LOGINTORMUND'S POVVivica was dead silent on the ride to my parents' house, and her attitude was making the air inside the car absolutely unbearable. It was thick with her silent resentment, and every time the tires hit a bump, the tension seemed to vibrate through the leather seats. I could feel my wolf pacing inside me, irritated by the cloying scent of her anger."Vivica, don't tell me you're still mad at me!" I snapped, the silence finally grating on my last nerve.She whipped her head around to look at me, her eyes narrow and feline. "You hurt me, Tormund. You talked down to me like I was some servant, and you bruised my wrists! Of course I'm angry. What did you expect—a medal?" she snarled. She turned her head back to the window, watching the trees zoom by in a blur of dark green as we sped toward my parents’ estate.I shifted over, moving closer until I had her trapped in the corner of the car, my large frame looming over her. I softened my voice, trying to regain control of the sit
TORMUND'S POVIt was the middle of the afternoon, only a few hours after I had gone to see Kyla at Dr. Mendez's house. I still didn't know how I felt about that. She should be in the dungeons for all the shit she did. I was still angry for some reason, and the rage was simmering just beneath my skin like a live wire. At least the deed was done, Kyla now knew that Vivica and I were expecting a pup of our own, and she knew her time as anything important in this pack was officially over. I was currently getting ready to have dinner with my parents and Vivica's parents to celebrate our engagement, and I wasn't looking forward to the performance. Jason and Leroy would be there too, along with their annoying mates, and I knew I had to act like the happiest man in the world.I was fidgeting with my silk necktie in front of the closet mirror, but my fingers felt thick and clumsy. I wasn't up to going to this type of event, and the constricting fabric around my throat only made my Alpha temp
THIRD PERSON POVKyla began to talk, and once she started, it was like a dam had broken. She told him about her past and how her mother had been killed by bandits while they were traveling. She described the terror of living off the land as a child and the pain of being alone until she was rescued by a witch named Wynona. She told him how she eventually found her way back to her father's pack, hoping for a home, but instead found a man who had remarried and had a stepdaughter whom he had made his heir, completely discarding Kyla."That's messed up," Lowell said, his jaw tightening."I know. And you wanna know the worst part? My father told me he wished I had died with my mother that day," she said, her voice trembling just a little.She told him about the fire that had ruined her face, admitting that she suspected her stepmother or her stepsister had started it out of pure jealousy. Lowell listened keenly, his heart breaking for the young girl who had been surrounded by so much cruel
THIRD PERSON POVThe heavy curtains of the suite were drawn tight, but the distant rumble of thunder rolled through the room like a warning. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of sex and the lingering heat of their bodies. Kyla clutched the black silk duvet to her chest, feeling the smooth fabric against her sensitive skin. She looked over at the man she knew only as Atlas, and she felt a wave of shyness wash over her that she hadn't felt while they were tangled together in the dark."I've never done this before," Kyla spoke with a hint of shyness to her tone, her eyes darting to the floor.Lowell let out a soft breath and reached over, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her scarred cheek with a tenderness that made her heart skip. "You said that already," he reminded her, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "I know that I'm your first one-night stand, Kyla. But can we really call it a one-night stand yet? What time is it?"She checked the glowing red numbers of the
KYLA'S POVMy heart quickened, and a strange, dizzying feeling started to rise in my chest. I listened to his heartbeat thumping wildly against my ear while my other hand remained on his hardened cock. He wasn't lying. His body was telling the truth even if my mind couldn't believe it yet."And I've never met a more Godly and handsome man than you," I whispered back.My fingers began to move instinctively against him, tracing small circles on his skin. Suddenly, his heart rate picked up speed even more, thumping like a drum inside his chest."Your touch feels heavenly," he cooed, his head dropping to my shoulder. His eyes were burning now, that cobalt blue having darkened into a deep, stormy lust. They reminded me of... You know what? Never mind. Atlas watched with a predatory focus as I licked my lips. My mouth slowly moved toward his, drawn in by the magnetic pull between us."Can I kiss you now?" he asked in a rough voice, using one hand to cup my jaw so tenderly it made my soul a
KYLA'S POV"It's... it's your face," Atlas stuttered.My face?The bubble of afterglow popped instantly, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I sat up so fast that my head spun, and I frantically reached my hand up to my face to feel for my scarf. My fingers met bare, uneven skin, and my heart stopped. The silk was gone. It wasn't wrapped around my head, and it wasn't tucked under my chin."Shit!" I cursed, the word coming out as a choked sob. I rolled off the bed in a desperate scramble, my limbs tangling in the black silk sheets as I tried to get away from him. I didn't want to see the pity in his eyes, and I definitely didn't want to see the disgust. I hurried over to the far wall, pressing my face against it. I was turned away from him so he could only see the back of my head. The damn scarf must have fallen off during our lovemaking, and the thought that he might have seen my face while I was lost in pleasure made me want to shrink into the floor."Kyla," he called my name,







