MASON’S POVKade was going to kill me.As I groaned, feeling the blinding pain of my arm being pulled out of my socket, I had one thought: What the fuck?I’d sparred with Kade more times than I could remember. He always won.But never like this. He always pulled his punches, his ‘killing blows’ were a mock. Sparring was an exercise, a way to blow off steam.This wasn’t that.Groaning, I pulled out my other hand from beneath me and tapped it against the floor. A sign that I was tapping out—surrendering.Kade didn’t move, leaning his weight heavier on me. I bit back a scream as his knee dug into my spine.I tapped against the floor again, more frantically. “Kade! I fucking surrender!”He leaned forward and growled in my ear. “I should tear out your arm and beat you to death with it.”My eyes widened. This wasn’t Kade. His voice for one, was nothing like my friend of almost thirty years. It was deep, rough, sinister. And the bloodlust in it would have made me shiver if I could move.“Alp
ANDREA’S POVI was vibrating with anger and indignation as I drove.‘Still want to stay mated to a scumbag like him?’ I asked Emrae.My wolf was silent. Whether she was just as angry as me or it was shame, I didn’t know.Of all the times I’d clashed with Kade Nightshade, I didn’t think I’d been as high-strung as I was right now.In truth, I was a little exhausted from the rush of emotions, and that only served to piss me off more.First, I’d been upset and hurt by his insults in my room, but now? I was furious with a capital F.Kade’s response to the challenge I’d issued rang in my head, and I scoffed. “Suck your dick,” I muttered. “How about I bite it off and wipe that smug fucking smirk off your face.”Instead of apologizing for his awful behavior, he continued pushing and antagonizing me, going so far as to attack my business.Whatever power move Kade thought he was making, all he succeeded in doing was strengthening my resolve. I would never get on my knees for him. I was going to
NATASHA’S POV“Wait.”I raised a brow, eyeing my dad. “Wait?”He nodded. “Wait.”I scoffed. “You heard Mason; Kade hates her right now. I have to move.”My dad scoffed. “Like your movements so far have yielded any returns.”His words cut deep but I didn’t show a reaction. “That was because he was still obsessed with her.” I stood from the seat in my father’s office, the very one Mason Holland had just vacated.It was lucky that I came downstairs just as he was leaving my father’s office, or I probably would have been kept in the dark about the situation.I’d spent most of the time since Kade called off our engagement in my room, licking my wounds and plotting how to get him back. I was glad he’d agreed not to announce our breakup for another month, which gave me enough time to plan something.I’d been going out of my mind trying to figure something out, and Mason had brought the answer straight to my doorstep. My biggest problem was Andrea fucking Carter, and now that she seemed out o
NORA’S POVI wish I could have taken a picture of the guards’ faces when I walked up to the door of my—and the pack’s house. They looked shocked and confused, and I couldn’t blame them.They’d known I was ‘missing’ for days and suddenly, I appeared casually like nothing was wrong.I raised a brow when they didn’t move from the door. “I believe your jobs are to keep me in—which you already failed to do, by the way—not keep me out.”They had the good grace to look ashamed as they stepped aside, letting me into the mansion.This early in the morning, there weren’t any wolves around, and I was glad for it. I wasn’t in the mood for anyone to stare and point at the prodigal sister returning home, especially since I wasn’t planning on staying.I had one goal and one goal only—talk some sense into my brother’s thick skull.I had barely been able to sleep after Andrea confided in me. I wondered how my brother could treat such an amazing woman like he’d treated her.The part that pissed me off
MATTEO’S POV“Aunty Nora?”Luca and I peeked into Aunty Nora’s room when she didn’t answer the door. Her bed was a little rough but empty.“Maybe she’s in the bathroom?” Luca suggested, and I shrugged. We entered the room, headed to the bathroom, and knocked on the door. “Aunty Nora?” There was no answer.“Where did she go?”Every morning since she came to live with us, Aunty Nora woke us up with a smile and a hug. She always played with us as she got us ready for the day and then she made us delicious breakfast.Of course, she could never replace Mommy, but we really liked her, and now that she was nowhere to be found, we were worried.“Maybe she just went for a walk?” Luca said. But I could see that my twin didn’t believe that, and neither did I.We both felt connected to Aunty Nora and right now, we felt worried.“Should we wake mommy?” I asked.Luca shook his head. “Mommy has worried too much lately; we shouldn’t stress her.”He was right. Nobody told us anything because they thou
KADE’S POVMy leg was shaking with pent-up energy as I sat at my desk. My arms were crossed in front of me as I stared at the documents I was supposed to go over, not really seeing anything.The events of the morning still had me agitated, especially the argument with Nora.I argued with my little sister all the time, but this time had been different. Where did she come off defending Andrea when she didn’t know the whole story?I bet Andrea hadn’t told my sister how she killed our child and then turned around and had twins for another man.I had always been reluctant to use it, but now, I was glad I’d used my Alpha aura to trap Nora in the house so she couldn’t go running back to her new friend and get her head filled with lies about me.Another thing that was really pissing me off was the fact that, for the second time in two days, I’d been prevented from cumming. First, Andrea had pushed me off her right in the middle of sex, and Nora had burst in just as I was about to explode in N
