Alright, It's been a full week of updates, but I wanted to give you one last bonus going into the weekend. If you find the story interesting, please consider writing a review and/or voting with your gems. Gina still has a long way to go, but next week I'll be back to updating on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Unfortunately, I can't maintain an update schedule of 5-6 chapters a week, but if the book gets a lot of reviews and/or gem votes, I'll push myself to give you extra chapters. Thanks for the love and support. I know this book is pretty different from my first one, but hopefully you're enjoying it. Much Love, Anja <3
Broken Warriors?!?! Is that what she thinks of all these men? Men like my father? That they are broken. I bite my tongue to keep from saying anything and I can taste the coppery tang of my own blood. I canโt believe Jill just said that, especially to me. I made it clear and explained to her in great detail from the beginning how I witnessed the way it helped my father to cope, and I knew that it could help other warriors as well. I always knew she disagreed with my choices, but I thought she at least understood them. If I didnโt have another purpose in the pack, maybe this is what I was made for. Iโve already been hurt enough that Iโve learned how to keep my emotions out of it, and Iโve seen the way it has helped so many warriors clear their heads and move forward with their lives. Yes, there was the occasional jerk that couldn't be helped by what I offered, but most of the men I serviced showed vast improvement after a night with me. All through dinner I was stewing over Ji
Jill wasnโt kidding when she said the dress she designed was perfect for me. She created the most stunning gown Iโve ever seen in my life and when I tried it on, it fit me like a glove, as if sheโd had me there for fittings every step of the way. Sheโs too good to me, and I donโt deserve a friend like her. My dress was a glittery gold fabric that sparkled like diamonds. It had a sweetheart neckline with a swath of fabric that draped over my right shoulder. The fabric disappeared behind a small gold belt at the waist, and there was a high slit that went to the top of my left thigh. The hem line hit the floor perfectly in the front, and began to pool around the sides, and became a train in the back. The night of the Blue Moon Ball had arrived, and Jill and I agreed to face it together. She was starting to feel disheartened because she had attended every ball since she turned 18, and she still hadnโt found her mate. I, on the other hand, was terrified because I had never attended
โMate.โ It was the most sensual sound I had ever heard, and the desire was evident in his voice. I hadnโt even seen his face yet, and I was already falling hard for this man, but I was terrified to turn around. What if this was an elaborate ruse to set me up for humiliation? What if he takes one look at me and is disgusted, or worse, he has already chosen a mate and plans to reject me. Images of Brent flash in my mind. Thatโs exactly what we planned to do. Iโve barely begun to experience the mate bond, and I can already understand why it was so hard for Brent to resist. As much as I dislike Heidi, suddenly I feel like I can empathize with her as I imagine my mate rejecting me for another. The thought sends a sharp pain to my chest, and I stumble forward, but large warm hands reach out to steady me. My skin exploded with pleasurable tingles that made my lower abdomen tighten. This is obviously not a joke or a trick. You canโt fake the effects of the mate bond. He doesnโt sa
I walk into the room and donโt bother to turn the lights on. My heightened senses allow me to see just fine in the dark, and even though I know his sight is just as good in the dark, thereโs something comforting about it that makes me feel like I can hide. Atticus closes the door and takes two steps into the room before he stops and just stares at me. Thereโs a soft glow from the moonlight streaming in through the window. His face is still the perfect mask of indifference, but there is a hint of softness in his eyes again. After a few more moments of silence, Atticus sighs. โDo you mind explaining what that wolf downstairs was talking about?โ My heart was racing, and my mouth felt sticky and dry. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I did my best to explain how I ended up with this reputation. โAfter having my heart broken by Brent and allowing myself to naively be used by other men in the pack, I inadvertently developed a reputation.โ I cringe a little from embarrassment as I f
The bar was fairly crowded for a Thursday night. I kept my makeup light, and I wore a black bodycon dress that ended mid-thigh and had an open back with several straps that crisscrossed over each other. I figured black was appropriate since I was mourning the loss of my mate. He wasnโt dead, but with the way my heart was shattered, he might as well have been.My look tonight wasnโt nearly as put together as I would usually fix myself up for a night out, but tonight I wasnโt paying attention to anyone. I was drowning in my sorrows with alcohol and waiting to see if anyone noticed me and approached me to offer any sort of comfort. They had to have all heard what had happened by now.In the back of my mind, I think I knew that sex wouldnโt fix this. In fact, sex is what got me into this mess in the first place, but old habits die hard, and I already lost my fated mate. How much more could I possibly screw things up at this point?I sat alone at the bar and kept the shots of whiske
