LyraSilas helped me to set up a profile of each leader and their entourage, and we send it to Fiona so that she is kept in the loop of whom to expect and what traditions might be important. When we arrive at the bar, I get out and look at the building while taking a deep breath.I note a couple of very expensive cars, and it makes the locals wonder what might be going on. Helena and some pack members have booked into the local hotel and, according to the humans, there is a conference happening about conservation of some strange bug.I thought it would be the most inconspicuous, but now that I see some of the cars, I wonder if that was the best subject. Silas appears beside me, and we make our way inside. We are met by the waiter, and he takes us through the tunnel to the sanctuary bar.As soon as we walk in, we can feel the tension in the air. We are right on time, and it’s clear that most of our guests were early. Fiona sent out a notice to all guests informing them of the subject o
LyraIn the morning, we met everyone again. After having some time to think about my plan, there were more questions than I had answers to. Unfortunately, people are scared to take on hunters because we don’t know that much about them.We know they are humans who hate supernaturals, but they also have powers. They are stronger than the normal human and that I can personally attest to. Then everyone wanted to know why they took my venom. Especially the vampires.I was hoping we could get down to the plan, but we spent the entire morning trying to just answer all the questions about the hunters with some research we could get our hands on. Helena makes trips between the sanctuary and the library under heavy guard.I can feel the tension rise, and finally it breaks during our lunch. Two of the creatures physically go at each other in the blink of an eye, and it takes all Fiona’s power to calm them down enough so that we can sit around a table and talk.I knew doing this was going to be t
LyraAfter openly walking around for months without guards, we finally get a break. It took the sprites that long to choose a new leader after we got rid of the one who didn’t agree with our plan. It seems their politics are even more complicated than that of werewolves and Lycans.Who would ever have guessed that the sprites would be the ones to give us the information we needed? I am surprised when Silas calls me into his office looking incredibly happy and informs me that not only are they now part of our plan, they have also stumbled across the location of our hunters.I really want to be the one to go with Silas to get the information that would confirm that we know where the hunters are, but I still have to pretend that I’m not scared of them. The hunters are closer to home than we thought, which means they’ve been keeping a close eye on me.It quickly becomes clear that they are playing the long game. That is probably why they were able to kill so many of us. For two days, I on
LyraIt takes two weeks before I’m recovered enough to go home, which is a little infuriating. If I was still under the impression that I was human, it wouldn’t have felt that long, but since I found out what I really was, it felt so damn long.“I want to see their hideout.” I announce the moment we walk into the house and Silas hums and hahs, until he has no other choice but to agree.“We’ve already gone through everything, and I have to warn you that some of it is pretty horrifying.” He looks worried as we pull up outside what seems to be an abandoned warehouse. I nod and watch as he unlocks the front door.“We decided not to move anything for now. I want to make sure that there aren’t any more of them hanging around somewhere.” His reasoning makes sense on the one hand, but on the other, it would be very bad to leave them all the weapons they need to destroy my kind.Silas shows me to a back room, and my jaw drops. Compared to the rest of the building, it looks like you have just s
LyraA couple of days later, Silas is still angry with me, but we move ahead with our plan. Fiona comes back to the pack grounds, and we take her to the hospital wing where we’ve kept the hunter under sedation. I watch as she touches him, and you can literally see the power exchange the moment it starts to happen.There are cameras set up all around the room with people monitoring the recordings while Fiona explains what she sees. When lunchtime rolls around, we take a short break and continue after lunch. Fiona explains that she can’t move too fast, or she will kill him before we get all the information.Over the coming week, she pulls out every memory she can get her hands on right up to when he finally breathes his last breath. I breathe a sigh of relief the moment the monitors show that his heart has stopped, and I look at Silas.I can see the relief written all over his face. He didn’t want the hunter here at all. I understand why. Out of everyone, I understand the most. That mon
LyraNow that we no longer have some kind of thing hanging over our heads, it’s as though I can finally breathe. I can shift and run with the pack on hunt nights. I can go to town and just shop without worrying. I don’t have to hide from anyone.It feels as if I’m free for the first time in my life, and I want to celebrate that freedom. Thankfully, Silas feels the same and when he suggests a pack bonfire, at first, I think it’s just for our pack, but it quickly becomes clear that it’s not.Even better, Helena finds information in the hunter’s database that proves there are other Lycans in the world, and Silas agrees that they should also be invited to this celebration. If we can find them. Helena is positively beaming the day she makes contact.Three weeks after we got rid of the man that captured me, Silas, Helena and I are greeting guests at our gates. We’ve set up tents for all the visitors since what was meant to be a one-night celebration has turned into an opportunity nobody wan