ANDREA’S POV“I reject you, you filthy Omega!”I heard my heart breaking into pieces when I caught my boyfriend Beck kissing another woman under the moonlight. The way they embraced intimately as if they were made for each other tore open something inside me.As if the past two years he spent with me was a joke.When I accepted Beck as my boyfriend two years ago, I worried. In our world, Alphas paired with Alphas or strong Betas. Omegas were… the lowermost. Gentle, obedient, weak. But Beck had sworn it didn’t matter.He gently convinced me that I was the best gift for him and promised to love me with every strain of his life. Even if one day his fated mate appeared, I would be his only love.So when he told me that we'd bond at the grandest Hunting Festival in history, I was beyond excited.It would be significant. I mean, right in front of all the ones who longed for destined mates, we would take our vows as chosen mates. It was enough to prove our indestructible love.Yet now, he wa
ANDREA’S POVMy vision blurred as I moved. I was desperate to leave what was officially the worst Hunting Festival in history and nurse my broken heart in peace.Then I felt a hand grip my wrist, halting me. The point of contact sent electricity sizzling up and down my arm, and I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.Alpha Kade pulled me to him, turning him to face me.“Where are you going?” he hissed, almost furiously. The skank that had been on his arm was nowhere to be seen.I bit my lip, unable to meet his fiery gaze. The nirvana of finding my mate had faded, and all I could think of was the huge gap between us and the gossip about Kade. We would never work.'Andrea, our mate wants us!' Emrae jumped excitedly. 'I can feel his wolf. He's so damn hot and powerful!'Powerful? Beck had made it painfully clear—an Omega like me wasn’t enough. And this man? This towering, ice-eyed Alpha who reeked of power and dominance? He would laugh in my face if I dared suggest fate had bound us to
KADE’S POVMy leg was shaking with pent-up energy as I sat at my desk. My arms were crossed in front of me as I stared at the documents I was supposed to go over, not really seeing anything.The events of the morning still had me agitated, especially the argument with Nora.I argued with my little sister all the time, but this time had been different. Where did she come off defending Andrea when she didn’t know the whole story?I bet Andrea hadn’t told my sister how she killed our child and then turned around and had twins for another man.I had always been reluctant to use it, but now, I was glad I’d used my Alpha aura to trap Nora in the house so she couldn’t go running back to her new friend and get her head filled with lies about me.Another thing that was really pissing me off was the fact that, for the second time in two days, I’d been prevented from cumming. First, Andrea had pushed me off her right in the middle of sex, and Nora had burst in just as I was about to explode in N
MATTEO’S POV“Aunty Nora?”Luca and I peeked into Aunty Nora’s room when she didn’t answer the door. Her bed was a little rough but empty.“Maybe she’s in the bathroom?” Luca suggested, and I shrugged. We entered the room, headed to the bathroom, and knocked on the door. “Aunty Nora?” There was no answer.“Where did she go?”Every morning since she came to live with us, Aunty Nora woke us up with a smile and a hug. She always played with us as she got us ready for the day and then she made us delicious breakfast.Of course, she could never replace Mommy, but we really liked her, and now that she was nowhere to be found, we were worried.“Maybe she just went for a walk?” Luca said. But I could see that my twin didn’t believe that, and neither did I.We both felt connected to Aunty Nora and right now, we felt worried.“Should we wake mommy?” I asked.Luca shook his head. “Mommy has worried too much lately; we shouldn’t stress her.”He was right. Nobody told us anything because they thou
NORA’S POVI wish I could have taken a picture of the guards’ faces when I walked up to the door of my—and the pack’s house. They looked shocked and confused, and I couldn’t blame them.They’d known I was ‘missing’ for days and suddenly, I appeared casually like nothing was wrong.I raised a brow when they didn’t move from the door. “I believe your jobs are to keep me in—which you already failed to do, by the way—not keep me out.”They had the good grace to look ashamed as they stepped aside, letting me into the mansion.This early in the morning, there weren’t any wolves around, and I was glad for it. I wasn’t in the mood for anyone to stare and point at the prodigal sister returning home, especially since I wasn’t planning on staying.I had one goal and one goal only—talk some sense into my brother’s thick skull.I had barely been able to sleep after Andrea confided in me. I wondered how my brother could treat such an amazing woman like he’d treated her.The part that pissed me off
