Father stays by my sick bed for the next hour or so, filling me in on all the shit I’d missed over the past decade. Our pack has lost three elders to old age since I’ve been gone, and one young wolf before his time to an attack by an enemy pack while fighting over a she-wolf. Another brother fell to hunters on the other side of the country while visiting his first grandchild. I missed my own cousin’s return to the sky ceremony all those years ago, which showed a great disrespect to his memory. Wolfe gave his life to help rescue my mate and bring down the rogue responsible for so much pain and death. I have missed out on the last good years of my grandfather’s life. Wasn’t there to watch the start of the latest few little Ironclaws or see several cousins of mine go from cubs to shifted wolves receiving the moon’s full blessing or finding their mates. I am a terrible brother, grandson, son, cousin, and nephew. I have let so many down and I hardly know where to start to try and make th
At least my mate still wants me in our dreams. Last night was the best one yet, the tone different than the others. The sex was good, but in a different way, Slade was gentle, he spoke the words I so longed to hear in my ear as we made, sweet love. There was nothing savage or feral in it, he didn’t take me hard and fast, but nice and slow the whole time. Every kiss and touch were with purpose and he took his time. My mate made me feel treasured and loved and wanted like never before. And those feelings carry over when I open my eyes in the morning.I smile, despite the ache in my head from getting wine drunk the day before, and the sunlight streams onto my face from the open blinds. I feel bathed in light, warm, glowing, a woman in love. I bask in this moment, the joy, the fast thrum of my heart, the butterflies in my stomach, and I never want it to end. I never want these feelings to fade. I love him and he loves me. Mates, forevermore.Between my legs burn and ache in the most wonde
Anger burns in my veins. I’m sick and tired of these wolves trying to control me. To own me. Shadow Ridge will never really be my home and I will never be one of them. They will always see me as lesser and weak. And when I can no longer bear cubs, I’ll have no value to them at all. “What are you going to do Blaze? Prove what a big, strong wolf you are and hurt me? Well go ahead if you have something to prove. If not, then step aside because I have a patient to see.”Blaze takes a while to get back in control. But his breathing is still harsh, he stares me down, and continues to invade my personal space. But he has come back to his senses. Injuring me, considered family to the Alpha, sworn to be protected by the pack, would get him banished most likely. And everything the beta has worked for, all the wolves he’s trampled over to climb the ranks, will be in vain. His ego is bigger than his hate and need for revenge at the moment.“Your time is coming Sloane. You won’t always be under t
My mate is so damn beautiful. And when she walks in my parent’s front door, I only have eyes for her, and it’s me she looks for. Her midnight eyes connect with mine, my heart is like a fucking jackhammer in my chest, and I can’t help but smile at her. It’s almost painful to look at her as my heart is about to explode. Sloane is always beautiful, but now in a dress that hugs every dip and curve of her body, I long to rip it off her and worship my mate, my moon Goddess, in the way she so deserves. My cock is getting hard already. I think about all the things I want to do to her, all the sounds I want to make come out of that pretty mouth of hers. She looks away, and my heart stills a bit when it’s my brother she seeks out next. But she has a cub with him, a history, and I can’t be angry she needs to see him too. Unresolved feelings and things left unsaid exist between them. Mace does not look happy to see the woman he abandoned while pregnant with his child. His mate looks at Sloane w
I suck down the rest of my beer in one long swallow when that puny wolf kisses my mate again, this time on the lips. Then he scurries off and I know my mate has this covered, but now is the time he should be sticking closest to her side. If the bastard knew her well enough, he’d know that. I feel the glass groan in my palm. But I’m not the only one burning with rage. Twyla is seething that Mace is so distracted by his cub, he doesn’t even realize she is speaking to him. “Mace? I think it’s time we said hello to your-Mace! Are you even listening to me?” snaps the she-wolf. My mate smiles, “You could go talk to your son if you want, Mace. He doesn’t bite. Much.” That sets Twyla off even more. She redirects her rage towards Sloane instead. And I take several steps closer out of my corner, ready to defend my mate if necessary. I wouldn’t put it past the cunt to attack my mate thinking being the Alpha’s daughter of an allied pack would save her from any repercussions. It wouldn’t. I’m
After what nearly happened with my mate out near the woods, I find it nearly impossible to think about anything else. I know Slade wants my body, that much is clear, but what else is he interested in? He has no plans to ever take a mate, and I’m left feeling more conflicted and confused than ever before. He claims I had a choice, but I can’t see that he left me with any real one. I don’t just want to fuck him; I want to spend the rest of my life with him. And I don’t think that’s what the lone wolf wants. One thing is clear, he’s driving me fucking crazy, with his hot and cold stuff towards me. One moment he acts indifferent, the other he wants to rip Basil’s head off and then my clothes off. My head is spinning.I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. This ruse that I’ve chosen another wolf over him. My body betrays me, even before my mind does. God, I want to see all of him, to feel his thick cock inside me, to taste him, all night long. But the problem lies with when the s
I breathe deeply. Basil is right. I’ve been hiding behind my own fears and insecurities as well and placing all the blame on Slade. He is not the only one who is afraid. I fear losing my independence, of feeling weak and admitting I need a wolf to protect me, of losing parts of myself in this bond. But I won’t be losing anything, I’ll be gaining so much more. The moon has a plan for my life. And it starts by accepting the bond it gifted to me. Life is too damn short not to be happy and soak up all the good things. But just as quickly as my head is soaring up to the stars, I come crashing back down to Earth again. Slade wants my nights, he wants to fuck me, but he doesn’t want my days and all my tomorrows. He wants the idea of me, but he doesn’t want a mate to settle down with. And certainly not a human one. I know how he feels about the pairings between humans and wolves. If I give myself to him, give into this sexual attraction burning between us, it would be a carnal pleasure for
There are too many wolves in my parent’s house and this collared shirt is choking the life out of me. I long to shed all my clothes, take to my wolfskin, and run free in the trees. But that was the old me, to run from the things which scared me. And I’m fucking terrified. Deciding to fight for my mate is both freeing and restricting at the same time, because I know Sloane is the only one for me, and from this point on in my life, she will be my everything. Since I met her, none of the others really mattered anyway. My life has changed and now it’s time I settle down and claim my mate properly, if she’ll have me that is. For Sloane, I will give up the life of a hunter, stay here on packlands, and be there for my mate and her cub. To love, honor, protect her above all others. I want the type of bond, the life, my grandfather speaks so fondly of. That life once didn’t appeal to me, but now it’s all I want, and I pray to the moon my mate will want it too. I dream of days of working by t