LOGINAsher’s POVI lay back in my bed, thinking about the deal I had just made with Seraphina.There were a million and one ways it could go wrong but in the one instance it went right…Elara.It had been so long since I had seen her smile at me. Call my name in that way that when I thought about it now, I realized that she must have loved me.Since she left, we had hosted just one alliance meet and it had ended in utter disaster. Lillian was practically useless, yelling when the Alphas asked usual intrusive questions and bursting into tears when I did not take her side.Elara had been so mature. She understood people in a way that left me in awe at times.She had done it so effortlessly that I thought that it was something every Luna could do.Lillian had swiftly proven me wrong.I was about to climb out of bed when I heard noise. Mother was throwing a fit downstairs on not being served a full set of meals, appetizer and dessert included for breakfast.If she stopped to think about it, sh
Elara's POVKaden and I walked into the dungeons.“Where are we going?” I asked him as we walked down a corridor I had never seen.“I had this built a while back,” he replied. “I did not think I would use it so soon.”Behind a large door was a room. Sitting in the corner of the room was Linda, wearing the same clothes she had been wearing on the night of the incident.Her eyes were hollow, devoid of the life and hope that had been shining in them just days ago.“I see you are accustomed to your life,” Kaden said.Linda looked up upon hearing his voice and burst into tears. Her entire body heaved with her sobs.“Oh, stop that,” he spat. “Who are you trying to fool?”My eyes widened slightly when the tears on her face vanished and she looked straight at me, anger and malice in her eyes.“Treating your own mother like scum?” she spat. “And for what? A bitch who is going to die anyway—nngh.”Linda's body spasmed when Kaden clicked a button on the chair. Her body kept seizing after the ele
Elara’s POVKaden was wiping his hands on a towel as he entered inside our bedroom.He moved through his tasks, not conscious of my eyes watching him. When he stripped his shirt, my mouth dried.This man. Would he ever not look so beautiful?Kaden straightened from where he was digging through the drawer and sniffed. His entire body went rigid for a moment before he turned around.No words needed to be said.He darted towards me and pulled me into a deep kiss. I melted into his body, letting him carry me.Kaden was slow, his lips following every inch of my body that his finger touched. Before his lips could touch my core, I tapped his arm.“Inside me…I need you inside me,” I whispered, my hands reaching for his trousers.He lay my hands on the bed before his body stretched over mine. My head fell back against the pillow as he slipped into me, slowly like he wanted the moment to last forever.As he pushed in and out of me, my toes curled against the bed. His thumb brushed my cheek and
Asher’s POV“Where are you going?” Mother asked, blocking the door.I bumped her shoulder, moving past her. “I do not see how that is any of your business.”She followed after me, talking loud enough to draw attention throughout the packhouse. “You are not actually heading out to meet one of your women, are you? You will not bring a whore into this pack. Not while I am alive.”I turned around my face, calm. “Is that a license to kill you, Mother? Best believe that I will not think twice.”A gasp caught in her throat. I smiled at her before walking out of the packhouse, heading to my car parked out front.“To where, Mr. Blackwood?” the driver asked.He seemed like the only sensible person in the pack, actually minding his business and respecting the person that pays him.“Transverse,” I said, letting my head fall against the back of the seat as the driver started the car.Transverse was a strange name for a club but they were the only place in a fifty-mile radius discreet enough to mee
Kaden’s POV“Luna is fine,” she said in a somber voice as she examined my mate. “She burnt away most of the poison.”“However, the concern is how something like this got on her in the first place. This is used for torture in those more ruthless packs in Russia.”My hand holding the headboard was clenched so tightly that it nearly broke. There was no punishment that I would give Linda that would be enough to satiate my rage.“No side effects?” I asked to confirm one last time.“Give Luna some credit. Her powers will not let her suffer so easily,” Adaira said, patting my shoulders.Jacobi was curled into Elara’s side in the name of supplying her with his body heat. Elara was practically burning up, but Jacobi refused to move because his ‘mama cannot be cold.’Suddenly, he sat up and started running out of the room, yelling for me to chase him. “Papa! The bad guy is escaping!”“Shit,” I said, picking up Jacobi. Cain sat outside with Donna. I practically tossed my son at them before picki
Elara’s POVThat last burst of strength was all it took for my legs to give way. Before I could fall to the ground, Kaden caught me.Jacobi rushed to my other side. “Mama,” he croaked.How had I let my baby see such? These were memories that would stay in his mind for eternity.“Get him out of here,” I whispered to Kaden.Jacobi held on tightly to my shirt. “The bad woman is not gone. I’m not leaving you.”Kaden turned to the rest of the people alive in the room. Just four of them looking between each other and Linda, wondering what to do next.“Did I tell you to stop?” I said. My voice was barely a whisper but it was loud enough in the silent room.Finally, I felt a completeness in my chest.Cassian. He was back.Kaden’s hands pressed against my back and he poured in almost an excessive amount of energy.“If you give out too much, you will hurt yourself,” I said.Cassian ignored me. I let him refuel me. The poison was still in my veins but my body no longer felt like I was being cook
Elara’s POVAs I came out of Lillian’s room, I collapsed right into Kaden’s arms.“You are not doing this anymore,” he said.I pushed him off me. “I am fine.”“There is blood dripping down your mouth.”“I said I am fine,” I snapped.Kaden blinked once, twice, silence stretching between us. “Alright
Elara’s POV“You know that man loves you, right?”The popcorn froze on the way to my mouth. “What man?”“Alpha Caelthorn,” Lillian said. “He loves you. You can see it in the eyes.”My lips pursed together as I thought.Love. That was a very strong word.Sure, the mate bond was working overtime in f
Elara’s POVKaden’s head snapped up from my shoulders, his eyes widening.He was about to speak and then looked at where we were before dragging me down the hall to an empty bedroom.“What did you say?”I smiled, my heart bursting with more love than I ever thought I could give to a human being. “I
Elara’s POVLillian burst into tears, her hands over her face.“Please, don’t tell anyone. I’m begging you. They will hate me.”My arms slipped around her in comfort before I could think too deeply about what I was doing.“You…how? How have you lived this long without getting caught?”Lillian reach