NATASHA’S POV“Wait.”I raised a brow, eyeing my dad. “Wait?”He nodded. “Wait.”I scoffed. “You heard Mason; Kade hates her right now. I have to move.”My dad scoffed. “Like your movements so far have yielded any returns.”His words cut deep but I didn’t show a reaction. “That was because he was still obsessed with her.” I stood from the seat in my father’s office, the very one Mason Holland had just vacated.It was lucky that I came downstairs just as he was leaving my father’s office, or I probably would have been kept in the dark about the situation.I’d spent most of the time since Kade called off our engagement in my room, licking my wounds and plotting how to get him back. I was glad he’d agreed not to announce our breakup for another month, which gave me enough time to plan something.I’d been going out of my mind trying to figure something out, and Mason had brought the answer straight to my doorstep. My biggest problem was Andrea fucking Carter, and now that she seemed out o
ANDREA’S POVI was vibrating with anger and indignation as I drove.‘Still want to stay mated to a scumbag like him?’ I asked Emrae.My wolf was silent. Whether she was just as angry as me or it was shame, I didn’t know.Of all the times I’d clashed with Kade Nightshade, I didn’t think I’d been as high-strung as I was right now.In truth, I was a little exhausted from the rush of emotions, and that only served to piss me off more.First, I’d been upset and hurt by his insults in my room, but now? I was furious with a capital F.Kade’s response to the challenge I’d issued rang in my head, and I scoffed. “Suck your dick,” I muttered. “How about I bite it off and wipe that smug fucking smirk off your face.”Instead of apologizing for his awful behavior, he continued pushing and antagonizing me, going so far as to attack my business.Whatever power move Kade thought he was making, all he succeeded in doing was strengthening my resolve. I would never get on my knees for him. I was going to
MASON’S POVKade was going to kill me.As I groaned, feeling the blinding pain of my arm being pulled out of my socket, I had one thought: What the fuck?I’d sparred with Kade more times than I could remember. He always won.But never like this. He always pulled his punches, his ‘killing blows’ were a mock. Sparring was an exercise, a way to blow off steam.This wasn’t that.Groaning, I pulled out my other hand from beneath me and tapped it against the floor. A sign that I was tapping out—surrendering.Kade didn’t move, leaning his weight heavier on me. I bit back a scream as his knee dug into my spine.I tapped against the floor again, more frantically. “Kade! I fucking surrender!”He leaned forward and growled in my ear. “I should tear out your arm and beat you to death with it.”My eyes widened. This wasn’t Kade. His voice for one, was nothing like my friend of almost thirty years. It was deep, rough, sinister. And the bloodlust in it would have made me shiver if I could move.“Alp
KADE’S POV“I want absolutely nothing more to do with you.”A stab of anger shot through me.‘Interesting,’ the strange new voice in my head—Fenrath—said.‘Interesting?’‘She doesn’t back down easily. I like a challenge.’ I felt him appraise Andrea—her battle stance, the defiant look in her eyes. A lesser being would be cowering; a lesser being wouldn’t have the guts to be here after what happened in her room.But Andrea Carter was no lesser being.I folded my arms. “You don’t want to do this, Carter.”She bared her teeth at me. “You’re the one who shouldn’t be messing with me, Nightshade.”I chuckled. “Fine. You want a challenge? I accept.”She started to smile, but I continued smoothly. “But when I win, not only will you withdraw from the market,”—I smirked as Fenrath whispered in my ears—“I’ll have you on your knees—sucking my dick.”Andrea’s mouth dropped open, and instantly, the image of shoving my cock between those plump, sexy lips flashed through my mind, and Fenrath purred in
ANDREA’S POVI moved towards Mason, ready to go toe to toe with Kade’s Beta.“I don’t know who you think you are or what right you have to give me orders about my business,” I growled in his face. “But if you think I’ll lie on my back and take this utter bullshit, you have another thing coming.”Mason scoffed, not looking the least bit affected by my anger. “You would have experience lying on your back.”My eyes widened. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”He raised a brow. “Was my innuendo lost on you? Let me break it down for you.” And then his voice became slow and unnecessarily loud like he was talking to a near-deaf child. “I mean you lay on your back all day, spreading your legs for whoever looks your way. Maybe that’s why your potion turned to shit under your nose.”I heard a snicker behind me, and I turned. The security guard cowered under the venomous glare I fixed on him, and he rushed back into his guardhouse.I turned that look on Mason, but he didn’t even flinch.“Typ
ANDREA’S POVPathetic.The word rang in my ears as I stared at the door long after it had slammed, rattling the frame.I blinked, and the tears I had been desperately fighting back rolled down my cheeks.Furious with myself, I angrily wiped my cheeks, my other hand gripping the blanket covering me tightly.I couldn’t get the look on Kade’s face, the venom in his voice out of my head, and it made more tears fall.I leaned against the headboard, cursing myself for letting his words hit me so hard. I shouldn’t have been surprised; this was Kade Nightshade, for fuck’s sake.But at the same time, it hadn’t felt like Kade. There was something…dark in his gaze, and despite the number of times we’d exchanged scathing insults, his words had never been as harsh, as cutting as they’d been just then.“Aftereffects,” I whispered to myself. “Probably an aftereffect of his sickness.” I had to force myself to believe those words. The alternative was a reality where Kade Nightshade’s words sunk into m