I stripped off my bloodied shirt with a wince, the fabric sticking to my skin where the cut on my forehead had started to dry. My ribs screamed in protest as I moved, the deep ache making it clear that at least one of them was cracked—maybe worse. The bathroom mirror didn’t do me any favors. Bruises were already blooming across my skin, deep purple and angry red. My lip was busted, my cheek swollen. I sighed and turned on the shower, stepping under the spray and letting the hot water rinse away the grime and dried blood. My muscles protested, but I forced myself to stand under the heat, watching as the water swirled pink at my feet. The steam curled around me, thick and suffocating, but for the first time since Ryan showed up, I finally felt like I could breathe. Then the door opened. I stiffened. “Emma, I swear if you—” “It’s not Emma.” Liam’s voice was low, steady. I turned my head just enough to see his reflection in the fogged-up mirror. He stood in the doorway, arm
The fire between us had simmered down into something quieter, something softer. After the kiss, neither of us spoke much. Liam just pulled me back onto the couch, tucking me against him like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I let him. His arms were warm around me, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Every so often, his fingers would trail over my back, absentmindedly tracing little circles, like he needed to reassure himself I was still there. I felt safe. And maybe that was dangerous. Because I could feel myself sinking into him, into this moment, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to claw my way back out. At some point, I must have dozed off again because the next thing I knew, I was waking up to the smell of coffee and something distinctly… burnt? Liam groaned behind me, his voice still thick with sleep. “Tell me that’s not your sister trying to kill us.” I blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light streaming through the windows. “It’s possible.” A lo
The drive was peaceful, filled with stories of Alex and Emma’s childhood—tales of scraped knees, mischievous pranks, and late-night adventures that had me chuckling more than once. It was easy to listen, easy to imagine him as that carefree kid with wild ideas and an even wilder heart. But there were moments between the laughter when his voice softened—memories that weren’t so light. Times when they struggled, when they had no one but each other. I envied Emma, in a way. She had been there for him when I wasn’t. As the miles stretched behind us, Alex eventually dozed off, curled up in the passenger seat. His breathing evened out, his body finally relaxing. I kept my eyes on the road, driving in silence while the hum of the tires filled the space between us. But as the evening settled in, my body tensed. The full moon was rising. I clenched my jaw, gripping the wheel tighter. This was the part of myself I never wanted Alex to see. Not yet. I hadn’t told him what I was—what l
I would say I was shocked, but that would be an understatement.The other night, I thought I was seeing things—just a trick of the light, my imagination running wild—when I saw a werewolf shift back into a man. And then Liam had come to the car.For him to stand here now, looking me in the eyes and admitting it out loud, my mind struggled to process it.A werewolf.Not just a metaphor. Not just some joke about his sharp instincts or uncanny ability to anticipate things before they happened. A real, actual, mythical, doesn’t-exist-outside-of-movies-and-legends werewolf.I didn’t realize I had stopped breathing until my lungs burned.Now I knew what Nathan meant when he said Liam was a monster.Monster.The word didn’t sit right. It felt…wrong.Because when I looked at Liam, standing there with that guarded expression, his fists clenched at his sides like he was bracing himself for me to run, I didn’t see a monster.But I didn’t know what to say.And Liam must have taken my silence as r
Alex’s expression told me all I needed to know. Rejection. The very thing I had feared since the moment I found him again. Since the moment I let myself hope. I couldn’t take it. I bolted, running like my damn life depended on it. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. My chest ached, but I didn’t stop. I ran until the city lights disappeared behind me, until I reached the thick, dark forest surrounding my cabin. The shift came effortlessly. My wolf was already clawing to take control, too angry, too heartbroken to let me stay human any longer. He howled the moment I let him loose, a sound that echoed with pain. Not just mine, but his. He had loved Alex before I had even understood the depths of my own feelings. He had known, had waited, had longed for him just as much as I did. And now, rejection burned through both of us like fire. So I let him run. I let him sprint through the dense trees, his paws barely making a sound against the damp earth. Th
The morning sun poured through the bay windows, casting soft, golden light across the room. It painted everything in a hazy warmth, but nothing in this world was more radiant than the man lying next to me.Alex.Even in sleep, he looked unfairly good. His hair was a tousled mess, lashes fanned out over flushed cheeks, and lips slightly parted. My fingers moved of their own accord, tracing the familiar lines of his face. His cheekbones, the curve of his nose, the soft dip of his collarbone. I knew every inch of him now, and still, I couldn’t stop memorizing.My heart felt like it could split open from the sheer weight of contentment. Of love.Until my fingers ghosted over a rough patch of skin beneath his jawline.A scar.An old one, but jagged and ugly. It didn’t belong there. Didn’t fit on something so beautiful.I stilled, my jaw tightening.I knew that scar. I knew the shape of it—like a twisted smile—and I knew who the hell gave it to him. Ryan.My wolf stirred, low and violent,