The minute Iโm out the front door of the pack house and out of sight, I break down. I block out the mind-link before I crumple on the steps of the massive house and just allow the tears to flow. My body shakes violently as sobs take over and I lose all control. I have nothing left. My first love, Brent, left me for his mate. I honestly donโt even want him anymore, but the memory of everything I lost when he chose Heidi over me is still painful. Then, my fated mate, my true mate, rejected me. This was the worst physical pain Iโve ever felt in my life. I understand the mate bond a little better now, but it still seems crazy to me that I could be so devastated over someone I never really knew to begin with. The mate bond was strong and deeply imbedded in me. I couldnโt have fought it if I wanted to. Sadly, I didnโt want to, but I have no idea how Atticus did it. I was excited about meeting my mate and I looked forward to having a real life with him. Now that that dream was cr
It only takes a few minutes before Iโm approaching the pack house, but I have no intention of going inside. Iโm downwind, so I can scent and hear some warriors outside guarding the building and all those who are safely inside.Making a wide loop around the building, Iโm able to avoid any warriors, and I continue to head south. Iโm feeling nervous and excited at the same time. I canโt believe Iโm about to do this, but from the moment the idea popped into my head it made perfect sense.Iโd rather live alone as a rogue than stay here where Iโm unwanted and unappreciated. Thereโs nothing left for me here, so Iโve made up my mind. Iโm leaving.The timing couldnโt be more perfect. Everyone is distracted with the rogue attack, which allows me to sneak to the southern border where I can reject the pack and leave. I only packed a few things because I didnโt have much worth taking with me, and I didnโt want to carry a large heavy bag. I have no idea where Iโll go, or how long Iโll have
There were no packs anywhere near this area as far as I could tell. I was very cautious to avoid pack lands. This man wasnโt just a wolf, he carried the aura of a ranked wolf. He might even be of alpha blood, but I couldnโt tell for sure. All my muscles were coiled, and my body was prepared for fight or flight mode, but when his eyes met mine, he looked just as surprised as I did at the idea of meeting another wolf here. His nose crinkled slightly before he schooled his expression and gave me a friendly smile. I canโt smell myself, but Iโm sure to other wolves Iโm starting to give off the stench of a rogue. It doesnโt matter how often I shower or how hard I scrub my skin and hair, without a pack, I will gradually smell more and more like a rogue. Iโm not sure how quickly the stink grows but based on how easily he was able to hide his disgust, it must not be too strong yet. โHello there,โ he greets me with a deep gravelly voice that I can feel to my bones. โYouโre new around he
JERICHO The older wolf speaks up for the first time, and his voice is much rougher than I expected. โYouโre her mate and I trust that you know whatโs best, but where should I wait?โ โThereโs a dinner down the road, you can go eat lunch there, and one of us will come for you when we think sheโs ready.โ Mr. Akir nodded and turned to leave, but I saw the disappointment in his eyes and dejection was evident in his posture. I felt for him, but Gia is my priority right now, and I donโt want to overwhelm her with too much all at once. Once heโd rounded the corner, I quietly opened the door and stepped inside. Jill followed me and I asked her to wait in the living room while I go up to check on my mate. Before I even reached the bedroom door, Gia was exiting the room sniffing the air with her eyes wide in shock. She paused and looked at me, a million questions swimming in her golden gaze, but she didnโt say a word. Gia took a couple hesitant steps closer to me and began sniffing my c
GINAโโฆYouโre settled with your mate, and soon youโll have a pup.โAs soon as the words left his lips, my mouth dropped open, and my hands instinctively went to my stomach. Could I really be pregnant?! I look down while simultaneously lifting my shirt to reveal my well-defined abs. I donโt look pregnant, but of course you wouldnโt be able to see anything this early.Suddenly, I could feel and hear the little fluttering heartbeat of the pup inside my womb and time stands still. I wanted to laugh and cry and panic all at once.โHow did you know?โ I whisper in awe as my fingertips lightly graze the taut, tan skin of my mid-section.Jericho just laughs, โYouโve seemed a bit distracted lately, always looking around like youโre on high alert, so Iโve been listening for the last couple of days, attempting to hear an extra heartbeat.โEverything makes sense now. My heightened senses are an obvious sign that my protective instincts have been turned up a few notches.โAnd youโre just NOW telling
GINAProving myself to the alpha and luan was my top priority. They agreed to let me recruit help, and Karli and Matthias were at the top of my list. Iโd never gotten to know them as well as I should have, but now that weโre working together, Iโm taking advantage of the opportunity.We have spent so much time together over the last several weeks that, now that Iโm not holding back like I used to, weโve gotten to learn a lot more about one another while we work. Weโve been using a meeting room in the pack house so we can keep all the information is a safe and confidential location.We started out by discussing the Blood Eclipse pack members who we knew without a doubt would love to be a member of a pack that would actually value them and look out for their best interests. Even when I was keeping my distance from everyone, I could tell that some of the pack members were honestly just looking for a home. They didnโt deserve to be caught up in Silasโ power struggle.Next, we had to compare