Lyra“I want us to try for a baby.” My voice sounds strange to my own ears when Silas and I get into bed later in the evening. We have Hunter, and I love him more than life itself, but I want more.“Uhm, okay. But where is this coming from?” Silas looks amused as he pulls me into his arms and I lay down with my head resting on his chest. His heartbeat is calming, and I trace his muscles with my fingertips while trying to find the words.“I was out walking in the clearing today and I remember having all the people here. It felt so good to have them all here. I just. I want more of that. I want us to have a bunch of kids.” I prop myself up on my elbows so that I can look into his eyes. Silas looks a little confused and amused at the same time. He jokes about it and I feel a little hurt, but I realize that it sounds a little nuts. I mean, we shouldn’t have that huge of a pack. It would definitely draw attention to us.Besides, I can’t imagine being pregnant all the time while trying to
IsabellaI burst into my room a couple of minutes later, and suddenly my beautiful dress is just in the damn way. I can hear the brothers still growling at each other downstairs while I pace back and forth in my room. My parents walk in and look at me as though I’m supposed to have all the answers right then and there.“How could this happen? How is this possible? Is one of them lying or something?” I pull at my dress that is suddenly getting in the way of my legs being able to move fast enough. My eyes shoot from one parent to the next and neither of them have any answers for me.“I guess it is possible.” My mom’s hands are so tightly clamped together that her knuckles turn white. She looks at my dad and I feel a knot start to form in the back of my throat. Isn’t this just my life? First, I find out I’m not a werewolf like my brothers and now this!“What do I do now?” My voice goes up an octave as I search their eyes for answers, and they look at each other for a moment before lookin
JemmaWe walk in, and suddenly my apartment feels really cramped with both men hanging around behind me looking at my personal space. I slowly turn around and look at them.“Look, I don’t need a roof and all that. I can figure things out on my own.” I shrug but Sam doesn’t move. He looks at me for a moment before nodding at his bodyguard. I watch as the man leaves my apartment, but I get a feeling that he is standing just outside the damn door.“Jemma, pack your things. You are coming with me.” Something flashes in his eyes and it honestly scares me. I have been joking about the kidnapping and all that, but the fear has become incredibly real.“NO! I’m not, and you can’t make me!” I shouted, not meaning to. When he moves closer, I flinch, but he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder so fast that I can’t even fight him off. “Put me down!” I slam my fists against his back, but it doesn’t seem to have an effect. He does have a nice butt!“You have one of two choices, Jemma.” He pu
JemmaSadly, I’m forced to turn around and go back inside.“I need my things from my locker.” Sam follows me as I walk right past Mr. Nash and almost shout it over my shoulder. I’ve already quit. What is he going to do? Fire me?! I storm into the change room at the back and stuff everything into my bag.It is astounding that I have collected so much in such a short time, and by the time I’m done, my bag is positively bursting, and I can’t even close the zipper. I turn around too fast and slam the bag into Sam’s chest by accident.“Sorry.” I look into his eyes only for a second as relief floods my body. At least it wasn’t my chest that slammed into him. He takes the bag from me and hands it to the man that always seems to be following him. It’s probably a bodyguard or something.“Do you need to do anything else?” Sam looks amused. “You know? Before we leave and have to come back again.” His amusement is irritating, and I shake my head, keeping my lips pursed tightly together so I don’t
SamI follow the direction of her gaze as she pushes past me. I’m not surprised to find that thin-lipped manager glaring at us, and it’s the final straw. Marching over to where he is standing, I make sure that he can feel my power flow through the air.“Mr. Nash, I intend on asking Jemma out on a date as soon as we’ve booked out tomorrow. I will also make sure that we never have our conferences here again, if you so much as think about firing her.” A soft growl vibrates through me and I note the fear in his eyes.He nods and leaves without a word. I turn to find Jemma, but she is gone. I wanted to take the chance of asking her for a dance, but each time I do see her, she is busy. The last thing I want is for anyone here to be neglected.I’m relieved when the night ends. All I can think about is signing for the bill and then finding Jemma.JemmaI saw them talking right before I walked into the kitchen. My heart is racing. My palms are sweaty and I just need a moment. I rush into the s