“Are you fucking kidding me? Mom, please tell me you’re not actually considering this foolery?” I shouted, my chair screeching as I jumped up from the table, fury bubbling up in my chest like lava. Mom met my outburst with a calm, steel-eyed look. “Liam, your father has never betrayed our bond. He’s stayed committed to me all this time—even from afar. So yes, I’m going to at least give him the time to try and make it right.” Her words hit me like a slap, and the conviction in her voice silenced the snarl on my lips. I clenched my fists, jaw tight, but I didn’t argue. Not because I agreed, but because I respected her enough to let her make her own choice. “Fine,” I muttered through gritted teeth, dropping back into the chair. “But I’m watching him. One wrong move…” She nodded, fully understanding the weight of my warning. Next to me, Alex squeezed my hand gently before rising. His tone was soft but certain, “Love, I’ll let you handle things with your family. I’m going to head
The city skyline was cloaked in the soft gray of early dawn, light just beginning to chase away the darkness. The apartment was quiet, save for the hum of the HVAC and the faint rustle of sheets shifting as I stirred. Warmth radiated from both sides of me. Alex was nestled into my chest, one leg slung over mine, face buried in the crook of my neck. Olivia lay behind him, her arm lazily draped across his waist, the edge of her breast pressed to his back. Her breathing was slow, even. Last night had been fire and frenzy. This morning… was calm. Intimate. Still. I brushed my fingers through Alex’s hair, feeling him melt a little more into me. He let out a small contented sigh, the kind that sent a swell of something protective and aching through my chest. “Morning,” he murmured, voice sleep-rough and beautiful. “Hey,” I whispered back, kissing the top of his head. He stretched, then turned slightly, eyes fluttering open. They were soft and clear, the storm of lust from last night
Nathan cleared his throat, the atmosphere suddenly thick with tension—not the sexual kind, but the kind that draped heavy on the shoulders and twisted in the gut. He set his mug down with a soft *clink*, eyes finally locking with Alex's.“Look,” he began, his voice quieter, more gravel than usual. “I didn’t just come by for coffee and awkward questions.”Alex leaned against the counter, arms crossed. His posture was relaxed, but the cold edge in his eyes said he hadn’t forgotten a damn thing.Nathan exhaled. “I came to apologize. For what I did at the gala. For drugging you.”Olivia’s smile faded, and I stilled, watching Alex closely.Nathan continued. “It was a stupid business deal against Liam and myself. I let pride get the better of me. I thought if I could prove something—win against Liam. That I will matter more to you. I was wrong. I was *so* fucking wrong. And Liam knew your heart always belong to him.”Alex didn’t say anything at first. Just stared. The silence stretched unti
The city skyline was cloaked in the soft gray of early dawn, light just beginning to chase away the darkness. The apartment was quiet, save for the hum of the HVAC and the faint rustle of sheets shifting as I stirred. Warmth radiated from both sides of me. Alex was nestled into my chest, one leg slung over mine, face buried in the crook of my neck. Olivia lay behind him, her arm lazily draped across his waist, the edge of her breast pressed to his back. Her breathing was slow, even. Last night had been fire and frenzy. This morning… was calm. Intimate. Still. I brushed my fingers through Alex’s hair, feeling him melt a little more into me. He let out a small contented sigh, the kind that sent a swell of something protective and aching through my chest. “Morning,” he murmured, voice sleep-rough and beautiful. “Hey,” I whispered back, kissing the top of his head. He stretched, then turned slightly, eyes fluttering open. They were soft and clear, the storm of lust from last night
“Are you fucking kidding me? Mom, please tell me you’re not actually considering this foolery?” I shouted, my chair screeching as I jumped up from the table, fury bubbling up in my chest like lava. Mom met my outburst with a calm, steel-eyed look. “Liam, your father has never betrayed our bond. He’s stayed committed to me all this time—even from afar. So yes, I’m going to at least give him the time to try and make it right.” Her words hit me like a slap, and the conviction in her voice silenced the snarl on my lips. I clenched my fists, jaw tight, but I didn’t argue. Not because I agreed, but because I respected her enough to let her make her own choice. “Fine,” I muttered through gritted teeth, dropping back into the chair. “But I’m watching him. One wrong move…” She nodded, fully understanding the weight of my warning. Next to me, Alex squeezed my hand gently before rising. His tone was soft but certain, “Love, I’ll let you handle things with your family. I’m going to head
