Lyra's POV
The sound of the lock made my stomach twist.
I had tried running away, but as soon as he turned to face me with his big dick hardening slightly already, I sat back on the bed.
The effect he had on me this time around was even worse than that night.
I took my sight elsewhere, anywhere but him.
I turned my gaze to the window in his room.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, Orion, but if you won't put on some clothes, you can as well let me out of your room," I said, my tone serious.
He pointed
Kate's POVI didn't get a wink of sleep the whole night through.Every time I attempted to close my eyes, I was stuck thinking about the face of my brother, and then that voice of that son of a gun on the phone kept replaying inside my head. It was like a broken cassette.Fifteen million dollars in three days.I didn't have that kind of money. And I couldn't tell anyone, not yet. We had a mission to contemplate. If I broke down or lost focus, all could be for naught. Ravenna and Orion needed help. If anything did happen to them because of my distraction, I couldn't live with myself.So I got up, put on a black top and jeans, pulled my hair back, and l
Lyra's POVI stared at Orion, trying to understand what he just said. Dying? I took a step back.“What do you mean I’m dying?” I asked slowly, my voice trembling.Orion looked at me, his own face calm but unyielding. "The fact that you're an alpha. It's killing you, Ravenna. Even if you've not realized it yourself."I felt like the earth had shifted from under my feet. "That doesn't make sense.""Every time you change," he interrupted gently, "the symptoms will get worse. You'll lose strength. Your strength will drop rapidly. Your body will start to fail you. It's not your fault, but it's happening."My lips shut themselves."So what, you brought me here to die?""No," he said. "I brought you here because the witches can help you."I stared at him as if I didn't know him. "A witch?" I laughed. "Why didn't you inform me of this earlier, before we even crossed the river? Before I gulped down that potion to mask my scent?""I did not want you to be afraid," he said quietly. "And then you
Ruth's POVI woke up this morning feeling very happy. It has been quite a while since I felt this good.The universe was finally evening itself out for me. Orion and Ravenna had marched into the lion's den, and I was going to see that they never marched back out. I leaned back in my bed, enjoying the peace in my room. Then someone knocked on the door. I pushed my feet into my fuzzy slippers and said, "Come in.".One of the young maids interrupted, bowing her head as was her custom. "Ma'am, there's a gentleman here to see you. He says his name is Gregg."The corner of my mouth curled into a smile. "Tell him I'll be with him shortly."She did so and left. My heart thudded just that little bit more in anticipation.Gregg was the very one I had been waiting for. A piece I needed on the board in order to checkmate my opponent.I did not lose any time. I swiftly bathed and put on one of my white robes.As I descended the stairs into the living room, Gregg was already in the middle. His ext
Kate’s POVMy fingers were pulling up the encrypted line I used for black ops calls. I didn’t hesitate, not even for a second.I took a walk away from the pool, heading for a quiet spot to make the call.The Delta Rogues were not just a strike team. They were banished soldiers, sniper specialists, ex-pack best who were cast out or dissolved by their areas and pounded themselves into mercenary gun-for-hire.I punched the phone and held on. One ring. Two."Speak." A gruff voice answered. The tone immediately told me it was Captain Zack."It's Kate. I have an op that must be launched tomorrow morning. 08:00 hours, coordinates will be disclosed en route."There was silence. I could hear crackling in the distance, like he was already on some far-off path with his men. "Brief me."I paced back and forth, thinking about how to deceive him without appearing deceitful."We're going behind enemy lines. I need your best and then, guns, snipers. Anything new and illegal you've been waiting to tes
Lyra's POVI raised an arm to protect my face, slipping underwater for a second as one of the birds swooped so close I could feel its claws graze my shoulder.They were attacking.The witches knew I was here.I burst through the surface, gagging, hair clung to my face as I landed on the riverbank, searching for my clothing with shaking hands.One raven dove again, talons for my throat. I screamed and ducked, then grabbed a piece of nearby wood and swung it in a wild arc, hitting one of them in mid-air.It let out a resounding, furious screech and fell to the ground dead.Another dove. Then another.Where is Orion?I sprinted to a large tree for cover, pulling the shirt over my wet skin, feet slushing across wet grass. Shallow breaths, and chest rising and falling in a rush.The ravens did not back off. They flew overhead again, slower this time, but nearer. One landed on a branch above me, head tilted to one side at me. Red glowing eyes. I backed away, step by step, until at last th
Lyra's POVI woke up with a soft start as the morning light slipped through the seam. I reached beside me for Orion, the spot still faintly warm, but empty.Again.The last time we slept in a tent like this, after that night by the river, I woke up to an empty bed as well.I should be used to it by now, and yet still, there was something about waking up alone after a night such as this that always strained my chest. This time, however, I knew he must have been close by.I ripped the blanket away, stretched a little, and sat up. The cold wind touched my skin as I stepped out of the tent barefoot, the forest surrounding us all still under morning sleep. But no Orion."Orion?" I called softly. Nothing. The only sound was the creaking of trees.My eyes darted left and right, and I took another step forward. And then I heard a quick, intent shift behind me, and my heart skipped, and I turned around out of reflex.And halted.It wasn't Orion.It was her.The woman at Ben's funeral. The sam