SamI don’t like that she looks so nervous. I don’t have time to think about it as the other alphas walk into the conference room. I carefully watch them to make sure none of them react to her scent and I almost breathe a sigh when I see it seems to be just me.“Hey, alpha, are you okay?” Mark hands me my folder and we take our seats.“Nope.” I frown as the meeting gets underway. I have a hard time focusing. I’m concerned about Jemma and the fact that she looked so nervous. It’s clear the hotel management makes sure that their staff don’t get involved with guests, and I guess it makes sense.I just don’t like to see her like that. I have to find a way to speak to her without any of them around. Yes, that’s what I will do. I will speak to her when I’m not a guest. It’s going to be really tough to stay away while we are here, but I have another twenty-four hours, and then I won’t be a guest anymore.JemmaI’m relieved when he doesn’t try to speak to me again. Usually, if I just tell the
Jemma“I hate conferences. Why can’t people just come to the hotel for a holiday?” Mandy complains. She always complains. When there are only holiday guests, she complains because she can’t earn enough to be the one just enjoying the hotel.“Just keep your eyes open. I’m sure one of these guys at the conference will catch your eye.” I wink, hoping it will distract her.“If only! Mr. Nash told me this morning I’m working in the restaurant for the next three days. Apparently, he wasn’t happy with the way I arranged the conference room the last time these guys were here.” Mandy sighs.“Besides, all of them have been here before. There are no new faces.” A sly smile crosses her lips. “Or bodies to look at. Have you seen how their wives dress?!” She rolls her eyes and leaves the kitchen. I grab my tray and pack the water bottles before making my way to the conference room.After giving the room a quick once over, I leave feeling confident that Mr. Nash will be happy. It is the first year t
SamOur pack’s history is filled with love stories and war. It is filled with betrayal and reconciliation. So much has happened that I sometimes feel as if my own love story won’t be enough. It won’t be as impressive. Thankfully, I don’t have much time to think about it.Becoming alpha isn’t easy. Taking over isn’t easy. Finding a mate is the toughest part of it all. Every mother keeps looking at me as if expecting me to pick her daughter and every daughter is looking at me as if I’m a piece of meat she has to devour.All I can see are black widow spiders who want to catch me, mate with me and then kill me! What was supposed to be an exciting time very quickly turned into me trying to hide from literally everyone. Whenever one of those mothers tries to speak to me, I have something urgent to take care of.Finally, the time comes for the alpha conference, and I can escape for a couple of days. After years of war, there seems to be far too many rogues and rogue attacks and a lot of the
Noah“If you are watching this, I’m no longer with you.” Tears fill her eyes and it breaks my heart. “I told you so!” She laughs while pointing her index finger at the camera. “I’m sorry for leaving you so soon, my love. If I could have it any other way, I would never have chosen this.” She sighs deeply before wiping away her tears.A huge smile forms on her face and I wonder when she recorded this. She is heavily pregnant in the video and all I can think is that she did it in the days before she gave birth to Sam. She is sitting in the nursery from the looks of the background.Sam sits down on the edge of my table and I realize it’s the first time he has seen her like this. Sam has only ever seen pictures of Summer.“My beautiful baby boy, please know that you were made in love. That I wanted you more than anything I’ve ever wanted. Please be kind to each other. Support each other. Take care of each other.” She looks up and over the camera and nods at someone.“I have to go now.” Her
SummerI love being in love. I’m still shocked that Noah is my destiny, but I’m grateful. Although he makes it clear that I’m his, whenever a young male gets too close, he is always kind and loving towards me. It’s the perfect balance of a protector and lover rolled into one very handsome package.Noah and I decide early on that we want to spend some time alone together before we start a family. It’s not the most popular decision, and we keep it to ourselves, so there won’t be backlash from anyone in the pack.Life as a Luna is interesting, and I find myself sounding like my mother far too often, but I love my new life. I find that I’m more of a nurturer than I thought I would be, and I love taking care of things for our people.Two years after our mating ceremony, we announce that I’m pregnant, and I can’t help but laugh when I hear the mumbles that people were beginning to think I was a dud or something. They clearly believed that I couldn’t have children, and our announcement is a
SummerIn the morning, I can’t get our first kiss out of my mind. There were many more after it, but nothing compares to that first one. We say goodbye to my parents after making arrangements for them to come to our house.Over the next couple of days, my days are filled with everything we had to arrange. I found the perfect dress, and to me that was just the best thing ever. The day of our mating ceremony arrived, and I was just bubbling.I thought my life was going to start when I graduated, but here I was thinking again, that this is the moment my life will finally start. After an entire day of preparation, I finally got dressed and my dad walked me down the aisle.As I saw Noah waiting for me at the end, I almost sobbed with happiness and I had to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. I still can’t believe that my destined mate is scrawny Noah. It’s become our little joke, and I just love that he isn’t fazed by it.He isn’t scrawny Noah anymore. He sure as hell isn’t