The morning sun poured through the bay windows, casting soft, golden light across the room. It painted everything in a hazy warmth, but nothing in this world was more radiant than the man lying next to me.Alex.Even in sleep, he looked unfairly good. His hair was a tousled mess, lashes fanned out over flushed cheeks, and lips slightly parted. My fingers moved of their own accord, tracing the familiar lines of his face. His cheekbones, the curve of his nose, the soft dip of his collarbone. I knew every inch of him now, and still, I couldn’t stop memorizing.My heart felt like it could split open from the sheer weight of contentment. Of love.Until my fingers ghosted over a rough patch of skin beneath his jawline.A scar.An old one, but jagged and ugly. It didn’t belong there. Didn’t fit on something so beautiful.I stilled, my jaw tightening.I knew that scar. I knew the shape of it—like a twisted smile—and I knew who the hell gave it to him. Ryan.My wolf stirred, low and violent,
Alex’s expression told me all I needed to know. Rejection. The very thing I had feared since the moment I found him again. Since the moment I let myself hope. I couldn’t take it. I bolted, running like my damn life depended on it. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. My chest ached, but I didn’t stop. I ran until the city lights disappeared behind me, until I reached the thick, dark forest surrounding my cabin. The shift came effortlessly. My wolf was already clawing to take control, too angry, too heartbroken to let me stay human any longer. He howled the moment I let him loose, a sound that echoed with pain. Not just mine, but his. He had loved Alex before I had even understood the depths of my own feelings. He had known, had waited, had longed for him just as much as I did. And now, rejection burned through both of us like fire. So I let him run. I let him sprint through the dense trees, his paws barely making a sound against the damp earth. Th
I would say I was shocked, but that would be an understatement.The other night, I thought I was seeing things—just a trick of the light, my imagination running wild—when I saw a werewolf shift back into a man. And then Liam had come to the car.For him to stand here now, looking me in the eyes and admitting it out loud, my mind struggled to process it.A werewolf.Not just a metaphor. Not just some joke about his sharp instincts or uncanny ability to anticipate things before they happened. A real, actual, mythical, doesn’t-exist-outside-of-movies-and-legends werewolf.I didn’t realize I had stopped breathing until my lungs burned.Now I knew what Nathan meant when he said Liam was a monster.Monster.The word didn’t sit right. It felt…wrong.Because when I looked at Liam, standing there with that guarded expression, his fists clenched at his sides like he was bracing himself for me to run, I didn’t see a monster.But I didn’t know what to say.And Liam must have taken my silence as r
The drive was peaceful, filled with stories of Alex and Emma’s childhood—tales of scraped knees, mischievous pranks, and late-night adventures that had me chuckling more than once. It was easy to listen, easy to imagine him as that carefree kid with wild ideas and an even wilder heart. But there were moments between the laughter when his voice softened—memories that weren’t so light. Times when they struggled, when they had no one but each other. I envied Emma, in a way. She had been there for him when I wasn’t. As the miles stretched behind us, Alex eventually dozed off, curled up in the passenger seat. His breathing evened out, his body finally relaxing. I kept my eyes on the road, driving in silence while the hum of the tires filled the space between us. But as the evening settled in, my body tensed. The full moon was rising. I clenched my jaw, gripping the wheel tighter. This was the part of myself I never wanted Alex to see. Not yet. I hadn’t told him what I was—what l
The fire between us had simmered down into something quieter, something softer. After the kiss, neither of us spoke much. Liam just pulled me back onto the couch, tucking me against him like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I let him. His arms were warm around me, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Every so often, his fingers would trail over my back, absentmindedly tracing little circles, like he needed to reassure himself I was still there. I felt safe. And maybe that was dangerous. Because I could feel myself sinking into him, into this moment, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to claw my way back out. At some point, I must have dozed off again because the next thing I knew, I was waking up to the smell of coffee and something distinctly… burnt? Liam groaned behind me, his voice still thick with sleep. “Tell me that’s not your sister trying to kill us.” I blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light streaming through the windows. “It’s possible.” A lo
I stripped off my bloodied shirt with a wince, the fabric sticking to my skin where the cut on my forehead had started to dry. My ribs screamed in protest as I moved, the deep ache making it clear that at least one of them was cracked—maybe worse. The bathroom mirror didn’t do me any favors. Bruises were already blooming across my skin, deep purple and angry red. My lip was busted, my cheek swollen. I sighed and turned on the shower, stepping under the spray and letting the hot water rinse away the grime and dried blood. My muscles protested, but I forced myself to stand under the heat, watching as the water swirled pink at my feet. The steam curled around me, thick and suffocating, but for the first time since Ryan showed up, I finally felt like I could breathe. Then the door opened. I stiffened. “Emma, I swear if you—” “It’s not Emma.” Liam’s voice was low, steady. I turned my head just enough to see his reflection in the fogged-up mirror. He stood in the doorway, arm