed into her silky nightdress, thin straps skimming her shoulders, no bra beneath, just a pair of delicate lace panties, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and combed through her hair, Kieran was already in bed. He lay against the headboard in just his boxers, the low light casting warm shadows across the ridges of his chest and the ink that wound over his arms.She hesitated only a moment before giving in to the pull she felt toward him. Crossing the room, she climbed onto the bed and straddled his lap, the cool silk of her nightdress whispering against his heated skin.The shift in his eyes was instant, molten gold threading through the deep blue, and she felt the answering press of his growing arousal against her, separated from her only by the thin cotton of his boxers. Her lips curved in a faint smile.
As the last of the pack members filed out of the cafeteria, the air in the pack house began to settle into something calmer, warmer. Aria stood by the doorway, exchanging quick goodbyes and watching people leave with relief in their eyes and gratitude in their words.The heavy front doors opened, letting in the cool night air, and Kieran stepped inside, Rafe and Thorne flanking him. His gaze swept the room immediately, sharp and assessing, but instead of finding chaos, he found order. People were smiling, bowing their heads to him as they passed, murmuring thanks.His brows drew together in mild confusion, like he was trying to piece together what the hell had happened while he was gone.Aria’s stomach dipped. For a second, she wondered if she’d overstepped, if she’d crossed some invisible Alpha li
The scent of damp stone and blood hit Kieran the moment Rafe pushed open the heavy steel door to the basement. The pack house’s cells were deep underground, carved into the earth itself, a place meant to strip away any sense of hope.The single bulb overhead flickered weakly, casting the walls in long, jagged shadows. In the center of the room, a man hung from silver chains bolted into the ceiling, his bare feet barely brushing the floor. The skin around his wrists was raw and blistered from the silver’s burn, and his head lolled forward until Rafe grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked it up.The rogue wolf bared his teeth, but there was no real fight in it, not yet. That would change soon enough.Kieran stepped into the room, his boots scraping against the concrete. His gaze swept over the prisoner,
The pack house was buzzing with movement and noise by the time Aria and Mira arrived. The air was thick with the scent of smoke, cleaning supplies, and the faint copper tang of blood. Wolves moved in and out through every doorway, some carrying supplies, others tending to scrapes or burns. The hum of voices was constant, worried, determined, urgent.“They work fast,” Mira murmured beside her, eyes scanning the scene. “But this one’s going to take a while to recover from.”“What about the people whose homes were destroyed?” Aria asked.Mira’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Some are still in shock. They’ll wait for the Alpha’s decision. But… we do have some rooms here for emergency housing. They haven’t been used in years.”
The moment they turned down the long gravel drive to the Black Moon estate, the air seemed to shift, heavier somehow, charged.Kieran eased the sleek black car to a stop right in front of the main steps. Before she could reach for the handle, he was already out, coming around to open her door. He offered his hand, but instead of simply helping her out, he pulled her directly into his arms.The kiss he gave her was slow and deliberate, like he wanted to anchor them both in that moment. Her fingers curled against his shirt, ready to melt into him.“Alpha!”Rafe’s voice cut through the air, sharp with urgency. Both he and Thorne were striding toward them from the pack house, their expressions tense.“Sorr
The drive back to the house was easy, unhurried. The windows were cracked just enough for the cool evening air to slip in, ruffling Aria’s hair. She sat back in her seat, watching the blur of trees and hills roll by while Kieran’s hand rested on her thigh in that casual way of his that still made her pulse pick up.They talked about nothing and everything, until Kieran’s voice shifted, low and steady, as he began to tell her about the world beyond the Black Moon borders.“There are other beings out there,” he said. “Some we tolerate, even trade with when it suits both sides. Others…” His mouth curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Not so much.”“Like the vampires,” she guessed.&ld