ログインNicole's POVI woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the hard ground beneath me.I sat up slowly, every muscle protesting.My head throbbed faintly—not from pain, but from the memory crashing back all at once. My decision, the woods, the chase, mason.My gaze dropped to the forest floor, to the scattered leaves and disturbed earth around me. Someone had dragged a jacket over my shoulders sometime in the night. It smelled like pine and smoke and him.I exhaled shakily.So it hadn't been a dream.I shifted, becoming painfully aware of how close he was. A black short lay beside him, away from me. I reached for it, careful not to let touch him. I couldn’t handle his taunts right now. Just when I thought I’d managed to steal his shorts, my finger brushed against him. A gasp escaped my lips. My entire body charged. Sparks bursting from where our skin had touched. My heart pounded in my chest, frantic and heavy. My wolf slammed against the edge of control, clawing to come out. A feel
Nicole's POVI kissed him back.Harder this time.His lips moved against mine with a hunger that stole my breath, he was all teeth and heat and barely contained restraint. His hands roamed my body like he needed to memorize me, like touching me was the only thing keeping him.My heart raced erratically, every nerve in my body standing on edge, reacting to him. My wolf purred in satisfaction. My fingers slid into his hair, tugging lightly. He groaned into my mouth, the sound low and rough, and my heart slammed violently against my ribs.The heat of him seeped into me, igniting something reckless and impossible to ignore."Fuck, Nicole," he breathed, pressing me down into the forest floor, his weight solid and unyielding.I felt him—hot, thick evidence of his arousal against my legs—and the realization sent a sharp, desperate sound tearing from my throat.His reaction was immediate.His grip tightened, breath stuttering as his forehead dropped to mine. For a split second, he looked t
Nicole’s POVIf Mason wasn’t going to stop playing controlling Alpha, then I’d figure out a different way to be of help. I couldn’t reach Damien through the mindlink—but no one ever said anything about reaching him physically. I’d pondered it all night, all day, until the decision settled heavy in my chest. Now I stood by the window, waiting for the last light in the pack house to go out so I can sneak away.Sitting here and doing nothing was driving me wild. I needed to act. The pack house finally settled into silence, indicating that everyone was asleep—or most. I eased the door open and slipped into the hallway quietly, walking through the halls like a criminal. The night air was cool against my skin, doing nothing to calm the adrenaline pulsing through my veins. I was well aware of the danger my actions posed. I could either get caught by Serena or get to the pack safely and be announced as a criminal. Either way, I was more than willing to take the risk. As I neared the wo
Tala's POVI felt a sharp tug in my chest.I staggered, trying to catch my foot when the tug came again, completely knocking the air out of my lungs. I fell to the ground. Hard. My head hit the hard ground, blood trickling down my face, but I didn't care. I couldn't focus on the pain or blood. Cassian.The tug, that tug. It was definitely him. My hand came up to my chest, clenching the cloth above it tightly. The matebond had flared to life. Cassian was connecting with me. 'Mate! Mate! Mate!' My wolf chanted, her instincts alert. My heart pounded, something that felt too much like hope blooming. Did he remember me? Has Kira's spell finally worn off? I straightened my back, leaning into the bond, feeling that thread slowly intertwine again. My eyes watered. "Cassian," I whispered. And then, silence. I lost him. Again. Disappointment settled in my chest. Heavy and painful. I swallowed, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. I wouldn't cry again. I'd decided
Cassian's POV Talia. The name echoed in my head like a bell. The woman had claimed she was my mate but mates aren’t forgotten, bonds don’t just disappear. My steps were hurried, going back upstairs. Melissa was waiting for me at the top. This time, I couldn't hold back the growl. It tore out from me—loud and angry. Melissa flinched, terrified. I could see the fear in her eyes, could sense it in the way her body recoiled. But she fought it. Her eyes hardened and she made the stupid mistake of reaching out to me. "Cassian," she whispered, grabbing my arm. I snapped. I yanked my arm free, grabbing her throat and slamming her against the wall. "Don't. Fucking. Touch me," I hissed, my voice unrecognizable. "Babe," she clawed at my hand, struggling to breathe, her eyes teary and desperate. "I'm your mate." Mate. The word hit me. Hard. I let go of her, taking a step back. I watched her gasp, struggling to take deep breaths. She was my mate—or so she claimed—
Cassian's POV I'd felt it days ago. The sudden hum of a bond. A connection to someone—or something. It felt like a thread—a tiny but strong thread, one that made my pulse race, that made my wolf claw even harder to break free from whatever cage he was in. It felt familiar, familiar in a way that hurt. I didn't know what it was, didn't know who to ask about it. But somewhere deep down, I knew it had something to do with the woman that plagued my dreams. The red hair, green eyes. I couldn't see her face, I could never. But I saw features. Saw her smile, heard her voice—distorted, caught her flowery scent. I tugged at my hair in frustration. "Who are you," I muttered under my breath. Whatever she was, I needed to figure it out. Needed to get my wolf back before the coronation. A sudden sense of urgency hit me. I slammed the paperwork in my hand down, standing up abruptly. "Babe?" Melissa called, poking her head through the door, concern written on her face. "Is eve







