ANMELDENTiana My morning began with me gripping the edge of the basin, willing my body to cooperate long enough to get through another day. But it was not surprising, as it had been my routine for the past three days. The nausea had returned more intensely, feeling like lead, and made everything I tried to eat or drink feel like poison. I splashed water on my face, studying my reflection in the mirror. The shadows under my eyes had darkened to bruises. My skin had taken on a grayish pallor that no amount of powder could hide. And my hands— I held them out in front of me. They trembled constantly now, and no matter how hard I tried, I could not control them. Even with Zane’s presence, even after he told me to stop taking the supplements, I had only gotten worse. I wanted to propose that the supplements were the problem but now, without them, the decline had just accelerated. I forced myself to dress, choosing a gown with long sleeves that would hide the shaking. I braided my h
Zane I returned to the pack house as soon as I got Ezra’s message. He had mentioned to me that Tiana seemed exhausted, and as though she had been declining day by day. Knowing how uncertain I had been about leaving Tiana alone, I did not waste any time as I made my way back. As soon as I arrived just after dawn, I moved to her chambers. I knocked once, heard movement, followed by her voice telling me to come in. The sight of her when I entered stopped me in my tracks. She was dressed, sitting at her desk with reports spread in front of her. Her hair was arranged downwards and her posture seemed forced in a way that suggested she was trying to project normalcy. But she couldn’t fake the pallor of her skin. Or the shadows under her eyes that had deepened since I left days ago. Neither could she hide the slight trembling of the hand that held her pen. “You’re back early,” she said, setting down the pen as she turned to me. “Did something happen at the border?” I shook
Tiana It was the second week since I had been left alone with Healer Senna. I still would have preferred being taken care of by Healer Iris, regardless, I was adjusting fine. Like the usual routine, I was sitting on the examination table, answering questions about my symptoms while she made notes and smiled at all the right moments. “Still experiencing morning sickness?” “Less than before. It’s mostly afternoons now.” “That’s normal progression.” She made a note. “Energy levels?” I hesitated. “Lower than I would like.” “Fatigue is very common in the second month,” Senna said, not looking up. “Your body is working hard. Growing a pup takes significant energy.” “I know. But this feels…” I searched for the right word. “Different. More than just being tired.” Senna set down her pen and looked at me with a concerned expression. “Can you describe it?” “Sure,” I nodded. “It feels like I’m moving through water sometimes. Like my body is heavier than it should be.” “Mm.”
Tiana I would think he would stop but he did not. “Zane,” I gasped, my body still trembling from the aftershocks. He was still hard inside me, still moving in a way that suggested he was nowhere near finished. “We are only getting started,” he growled against my ear, his hips continuing their relentless rhythm. Before I could respond, he pulled out causing me to whimper, and flipped me onto my back with easy strength. I blinked up at him, dazed and boneless, taking in the sight of him above me. His chest heaved with exertion, his eyes dark with want. “Legs up,” he commanded, his hands sliding under my thighs. “Around my waist.” I obeyed without thinking, wrapping my legs around him as he positioned himself between them. From this angle, I could see his face and watch the way his expression shifted as he pushed back inside me. Zane settled into a new rhythm—slower than before but deeper, each thrust doing silly things to me. His eyes never left mine, holding my ga
Tiana His thumbs brushed over my nipples again and I couldn’t stop the sound that escaped my throat. Heat flooded through me, pooling low in my belly in a way that had nothing to do with pregnancy and everything to do with the man whose hands were on me. “Zane.” His name came out of me breathless in a way that should have embarrassed me. But I was beyond embarrassment. Or thinking about what this meant or whether we should be doing it. All I could focus on was the feel of his hands on my breasts, the pressure of his thumbs circling my nipples, and the way my entire body had gone tight with want. “If you want me to stop, tell me now.” “Don’t stop,” I replied The growl that came from him was pure male satisfaction. His hands moved with new purpose, palming my breasts fully now, kneading them with a pressure that bordered on rough but felt perfect. My nipples were so sensitive—had been since the pregnancy started—and every touch sent sparks of pleasure racing through m
Zane I stared at the map spread across my desk, the red marks indicating rogue sightings multiplying like a disease spreading through our territory. Seven incidents had been recorded in the past two weeks and I was not sure how to feel about it. All testing our defenses at different points. I was certain that it wasn’t random. Rogues didn’t organize like this unless someone was directing them. “The pattern suggests they’re probing for weak points,” Ezra said, leaning over the map. “Testing response times and guard rotations.” “Preparing for something bigger.” I traced the line of marks with one finger. “They’re gathering intelligence.” “Should we increase patrols?” “Yes. Double the night watch on the eastern border. That’s where they’ve been most active.” I made notes on the report. “And I want eyes on the elder meetings. If someone’s feeding information to rogues, it’s coming from inside the pack.” Ezra’s expression darkened. “You think the corruption goes that de
Tiana My eyes opened slowly, like surfacing from deep water. My head throbbed. Each pulse behind my eyes felt like a hammer strike. My mouth was so dry that my tongue stuck to the roof of it. But underneath the discomfort, something else registered. Warmth. Softness. The scent of cedar an
Zane I was furious, so furious I could barely hear myself think. If Kaius had been anywhere near me, I might have punched him first and dealt with the consequences later. Because why and how had he become a point of comparison to me? Just hearing his name twisted something violent in my chest
Zane I carried her into the bathroom, my grip firm on her thighs as she clung to me, her fingers curled into the back of my neck like she was afraid I would disappear. The door shut behind my boot with a solid thud. “Tiana,” I muttered, adjusting her slightly. “You’re burning up.” “I’m fi
Zane I grabbed her wrists and pinned her against the tile wall, her back hitting the cold surface with a gasp. “Enough,” I growled. The water poured directly over us now. Cold spray hitting my shoulders and cascading down, soaking us both completely. She looked up at me, her eyes still gl







