LOGINSIGRUN The angle was lethal. Every thrust hit a deep, sensitive node inside me that made my vision blur with stars. I bit my lip even harder to stop myself from making a sound. My slick core was trembling, contracting wildly around his shaft, hovering right on the precipice of a mind-shattering orgasm. I was desperate. I twisted my hips slightly, trying to chase the friction, trying to push myself over the edge. "Don't you dare," Varul growled into my ear, feeling my body fighting for release. He tightened his grip on my hair, holding me pinned in place while his hips slammed into me with relentless, rhythmic power. "Hold it for me, Sigrun." Tears of pure, unbearable pleasure gathered in the corners of my eyes. I gripped my own bound fingers behind my back, praying to survive the sheer intensity of his punishment. He was relentless, a man possessed, his heavy chest heaving against my back, his dark growls vibrating against my spine as he took his fill of me. My body was
SIGRUN My knees were shaking so violently I wasn’t sure they would support my weight for another five seconds. Kneeling on the fur rug in front of him, my lips swollen and wet, my knees weak, I looked up into Varul’s face. The dry, stoic Alpha King was completely gone. In his place stood a man consumed by raw, untamed desire—his golden amber eyes glowing like burning coals in the dim firelight, his broad chest heaving as he stared down at me. Before I could even draw another breath, his massive hands clamped under my armpits, lifting me off the floor as easily as if I weighed nothing at all. I let out a soft gasp, instantly reaching up to wrap my bare arms around his neck. I hitched my legs up, locking my ankles firmly behind his broad waist. A sharp, dull throb shot up my right foot—the sprained ankle reminding me it wasn't quite a hundred percent healed—but I didn't care. The aching joint was nothing compared to the white-hot heat pooling between my thighs. Varul adj
VARULThe quill was heavy in my hand, the wet black ink leaving dark, jagged initials across the bottom of another trade shipment manifest.I dipped the feather back into the well, my knuckles already stiff from hours of mind-numbing paperwork. Wall. Timber, iron rivets, extra grain stores, and heavy canvas for the builders working at Linewatch.The rebuilding was coming along. Weeks after the wall collapsed, there still hadn't been a single report of another attack from the blue creatures. No strange tracks in the snow.So far, everything was peaceful—even after the little hiccup that was Lord Halvar’s sudden death.I leaned back in the carved oak chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I stared at the stack of parchment waiting on my desk. The council had unanimously marked his death as collateral. The death of an Alpha during a primal ritual like the High Hunt was hardly uncommon. When the blood moon rose, everyone became feral. Beasts took over and blood was spilled in the dark. I
SIGRUNA sudden, sharp click of the iron latch shattered my sleep.My eyes snapped open, my heart instantly leaping into my throat. The hearth fire had burned down to a mound of glowing crimson embers, casting long, shadowy fingers across the high stone walls. The room had grown cold. I had no idea how many hours had passed, but my eyes felt heavy, my tongue dry and thick.I must have fallen asleep waiting for him.Panic and instinct surged at once. I tried to sit up quickly, but as my body shifted, my bandaged right foot caught on the heavy fur coverlet. A sharp, searing bolt of pain shot straight up my ankle, ripping a jagged gasp from my throat."Ah—" I winced, sucking in a shuddering breath and clamping my teeth over my lower lip as I dragged myself upright against the pillows.The heavy oak door swung shut, sealing the midnight chill into the room.Varul stood in the entry, framed by the faint amber glow of the dying fire. He was dressed for the grand festival, clad entirely in h
SIGRUNMy skin pricked with nervous goosebumps, and my chest felt ridiculously tight.Darren, who had spent the last several hours standing motionless near the door, straightened his spine to full height as heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed up the winding stone stairs of the royal wing.The door opened.Varul filled the threshold, clad in his signature black tunic, smelling intensely of wild woods, winter rain, and blood. His massive shoulders practically spanned the frame. Dark mud crusted his riding boots, and his long hair was wild and damp.Darren immediately bowed his head in submission. "My Alpha," he grunted softly, his voice low and concise. "Orasmus attended to the Luna a while ago. He said it is She is to remain off it for two weeks." Then his voice turned even more sober. "My deepest apologies, Alpha, for not fulfilling my duty to watch over the Luna."Darren's words caused more heat to suffuse my cheeks. I couldn't help feeling like an errant child who'd caused the adults
SIGRUNElara dropped into the wooden chair beside my settee, her cheeks slightly flushed, though she hastily smoothed her silk skirts with suspicious intensity."That is Darren, Elara. The Alpha's Beta," I said, my invisible whiskers twitching with curiosity as I watched them both.Given the...tension, I felt some sort of introduction was necessary. I just realized that although Elara had visited the castle many times, she'd never seen Darren—come to think of it, I don't think she'd ever actually met Varul either.Darren said nothing to acknowledge my attempt at introduction, even though I was quite sure that he'd heard it."Right," Elara whispered frantically, taking a seat on the chair and grabbing my cup of chamomile tea to take a huge sip that I could only identify as an attempt at fortification."Ooh, this tastes nice," she added as an afterthought, peering into the cup like one would examine the nutritional content on the packet of a tasty snack. I found Elara's distracted, easy
Conny and Rita were staring at me strangely. Apparently, this was something I was supposed to know already. Except that I didn’t. Then it all clicked. “A wolf? L-like a werewolf? My betrothed is a werewolf?” I whispered, mostly out of shock. Then I felt the laughter bubbling at the base of my thro
“Well, thank gods, ye snapped out o’ it, yer highness. What was all that about?” Rita said, giving me a stern, matronly look. Although she seemed friendly enough, she scared me a little. Thankfully, she didn’t give me time to answer as she bustled forward and fussed with my hair and clothes, all t
“Arghhhhh! Stay away from me, you perverts!” I scrambled to my knees on the bed (come to think of it, it was a really soft bed. The strangeness of it registered somewhere in my mind but I was far too occupied at the moment to think too much of it), and eyed the two (frightened?) women fearfully.
SIGRUN I was half asleep when I heard some muffled whispers. I probably forgot to turn off the TV before going to bed. I groaned lazily. I was too comfortable to get up. I was already snuggling the sheets and feeling pleasantly warm. With my eyes still closed, I tried to communicate with the







