Declaration of War Sophia pov The Blackstone estate sat on two hundred acres of pristine wilderness outside Seattle, its imposing stone facade a testament to old money and older power. Within its walls, I paced my father's study like a caged predator, my perfectly manicured nails clicking against my phone as I made call after call. "No, you don't understand," I snarled into the device, my voice carrying the harmonics of a wolf on the edge of violence. "Mickey Blackwood has made a catastrophic mistake, and someone needs to fix it before it damages our entire community." The voice on the other end of the line was cautious, wary. "Miss Blackstone, with all due respect, challenging an ultimate Alpha's mating choice—" "His mating choice is a human!" My control snapped momentarily, my wolf bleeding through into my voice. "A broken, damaged human who was beaten by her foster parents or was it step parents. I don'tfucking know or careabout howhe found her. The bitch is weak as tget c
Bonds and Vengeance Mickey pov The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains, casting everything in a golden glow that seemed to match the warmth radiating through Lily's entire being. She lay curled against my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin as she marveled at the completeness of their bond. My mind went to last night and how she begged me to fuck her. I made love to her instead. Yes, we are young, but in our werewolf world, a mated pair stays together with only death breaking them apart. I can still feel her tight wet heat on my cock. It was perfect. The night had been a revelation—not just the physical joining that had sealed our mating completely, but the overwhelming emotional intimacy that came with sharing every sensation, every feeling through our supernatural connection. I had been infinitely patient and gentle, guiding her through each moment with the same careful attention I had shown throughout her healing. "Good morning, my mate,"
The Mark of Trust Mickey pov The emotional bond between us hummed with new life, a golden thread connecting our hearts that grew stronger with each passing moment. Lily remained curled against my chest, marveling at the sensation of feeling my love as clearly as her own heartbeat. Through our connection, she could sense my contentment, my protective instincts, and underneath it all, the careful restraint I maintained to keep from overwhelming her. "Mickey," she said softly, tilting her head to look up at me. "Yes, little one?" The endearment, which had always made her feel cherished, now carried even deeper meaning through the bond. She could feel how much love I poured into those simple words, how they represented everything precious and protected in my world. "I can feel how much you're holding back," she observed. "Even now, even with the bond started, you're still being so careful with me." My hand paused in stroking her hair. "I don't want to push too hard, too fast.
Vulnerable Hearts Mickey pov The evening had settled into comfortable quiet after dinner. I sat in my armchair reading pack reports while Lily curled on the couch with a novel, but I could sense her restlessness through our growing bond. She'd been unusually quiet since waking from her nap, processing the morning's encounter with Sophia in that careful way she had when working through difficult emotions. I had learned to give her space during these times, to let her find her own way to whatever she needed to say. But as the hours passed, I could feel her anxiety building, could scent the nervous energy that meant she was wrestling with something important. Finally, she set her book aside and looked at me directly. "Mickey?" "Yes, little one?" I marked my place in the report and gave her my full attention. "Can we talk about something? Something... difficult?" The hesitation in her voice immediately put me on alert. I closed the folder entirely and leaned forward. "Of co
The aftermath Mickey pov I stood frozen for a moment, my wolf still riding the surface, ready to pursue the threat that had just left our territory. It took several deep breaths before I felt controlled enough to turn around. Lily was quiet. Lily was still standing by the couch, her face pale, the book now fallen forgotten to the floor. She was trembling slightly, and I could scent the stress-sweat that meant she was fighting not to have a panic attack. I hated how much they hurt her, and she still thinks she isn't worth it. Lily thinks I want that bimbo but all I want is her. Her tiny frame against me and my hands rubbing her back. I want her to feel how much I want and love her. She shudders and I hold back my wolf as he fights to go after Sophia and kill her. She needs to die his voice echoed in my head. I'm not leaving Lily I say back gruffly as he watches our mate. She looks ready to cry. "Lily," I said softly, approaching her like I would a spooked animal. "She's gone. S
Territorial Lines Mickey pov Three days had passed since me and Lily's dawn conversation about Davidson and Margaret's fate. The apartment had taken on a strange sense of calm, as if the decision to act had lifted some invisible weight from both our shoulders. Lily had been sleeping better, the nightmares less frequent, and I found myself able to focus on immediate concerns rather than constantly planning retribution. Which was why the knock on our door at ten in the morning caught me off guard. I opened it to find Sophia Blaackstone standing in the hallway, her auburn hair perfectly styled despite the early hour, wearing a form-fitting black dress that left little to the imagination. She was beautiful in the way that she-wolves often were—tall, confident, with predatory grace that came from generations of supernatural breeding. She was also trouble. "Mickey," Sophia purred, her voice carrying the subtle harmonics that marked her as a wolf from one of the more powerful bl