LOGINKai's POVHe reached out and gripped my wrist. Not hard. But firm. His thumb pressed against my pulse point. I felt my breath catch."This okay?" he asked."Yes."He pulled me closer. His other hand went to my waist and held me steady. His grip was strong. Not painful. But present. I could feel the weight of his hands on me."Tell me what you want," he said."I want you to kiss me," I whispered. "Hard."He leaned in. His mouth met mine, and it wasn't soft. It was hungry. Demanding. His lips parted mine and I felt his tongue slide against my own. His grip on my wrist tightened slightly, and my body responded instantly.Heat flooded my stomach. My heart pounded.I pushed into him, craving more contact. He answered by pulling me closer. His free hand slid up my back and pressed me against his chest. His mouth was relentless. I felt like I was finally, finally being seen.He pulled back, breathing hard. His eyes were dark and intense."More?" he asked."Yes," I breathed. "Please."He push
Kai's POVThe heat was gone.I woke up on the third morning feeling empty in a way that had nothing to do with hunger or thirst. My body was cool. My skin wasn't flushed. The desperate, aching need that had consumed me for days had simply... vanished.And in its place was something worse.I lay in Jax's bed and stared at the ceiling. The sheets were tangled around my legs. The morning light was grey and cold through the window. Everything felt quiet. Too quiet.I knew what was coming next.It always happened like this. The heat would end, and then the hunger would start. Not the good kind of hunger. The ugly kind. The kind that made my skin crawl and my stomach turn. The kind that made me want things I wasn't supposed to want.I pressed my palms against my eyes and tried to breathe.Five years.Five years of conditioning. Five years of being touched only when it hurt. Five years of learning that gentle meant nothing and rough meant everything.I had told Jax about the abuse. I had tol
Jax's POV Later that day, I went to the tree line to meet one of my scouts. A young wolf named Corbin who had been with me for three years. He was loyal. Quiet. He didn't ask too many questions."Ride to the edge of Selene Voss's territory," I told him. "Deliver a message. Say I need to speak with her. Privately."Corbin's eyebrows went up. "Selene Voss? She's been trying to get your attention for years.""I know.""Sir, do you think that's wise? She's...""Political," I interrupted. "I know what she is. But she has influence. And right now, I need influence more than I need pride."Corbin nodded slowly. He didn't argue. That's why I kept him around."Anything else?" he asked."Tell her I'm not offering anything. Tell her I just want to talk. She can decide what that means."Corbin nodded again and disappeared into the trees.I stood at the border for a long time after he left, staring into the dark forest. The air was cold. The sky was grey. Winter was coming.And so was the council
Jax's POVThe letter arrived at dawn.I knew what it was before I opened it. The seal was different from Ronan's. This one bore the mark of the Regional Pack Council. Dark red wax pressed with the image of a tree whose roots spread across the entire stamp.I stood at the table for a long time, just looking at it.Kai was still asleep. I could hear his soft breathing through the thin wall. He had finally slept through the night without waking, without crying out, without reaching for something that wasn't there. His heat had broken two days ago, but the exhaustion still clung to him like a second skin.I broke the seal.The letter was formal and cold. Legal language. Precise. The kind of document designed to leave no room for argument.*The Regional Pack Council hereby acknowledges the formal petition submitted by Alpha Ronan of the Lunar Reavers regarding the betrothal claim to Omega Kai Ashwood. Alpha Jax Wilder of the Northern Territories is summoned to appear before the council wit
Knox's POVThe Lunar Reavers pack house was too warm.I sat in the council chamber with my coat draped over the back of my chair, watching Ronan's advisors file in one by one. They moved like nervous prey, eyes darting toward me before quickly looking away. Good. Let them be scared. Fear made people predictable.Ronan sat at the head of the table, his face carefully blank. He had read my letter three times now. He kept folding and unfolding the edges like he was waiting for the words to change."The response from Wilder," Ronan said finally. "You've seen it."I had. The messenger had brought it straight to me before delivering it to Ronan's council. Smart boy. I had made sure he knew where his loyalty should lie."I read it," I said. "Your betrothed is still in his territory. Wilder refused to release him."Ronan's jaw tightened. "He cited the betrothal as invalid. Said I lost all rights when I traded Kai away.""He's wrong." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "The betr
Kai's POVThe kiss never happened.Jax pulled back at the last second. His hand stayed on my neck, but his face went hard again. The heat in his eyes flickered and died like someone had blown out a candle."No," he said. His voice was rough, but final.I blinked. My body was still pressed against his, still burning, still aching for the contact he had just denied me."Jax...""I said no." He stepped back, putting space between us. His hands dropped to his sides. "This isn't right. Not like this."I stared at him. The rejection stung more than I wanted to admit. My skin felt cold where his hands had been. I crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly aware of how exposed I was."Not like what?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. "I told you I want this. I told you it's not about protection anymore."He ran a hand through his dark hair, messing it up even more. He looked exhausted. Like he hadn't slept at all. His eyes stayed on the floor."You're in heat, Kai. I'm in rut. It's not
Jax’s POVI stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door firmly behind me. The sound of the lock clicking into place was the only comfort I could give Kai right now.The hallway was dark, but I could smell them clearly. Six alphas in total. Knox’s stench was the strongest, reeking of arrogance an
Jax’s POVI lasted barely an hour.No matter how hard I tried to stay away, Kai’s desperate sounds kept pulling me back. His whimpers had grown weaker, more pained. My rut was still raging, but something deeper than lust pushed me toward the bedroom door.I opened it slowly.The wave of heat scent
Jax's POV The cold water had helped, but only a little. My skin felt numb and the worst of the fever had faded, yet my rut still simmered just beneath the surface. I killed the shower, dragged my clothes back on, and told myself I was going straight to the guest room on the far side of the house.
Jax's POV I slammed the door behind me harder than I intended. The sound echoed through the hallway like a gunshot.My blood was on fire. Every breath dragged Kai’s sweet, fruity scent deeper into my lungs. My rut surged violently, making my cock throb painfully against my zipper.“Fuck.”I dragge