JERICHOI had no intentions of mating with Giovanna tonight. My only goal was to earn her trust and further break down her walls that were keeping me at armโs length. Iโd been fighting against my wolf all night, trying to remind myself that we needed this to be different.Everything changed when she said she wanted me to mark her. My wolf surged forward, and I gave up on fighting to hold back my instincts. I took her up to our bedroom, and slowly explored every inch or her beautiful body. I took my time memorizing every curve, and finding the perfect spots that drive her wild.Based on what she told me, I doubt sheโd ever experienced what mating could be like when your partner gives of themselves without selfish ambitions. I wanted this night to be something she would never forget, for all the right reasons.It was just after the fourth time mating that my canines extended, and I sank them into her flesh, forever marking her as my mate. She immediately returned the favor, and the pain
GINAJericho kissed me, and my heart stopped. I sat there frozen as his perfect lips caressed mine and the tingles from the mate bond spread across my face, down my neck, and kept moving until my whole body was alive and thrumming.He didnโt seem deterred by the fact that I wasnโt kissing him back. I could feel his passion, his desire, and his determination. He slides his tongue along the seam of my lips, and I automatically opened up and allowed him to explore my mouth.It was amazing how he could kiss me with so much passion, yet it still felt tender and romantic at the same time. I slowly began to move my mouth returning the kiss when I heard him growl, โMineโ in satisfaction.The kiss felt amazing, but just as he was moving to pull me closer, for reasons I couldnโt understand or explain, I pulled back. I looked down at his lips, which had already begun to swell up slightly, and I was tempted to dive back in.When my eyes moved up to lock with his, I could tell the mate bond w
GINA I wasnโt expecting my ability to join the pack being dependent on my mating and marking Jericho. What happens if he rejects me? Will the pack reject me too? Thatโs it! I canโt handle the stress of not knowing anymore, I have to tell him tonight. I canโt put it off any longer. Itโs time to rip off the band-aid and stop procrastinating. If it goes horribly wrong, I can leave tonight. Iโm not sure where exactly I would go, but Iโll find somewhere. When Jericho pulled back to look at me, I could feel the emotion welling up inside, but I did my best to not let it show.โIโm sorry, I should have asked youโฆโ he stumbled over his words, โYou do want to stay and join the Silver Eclipse Pack, right?โ Although he was asking my opinion, he didnโt phrase it like a question. It felt more like a statement of expectation and him looking for confirmation. The shock of it all was too much, and I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. What do I even say to that? When I didnโt an
GINA Jericho must have noticed my lack of appetite, and he seemed concerned, but he didnโt say anything. As we left the diner and headed to the pack house, he continued to hold my hand and comfort me with his touch. The walk back to the pack house only took a few minutes, but by the time we arrived, I was so stressed out that when the beta greeted us at the door, I immediately asked to use the powder room. There was one just around the corner from the entry, so Jericho let me know he would wait by the door for me to return before heading for the alphaโs office, though he was reluctant to release my hand. While I didnโt feel as if I would vomit, my body continued to heat up, and the knots in my stomach refused to release their tension. After splashing cold water on my face, I stared at the reflection of the woman in the mirror. This is the first time Iโve really stopped to examine myself in, I donโt know how long. So much has changed over the last seven years. I havenโt changed
GINA I hadnโt realized how exhausted I was until Jericho left me alone in the cottage. After he took off for the training grounds I contemplated getting up and cleaning a bit, but I just couldnโt seem to force my legs to cooperate. I resigned myself to taking a short nap and then Iโll get up and do some cleaning while exploring the rest of this house. When my eyes opened it was barely light out, and I thought Iโd done a great job of taking a short nap, but the moment I felt Jerichoโs heavy arm draped over my waist, and smelled his sandalwood and Irish whiskey scent, I realized that my short nap must have actually been hours. Now that Iโm paying attention, I feel significantly more rested. It must be dusk. My eyes scan the room for a clock of some sort so I donโt have to get up and disturb my mate. He must be even more exhausted than I was. He had to take off and work on something while I got to lay here and sleep. My eyes stop when I notice a beautiful bouquet of flowers sit
JERICHO Since Iโm unsure what the gamma wanted me for, I decided to quickly change before heading to the training grounds. I quickly grabbed a pair of athletic shorts and a t-shirt from the laundry room and trade out my jeans and dress shirt for the more casual outfit. Arriving at the training grounds five minutes earlier than I promised, I have a few moments alone to think about what I might have been called here for. I know the Alpha and Luna are still busy at the pack house receiving condolences from all the pack members who are grieving the loss of our previous alpha. Gamma Emmitt is in charge of the training and warriors, so my best guess is that this has something to do with either training or the prisoners who are currently overflowing from the various holding cells that are scattered around the territory. It only takes a couple minutes for the gamma to appear, and Iโm thankful that heโs so punctual. โHello, Gamma.โ I greet him with a smile and a nod. โHey, Jericho. So