Arec turned back into his human form, as did Ray and Julia. “They got to her,” Arec said, slamming his fist into the wall. “They couldn’t have gone far, Arec,” Ray said, sniffing the air. “I can still smell the stink of them.” “If we can smell them, then we can track them,” Julia said, putting her hand on Arec’s shoulder. Arec froze with his fist on the wall before turning his head to look at his sister. “You’re right,” he said, smiling grimly. “We are going to get Eve back.” “That’s the spirit,” Ray said, grinning and clapping his brother’s shoulder. “Let’s go.” The five siblings explored the area, determining how many werewolves had entered and which direction they’d gone. Arec caught the scent of the werewolf who had turned Eve and growled. The others heard him and came over to investigate. “This scent right here,” Arec told them. “This werewolf is mine to take. He’s the one who turned Eve, and I need to make him pay.” Everyone looked at him and nodded. “Does every
The werewolf slammed into Arec, knocking him to the ground. It sunk its teeth deep into Arec’s shoulder and shook its head, tearing at Arec’s flesh. Arec growled in pain and grabbed the werewolf’s head, prying its jaw open to loosen its grip on his shoulder. Suddenly, the werewolf was torn away from Arec as Eve tackled it, breaking its hold on Arec’s shoulder. They tumbled over one another until Eve had the other werewolf pinned to the ground. She stood over it, baring her teeth and growling. The other werewolf growled back at her. It tried to move away from her, but she snapped at it, causing it to remain in place. Arec sat up, clutching his injured shoulder. He watched their interaction with a frown. The werewolf turned to look at him before looking back at Eve and growling. Eve growled and snapped at it, causing it to turn away from her. She growled at it again as it looked back before walking toward Arec. He watched the other werewolf through narrowed eyes as Eve walked
Arec spent the rest of the uneventful night sitting against the wall, staring at the door while he listened for sounds of Eve within. He was surprised at how quiet she was compared to the night before. In the morning, Bella returned with Julia trailing behind. They both carried a tray for him and Eve. “Is she awake?” Bella asked. Arec shook his head and said, “I’m not sure, but if it’s anything like yesterday, she is and is in her human form again.” Julia looked at the door with one eyebrow raised and asked, “Are you willing to find out?” Chuckling, Arec said, “I think with the three of us, we could take her if she isn’t.” “Should we change first?” she asked. Arec shook his head and said, “As long as the moon is down, she’s not in her wolf form.” “And it is,” Bella said, glaring at her sister. “So, we should be perfectly safe.” Julia raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Arec got to his feet and walked to the door. He put his hand on the door before opening it. Bella
“It is pretty rare for a Lycan to be mated with someone other than another Lycan,” Arec nodded. Bella nodded and said, “I haven’t heard of it happening in a long time, though.” “Me, neither,” Julia said, shaking her head. “When was the last time it happened?” Eve asked. Arec shook his head and said, “I honestly don’t remember.” “It was one hundred and fifty years ago,” Julia told him. Everyone turned to look at her in surprise. “Oh, don’t be so shocked,” she told them. “You know how much Lycan history fascinates me.” “So, what happened to the couple?” Eve asked. Julia shrugged and said, “I’m not sure. Once they became mates, they left their pack, and no one ever heard from them again.” “Did they leave willingly?” Bella asked. Julia looked at her before glancing at Arec and Eve and shaking her head. “They were forced out by the pack leaders,” she said. Eve gasped, her hand covering her mouth. She looked at Arec and asked, “Do you think that will happen to us?”
A knock on Eve’s door a few hours later caused her and Arec to jump. Eve grinned at him before she called, “Who is it?” “It’s Bella,” she said. “Is Arec in there with you?” “I’m here, Bella,” he called. “What’s up?” “The others sent me to ask when you would be down,” she said after a moment. Arec glanced at Eve and grinned. “Tell them that we’ll be down soon and to have a large meal waiting for us,” he called. “We’re going to be starving by then.” Eve giggled and reached up to twine her fingers in his hair, drawing him to her for a kiss. Thirty minutes later, Arec and Eve walked into the kitchen. They held hands and grinned at the others gathered around the table in the room. “It’s about time you two came down,” Ray grumbled. “Don’t mind him,” Bella said, elbowing her brother in the ribs. “He’s always grumpy when he’s hungry.” “Well, I wouldn’t be hungry if they hadn’t taken so damn long,” he said, rubbing his side. Turning to look at Arec, he added, “I hope it was w
“Hello, Mother,” Arec said. He felt Eve’s hand tighten in his, but when he looked at her, she stared at his mother without expression. “Hello, Arec,” his mother said from her seat. She didn’t stand but waved him over to her. “I’ll stand, thank you,” Arec said. His mother’s eyes narrowed as she sniffed. “Suit yourself, son,” she said. When she remained silent, he sighed and asked, “What brings you by today, Mother?” His mother’s eyes glanced at Eve before returning to her son, and she said, “I think you know.” He nodded once and narrowed his eyes as he said, “But I’d like you to say it aloud.” She glared at him before breaking his gaze and sighing. “Fine,” she said, waving her hand. “I’m here because of her.” She pointed at Eve, who gasped and looked at Arec, who turned to smile at her as he squeezed her hand again. Eve’s face screwed up in a scowl, and she stepped forward. “What is it that you have against me?” she asked. “You don’t even know me.” “I know enou
Arec and Eve spent the rest of the day together until the sun started its descent on the horizon. She looked toward the orange ball of light as it dipped below the horizon. Sighing, she said, “I guess that means it’s time for me to return to that room.” Arec followed her gaze and nodded. “I’m afraid so,” he said. “But after tonight, you won’t have to stay there for a while.” Eve wrinkled her nose and said, “Yeah, but I’ll have to do it again next month.” “And I’ll be waiting right outside the door as I’ve been doing,” Arec told her, picking up her hand and lifting it to his lips. She smiled at him and asked, “You know you don’t have to do that, right?” “And let you go through this transformation alone?” he asked, shaking his head. “I don’t think so.” “You’re so good to me,” Eve told him, leaning over to brush her lips over his. “You’re my mate, and I love you, Eve,” Arec told her. “I love you, too, Arec,” she said, smiling at him. “That will get us through anything, rig
“The werewolves are back?” Bella asked, getting to her feet. “They are, and they brought reinforcements,” Michael said, looking grim. Arec put his fork down and got to his feet. “How many are there?” he asked. “More than last night,” Michael told him. Bella looked at Arec, chewing on her lower lip. “Do you think we can take them all?” she asked. Arec pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. “We have no choice,” he said. “Let’s go.” Michael and Bella hurried down the hallway as Arec walked to the door. Putting his hand on the door, he whispered, “I’ll be back soon.” He heard a whine in response and closed his eyes before removing his hand and hurrying after his siblings. Arec found Bella and Michael with Ray and Julia in the living room. “How many are there?” he asked. “It looks like at least twenty,” Ray said, frowning. Arec frowned and pursed his lips. Bella twisted her hands in front of her and asked, “Can we take that many?” “Of course, we ca